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Is @release-it/conventional-changelog ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Conventional changelog plugin for release-it

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against @release-it/conventional-changelog@12.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.3.0

@release-it/conventional-changelog dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (April 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.3.0, published Apr 15, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (@release-it/conventional-changelog@12.0.0 declares Node.js ^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0), require("@release-it/conventional-changelog") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and @release-it/conventional-changelog@12.0.0 declares Node.js ^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

@release-it/conventional-changelog@12.0.0 declares engines "^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0", so Node.js 18, 20 are outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (@release-it/conventional-changelog@12.0.0 declares Node.js ^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0), require("@release-it/conventional-changelog") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const conventionalChangelog = await import("@release-it/conventional-changelog"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install @release-it/conventional-changelog@4.3.0, the last CommonJS release (published Apr 15, 2022); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. @release-it/conventional-changelog@12.0.0 declares engines "^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0", so Node.js 18, 20 are unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: no types are available for @release-it/conventional-changelog; declare the module yourself if you need them.
Latest
12.0.0 (Jul 25, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.3.0
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Apr 30, 2022)
TypeScript types
None
Node engines
^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0
Weekly downloads
269K
License
MIT

Does @release-it/conventional-changelog@12.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("@release-it/conventional-changelog") from a CommonJS file and import "@release-it/conventional-changelog" from an ES module.

Runtimerequire("@release-it/conventional-changelog")import "@release-it/conventional-changelog"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsSyntaxError
Node.js 20✓ works✓ works
Node.js 22✓ works✓ works
Node.js 24✓ works✓ works
Node.js 26✓ works✓ works
Bun 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import @release-it/conventional-changelog

ES modules (import)

import * as conventionalChangelog from "@release-it/conventional-changelog";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const conventionalChangelog = require("@release-it/conventional-changelog");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const conventionalChangelog = await import("@release-it/conventional-changelog");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install @release-it/conventional-changelog@4.3.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (47 versions; the newest 47 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0 – 12.0.0ESM-onlyApr 30, 2022
1.0.0 – 4.3.0CommonJSMay 1, 2019

Frequently asked

Is @release-it/conventional-changelog ESM-only?

@release-it/conventional-changelog@12.0.0 is ESM-only. @release-it/conventional-changelog dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (April 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.3.0, published Apr 15, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

Which version of @release-it/conventional-changelog still supports CommonJS / require()?

4.3.0 is the last version of @release-it/conventional-changelog with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install @release-it/conventional-changelog@4.3.0". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use @release-it/conventional-changelog from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const conventionalChangelog = await import("@release-it/conventional-changelog"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0). On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (@release-it/conventional-changelog@12.0.0 declares Node.js ^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0), require("@release-it/conventional-changelog") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin @release-it/conventional-changelog@4.3.0 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does @release-it/conventional-changelog work in Bun?

Yes. import "@release-it/conventional-changelog" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does @release-it/conventional-changelog ship TypeScript types?

No. @release-it/conventional-changelog ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

Links

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