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

> @release-it/conventional-changelog@12.0.0 is ESM-only. ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.3.0.

Conventional changelog plugin for release-it

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

@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.

## Facts

- 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

## Runtime test results for @release-it/conventional-changelog@12.0.0

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.

| Runtime | require("@release-it/conventional-changelog") | import "@release-it/conventional-changelog" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM) | fails (SyntaxError) |
| 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:

```js
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:

```js
// 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 (47 versions; the newest 47 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0.0 – 12.0.0 | ESM-only | Apr 30, 2022 |
| 1.0.0 – 4.3.0 | CommonJS | May 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

- [@release-it/conventional-changelog on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@release-it/conventional-changelog)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/release-it/conventional-changelog)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/@release-it/conventional-changelog/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/@release-it/conventional-changelog.json)

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