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Is @semantic-release/release-notes-generator ESM-only? Can you require() it?

semantic-release plugin to generate changelog content with conventional-changelog

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against @semantic-release/release-notes-generator@14.1.1. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 11.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 10.0.3

@semantic-release/release-notes-generator dropped its CommonJS build in 11.0.0 (April 2023). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 10.0.3, published Nov 24, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=14.17.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("@semantic-release/release-notes-generator") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and @semantic-release/release-notes-generator@14.1.1 declares Node.js >=20.8.1, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

@semantic-release/release-notes-generator@14.1.1 declares engines ">=20.8.1", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("@semantic-release/release-notes-generator") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const releaseNotesGenerator = await import("@semantic-release/release-notes-generator"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20.8.1).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install @semantic-release/release-notes-generator@10.0.3, the last CommonJS release (published Nov 24, 2021); it declares Node.js >=14.17.
  4. @semantic-release/release-notes-generator@14.1.1 declares engines ">=20.8.1", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: no types are available for @semantic-release/release-notes-generator; declare the module yourself if you need them.
Latest
14.1.1 (May 8, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
10.0.3
ESM-only since
11.0.0 (Apr 28, 2023)
TypeScript types
None
Node engines
>=20.8.1
Weekly downloads
2.1M
License
MIT

Does @semantic-release/release-notes-generator@14.1.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("@semantic-release/release-notes-generator")import "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✓ works
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 @semantic-release/release-notes-generator

ES modules (import)

import * as releaseNotesGenerator from "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator";

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

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const releaseNotesGenerator = require("@semantic-release/release-notes-generator");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=20.8.1), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const releaseNotesGenerator = await import("@semantic-release/release-notes-generator");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=14.17):
// npm install @semantic-release/release-notes-generator@10.0.3

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 (76 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
11.0.0 – 14.1.1ESM-onlyApr 28, 2023
6.0.1 – 10.0.3CommonJSNov 30, 2017

Frequently asked

Is @semantic-release/release-notes-generator ESM-only?

@semantic-release/release-notes-generator@14.1.1 is ESM-only. @semantic-release/release-notes-generator dropped its CommonJS build in 11.0.0 (April 2023). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 10.0.3, published Nov 24, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=14.17.

Which version of @semantic-release/release-notes-generator still supports CommonJS / require()?

10.0.3 is the last version of @semantic-release/release-notes-generator with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=14.17. Install it with "npm install @semantic-release/release-notes-generator@10.0.3". Every version from 11.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use @semantic-release/release-notes-generator from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const releaseNotesGenerator = await import("@semantic-release/release-notes-generator"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20.8.1). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("@semantic-release/release-notes-generator") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin @semantic-release/release-notes-generator@10.0.3 (declares Node.js >=14.17).

Does @semantic-release/release-notes-generator work in Bun?

Yes. import "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does @semantic-release/release-notes-generator ship TypeScript types?

No. @semantic-release/release-notes-generator ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

Links

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