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Is agent-base ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Turn a function into an `http.Agent` instance

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against agent-base@9.0.0. JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 8.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 7.1.4

agent-base dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (March 2026). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 7.1.4, published Jul 7, 2025.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("agent-base") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 20, 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

agent-base@9.0.0 declares engines ">= 20", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

Latest
9.0.0 (Apr 1, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
7.1.4
ESM-only since
8.0.0 (Mar 11, 2026)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>= 20
Weekly downloads
185.6M
License
MIT

Does agent-base@9.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("agent-base") from a CommonJS file and import "agent-base" from an ES module.

Runtimerequire("agent-base")import "agent-base"
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✓ works✓ works

How to import agent-base

ES modules (import)

import agentBase from "agent-base";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const agentBase = require("agent-base");

// Any Node.js version:
const agentBase = await import("agent-base");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install agent-base@7.1.4

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (33 versions; the newest 33 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
8.0.0 – 9.0.0ESM-onlyMar 11, 2026
0.0.1 – 7.1.4CommonJSJul 9, 2013

Frequently asked

Is agent-base ESM-only?

agent-base@9.0.0 is ESM-only. agent-base dropped its CommonJS build in 8.0.0 (March 2026). The last version you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 7.1.4, published Jul 7, 2025.

Which version of agent-base still supports CommonJS / require()?

7.1.4 is the last version of agent-base with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install agent-base@7.1.4". Every version from 8.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use agent-base from a CommonJS file?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("agent-base"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("agent-base") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin agent-base@7.1.4.

Does agent-base work in Bun?

Yes. import "agent-base" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does agent-base ship TypeScript types?

Yes. agent-base bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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