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Is cli-spinners ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Spinners for use in the terminal

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against cli-spinners@3.4.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 3.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 2.9.2

cli-spinners dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (April 2024). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 2.9.2, published Nov 24, 2023; it declares support for Node.js >=6.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("cli-spinners") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("cli-spinners") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("cli-spinners") 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 cliSpinners = await import("cli-spinners"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18.20).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install cli-spinners@2.9.2, the last CommonJS release (published Nov 24, 2023); it declares Node.js >=6.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
3.4.0 (Jan 13, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
2.9.2
ESM-only since
3.0.0 (Apr 30, 2024)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18.20
Weekly downloads
40.3M
License
MIT

Does cli-spinners@3.4.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("cli-spinners")import "cli-spinners"
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 cli-spinners

ES modules (import)

import * as cliSpinners from "cli-spinners";

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 cliSpinners = require("cli-spinners");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=18.20), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const cliSpinners = await import("cli-spinners");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=6):
// npm install cli-spinners@2.9.2

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 (30 versions; the newest 30 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
3.0.0 – 3.4.0ESM-onlyApr 30, 2024
0.1.0 – 2.9.2CommonJSMar 3, 2016

Frequently asked

Is cli-spinners ESM-only?

cli-spinners@3.4.0 is ESM-only. cli-spinners dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (April 2024). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 2.9.2, published Nov 24, 2023; it declares support for Node.js >=6.

Which version of cli-spinners still supports CommonJS / require()?

2.9.2 is the last version of cli-spinners with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=6. Install it with "npm install cli-spinners@2.9.2". Every version from 3.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use cli-spinners from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const cliSpinners = await import("cli-spinners"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18.20). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("cli-spinners") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin cli-spinners@2.9.2 (declares Node.js >=6).

Does cli-spinners work in Bun?

Yes. import "cli-spinners" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does cli-spinners ship TypeScript types?

Yes. cli-spinners bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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