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Is husky ESM-only? Can you require() it?

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against husky@9.1.7. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 9.0.1 — last CommonJS version is 8.0.3

husky dropped its CommonJS build in 9.0.1 (January 2024). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 8.0.3, published Jan 3, 2023; it declares support for Node.js >=14.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("husky") 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("husky") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("husky") 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 husky = await import("husky"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install husky@8.0.3, the last CommonJS release (published Jan 3, 2023); it declares Node.js >=14.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
9.1.7 (Nov 18, 2024)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
8.0.3
ESM-only since
9.0.1 (Jan 25, 2024)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
32.0M
License
MIT

Does husky@9.1.7 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("husky")import "husky"
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 husky

ES modules (import)

import * as husky from "husky";

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 husky = require("husky");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=18), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const husky = await import("husky");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=14):
// npm install husky@8.0.3

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 (144 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
9.0.1 – 9.1.7ESM-onlyJan 25, 2024
4.1.0 – 8.0.3CommonJSJan 21, 2020

Frequently asked

Is husky ESM-only?

husky@9.1.7 is ESM-only. husky dropped its CommonJS build in 9.0.1 (January 2024). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 8.0.3, published Jan 3, 2023; it declares support for Node.js >=14.

Which version of husky still supports CommonJS / require()?

8.0.3 is the last version of husky with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=14. Install it with "npm install husky@8.0.3". Every version from 9.0.1 on is ESM-only.

How do I use husky from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const husky = await import("husky"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("husky") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin husky@8.0.3 (declares Node.js >=14).

Does husky work in Bun?

Yes. import "husky" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does husky ship TypeScript types?

Yes. husky bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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