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

Lerna is a fast, modern build system for managing and publishing multiple JavaScript/TypeScript packages from the same repository

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against lerna@10.0.1. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 10.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 9.0.7

lerna dropped its CommonJS build in 10.0.0 (July 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 9.0.7, published Mar 13, 2026; it declares support for Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0.

On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (lerna@10.0.1 declares Node.js ^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0), require("lerna") 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 lerna@10.0.1 declares Node.js ^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

lerna@10.0.1 declares engines "^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0", 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 (lerna@10.0.1 declares Node.js ^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0), require("lerna") 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 lerna = await import("lerna"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require(): npm install lerna@9.0.7, the last CommonJS release (published Mar 13, 2026); it declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0.
  4. lerna@10.0.1 declares engines "^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0", so Node.js 18, 20 are unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: no types are available for lerna; declare the module yourself if you need them.
Latest
10.0.1 (Aug 19, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
9.0.7
ESM-only since
10.0.0 (Jul 29, 2026)
TypeScript types
None
Node engines
^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0
Weekly downloads
1.4M
License
MIT

Does lerna@10.0.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("lerna")import "lerna"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsSyntaxError
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 lerna

ES modules (import)

import * as lerna from "lerna";

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

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const lerna = require("lerna");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const lerna = await import("lerna");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0):
// npm install lerna@9.0.7

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 (186 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
10.0.0 – 10.0.1ESM-onlyJul 29, 2026
5.5.4 – 9.0.7CommonJSSep 28, 2022

Frequently asked

Is lerna ESM-only?

lerna@10.0.1 is ESM-only. lerna dropped its CommonJS build in 10.0.0 (July 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 9.0.7, published Mar 13, 2026; it declares support for Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0.

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

9.0.7 is the last version of lerna with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0. Install it with "npm install lerna@9.0.7". Every version from 10.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use lerna from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const lerna = await import("lerna"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0). On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (lerna@10.0.1 declares Node.js ^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0), require("lerna") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin lerna@9.0.7 (declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0).

Does lerna work in Bun?

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

Does lerna ship TypeScript types?

No. lerna ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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