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

Generic CLI tool to automate versioning and package publishing-related tasks.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against release-it@21.0.2. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 15.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 14.14.3

release-it dropped its CommonJS build in 15.0.0 (April 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 14.14.3, published Apr 29, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (release-it@21.0.2 declares Node.js ^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0), require("release-it") 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 release-it@21.0.2 declares Node.js ^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

release-it@21.0.2 declares engines "^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0", 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 (release-it@21.0.2 declares Node.js ^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0), require("release-it") 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 releaseIt = await import("release-it"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install release-it@14.14.3, the last CommonJS release (published Apr 29, 2022); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. release-it@21.0.2 declares engines "^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0", so Node.js 18, 20 are unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
21.0.2 (Aug 9, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
14.14.3
ESM-only since
15.0.0 (Apr 30, 2022)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0
Weekly downloads
815K
License
MIT

Does release-it@21.0.2 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("release-it")import "release-it"
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 release-it

ES modules (import)

import * as releaseIt from "release-it";

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 releaseIt = require("release-it");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const releaseIt = await import("release-it");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install release-it@14.14.3

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 (345 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
15.10.5 – 21.0.2ESM-onlyJun 2, 2023

Frequently asked

Is release-it ESM-only?

release-it@21.0.2 is ESM-only. release-it dropped its CommonJS build in 15.0.0 (April 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 14.14.3, published Apr 29, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

Which version of release-it still supports CommonJS / require()?

14.14.3 is the last version of release-it with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install release-it@14.14.3". Every version from 15.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use release-it from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const releaseIt = await import("release-it"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0). On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (release-it@21.0.2 declares Node.js ^22.21.0 || >=24.0.0), require("release-it") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin release-it@14.14.3 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does release-it work in Bun?

Yes. import "release-it" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does release-it ship TypeScript types?

Yes. release-it bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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