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

Automated semver compliant package publishing

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against semantic-release@25.0.9. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 20.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 19.0.5

semantic-release dropped its CommonJS build in 20.0.0 (January 2023). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 19.0.5, published Aug 23, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=16 || ^14.17.

On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (semantic-release@25.0.9 declares Node.js ^22.14.0 || >= 24.10.0), require("semantic-release") 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 semantic-release@25.0.9 declares Node.js ^22.14.0 || >= 24.10.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

semantic-release@25.0.9 declares engines "^22.14.0 || >= 24.10.0", 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 (semantic-release@25.0.9 declares Node.js ^22.14.0 || >= 24.10.0), require("semantic-release") 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 semanticRelease = await import("semantic-release"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^22.14.0 || >= 24.10.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install semantic-release@19.0.5, the last CommonJS release (published Aug 23, 2022); it declares Node.js >=16 || ^14.17.
  4. semantic-release@25.0.9 declares engines "^22.14.0 || >= 24.10.0", 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
25.0.9 (Aug 5, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
19.0.5
ESM-only since
20.0.0 (Jan 6, 2023)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
^22.14.0 || >= 24.10.0
Weekly downloads
2.1M
License
MIT

Does semantic-release@25.0.9 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("semantic-release")import "semantic-release"
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 semantic-release

ES modules (import)

import * as semanticRelease from "semantic-release";

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 semanticRelease = require("semantic-release");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^22.14.0 || >= 24.10.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const semanticRelease = await import("semantic-release");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=16 || ^14.17):
// npm install semantic-release@19.0.5

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 (341 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
21.0.2 – 25.0.9ESM-onlyApr 28, 2023

Frequently asked

Is semantic-release ESM-only?

semantic-release@25.0.9 is ESM-only. semantic-release dropped its CommonJS build in 20.0.0 (January 2023). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 19.0.5, published Aug 23, 2022; it declares support for Node.js >=16 || ^14.17.

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

19.0.5 is the last version of semantic-release with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=16 || ^14.17. Install it with "npm install semantic-release@19.0.5". Every version from 20.0.0 on is ESM-only.

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

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const semanticRelease = await import("semantic-release"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^22.14.0 || >= 24.10.0). On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (semantic-release@25.0.9 declares Node.js ^22.14.0 || >= 24.10.0), require("semantic-release") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin semantic-release@19.0.5 (declares Node.js >=16 || ^14.17).

Does semantic-release work in Bun?

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

Does semantic-release ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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