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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. 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 you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 19.0.5, published Aug 23, 2022.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("semantic-release") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

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.

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✓ works✓ works

How to import semantic-release

ES modules (import)

import semanticRelease from "semantic-release";

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const semanticRelease = require("semantic-release");

// Any Node.js version:
const semanticRelease = await import("semantic-release");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// 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 (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 you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 19.0.5, published Aug 23, 2022.

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

19.0.5 is the last version of semantic-release with a CommonJS build. 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?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("semantic-release"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("semantic-release") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin semantic-release@19.0.5.

Does semantic-release work in Bun?

Yes. import "semantic-release" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does semantic-release ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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