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

A minimal library for executing processes in Node

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against tinyexec@1.3.1. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 1.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 0.3.2

tinyexec dropped its CommonJS build in 1.0.0 (March 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 0.3.2, published Dec 29, 2024.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("tinyexec") 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 tinyexec = await import("tinyexec"). 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 tinyexec@0.3.2, the last CommonJS release (published Dec 29, 2024).
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
1.3.1 (Sep 3, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
0.3.2
ESM-only since
1.0.0 (Mar 18, 2025)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
119.5M
License
MIT

Does tinyexec@1.3.1 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("tinyexec")import "tinyexec"
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 tinyexec

ES modules (import)

import * as tinyexec from "tinyexec";

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 tinyexec = require("tinyexec");

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install tinyexec@0.3.2

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 (24 versions; the newest 24 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
1.0.0 – 1.3.1ESM-onlyMar 18, 2025
0.0.1 – 0.3.2Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Jul 1, 2024

Frequently asked

Is tinyexec ESM-only?

tinyexec@1.3.1 is ESM-only. tinyexec dropped its CommonJS build in 1.0.0 (March 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 0.3.2, published Dec 29, 2024.

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

0.3.2 is the last version of tinyexec with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install tinyexec@0.3.2". Every version from 1.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use tinyexec from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const tinyexec = await import("tinyexec"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("tinyexec") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin tinyexec@0.3.2.

Does tinyexec work in Bun?

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

Does tinyexec ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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