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Is yeoman-generator ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Rails-inspired generator system that provides scaffolding for your apps

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against yeoman-generator@8.4.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 6.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 5.10.0

yeoman-generator dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (October 2023). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.10.0, published Oct 21, 2023; it declares support for Node.js >=12.10.0.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("yeoman-generator") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and yeoman-generator@8.4.0 declares Node.js ^20.17.0 || >=22.9.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

yeoman-generator@8.4.0 declares engines "^20.17.0 || >=22.9.0", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("yeoman-generator") 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 yeomanGenerator = await import("yeoman-generator"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^20.17.0 || >=22.9.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install yeoman-generator@5.10.0, the last CommonJS release (published Oct 21, 2023); it declares Node.js >=12.10.0.
  4. yeoman-generator@8.4.0 declares engines "^20.17.0 || >=22.9.0", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
8.4.0 (Sep 7, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
5.10.0
ESM-only since
6.0.0 (Oct 11, 2023)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
^20.17.0 || >=22.9.0
Weekly downloads
1.2M
License
BSD-2-Clause

Does yeoman-generator@8.4.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("yeoman-generator")import "yeoman-generator"
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 yeoman-generator

ES modules (import)

import * as yeomanGenerator from "yeoman-generator";

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 yeomanGenerator = require("yeoman-generator");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^20.17.0 || >=22.9.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const yeomanGenerator = await import("yeoman-generator");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=12.10.0):
// npm install yeoman-generator@5.10.0

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 (147 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
6.0.0 – 8.4.0ESM-onlyOct 11, 2023
4.4.0 – 5.10.0CommonJSDec 24, 2019

Frequently asked

Is yeoman-generator ESM-only?

yeoman-generator@8.4.0 is ESM-only. yeoman-generator dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (October 2023). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.10.0, published Oct 21, 2023; it declares support for Node.js >=12.10.0.

Which version of yeoman-generator still supports CommonJS / require()?

5.10.0 is the last version of yeoman-generator with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=12.10.0. Install it with "npm install yeoman-generator@5.10.0". Every version from 6.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use yeoman-generator from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const yeomanGenerator = await import("yeoman-generator"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^20.17.0 || >=22.9.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("yeoman-generator") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin yeoman-generator@5.10.0 (declares Node.js >=12.10.0).

Does yeoman-generator work in Bun?

Yes. import "yeoman-generator" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does yeoman-generator ship TypeScript types?

Yes. yeoman-generator bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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