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

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Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against yosay@3.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 3.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 2.0.2

yosay dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (October 2023). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 2.0.2, published Mar 25, 2018; it declares support for Node.js >=4.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("yosay") 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 yosay = await import("yosay"). 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 yosay@2.0.2, the last CommonJS release (published Mar 25, 2018); it declares Node.js >=4.
  4. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/yosay
Latest
3.0.0 (Oct 27, 2023)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
2.0.2
ESM-only since
3.0.0 (Oct 27, 2023)
TypeScript types
@types/yosay
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
577K
License
BSD-2-Clause

Does yosay@3.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("yosay")import "yosay"
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 yosay

ES modules (import)

import * as yosay from "yosay";

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 yosay = require("yosay");

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=4):
// npm install yosay@2.0.2

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 (18 versions; the newest 18 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
3.0.0ESM-onlyOct 27, 2023
0.1.0 – 2.0.2CommonJSMay 9, 2014

Frequently asked

Is yosay ESM-only?

yosay@3.0.0 is ESM-only. yosay dropped its CommonJS build in 3.0.0 (October 2023). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 2.0.2, published Mar 25, 2018; it declares support for Node.js >=4.

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

2.0.2 is the last version of yosay with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=4. Install it with "npm install yosay@2.0.2". Every version from 3.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use yosay from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const yosay = await import("yosay"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("yosay") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin yosay@2.0.2 (declares Node.js >=4).

Does yosay work in Bun?

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

Does yosay ship TypeScript types?

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/yosay".

Links

Other esm-only packages

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