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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. 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 you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 2.0.2, published Mar 25, 2018.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("yosay") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 20, 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

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✓ works✓ works

How to import yosay

ES modules (import)

import yosay from "yosay";

CommonJS (require)

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

// Any Node.js version:
const yosay = await import("yosay");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install yosay@2.0.2

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (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 you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 2.0.2, published Mar 25, 2018.

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

2.0.2 is the last version of yosay with a CommonJS build. 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?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("yosay"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("yosay") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin yosay@2.0.2.

Does yosay work in Bun?

Yes. import "yosay" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does yosay ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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