Node.js ES Modules

Discussions center on ES6/ESM module support in Node.js, including frustrations with implementation, comparisons to CommonJS, transpilation needs, and browser compatibility.

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Keywords

e.g JS V8 ES6 ESM node.js CJS kv.js JSR CGI es6 modules node module babel js es node js browsers import

Sample Comments

vorpalhex Nov 11, 2021 View on HN

Node support for ES6 modules has been out for years...

lloydatkinson Oct 23, 2019 View on HN

Still no ES module support that doesn’t require special flags or weird file extensions? Come on

wildpeaks Feb 2, 2016 View on HN

I wish Node supported ES6 modules without transpilation as well

JoshGlazebrook Feb 22, 2017 View on HN

Forget about browsers, have you read the clusterfuck that Node.js is aiming for with ES6 Modules?https://medium.com/the-node-js-collection/an-update-on-es6-m...

wdb Aug 8, 2023 View on HN

Ignoring ESM seems to avoid a lot of headaches

stemc43 Nov 16, 2014 View on HN

because ES6 modules are not yet well-supported?

nicoburns Dec 13, 2021 View on HN

I wouldn't worry about that. Node is moving to ECMAScript modules.

ihsw Sep 20, 2016 View on HN

Obligatory "ES6 is supported but not ES6 modules."

spriggan3 Mar 12, 2016 View on HN

Standardization isn't enough. No browser implements ES6 modules thus the webpacks and co.

HeavyStorm May 3, 2025 View on HN

Says "superseded by ES modules". Not really the same thing, right?