Why Node.js Struggles with ESM vs CommonJS: Insights from the TC39 Meeting
An in‑depth look at the ongoing debate between CommonJS and ECMAScript Modules in Node.js, drawing on the latest TC39 discussions to explain their implementation differences, practical impacts, and why reconciling them has long puzzled the Node.js community.
Nowadays, when we use JavaScript we may use CommonJS or the ECMAScript Modules syntax such as import xx. With Babel both work well, but from the perspective of native Node.js support the two differ greatly, and figuring out their relationship has long troubled the Node.js community.
The author participated in last week’s TC39 meeting, where the main discussion was whether Node.js should support ESM and how to implement it best. This article reviews that discussion from the author’s viewpoint, covering the implementations of require and import, their differences, and the practical impact on real‑world usage, helping readers better understand Node.js’s module system.
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