Node-RED v5 now supports ESM nodes!

TotallyInformation · 11 June 2026 14:20

Just in case you missed this. The following PR was incorporated in v5.

github.com/node-red/node-red

Add support for installing ESM module nodes (#4355#event-26476801018)

dev ← hlovdal:installing_esm_nodes

opened 09:39PM - 19 Sep 23 UTC

hlovdal

+57 -30

- [x] Bugfix (non-breaking change which fixes an issue) - [ ] New feature (non-…breaking change which adds functionality) ## Proposed changes Currently node-red fails when attempting to install a node written as an ESM module, e.g. ```text 19 Sep 18:59:53 - [info] Server now running at http://127.0.0.1:1880/ 19 Sep 18:59:53 - [info] Starting flows 19 Sep 18:59:53 - [info] Started flows 19 Sep 19:01:05 - [info] Installing module: @hlovdal/node-red-lowercase-in-typescript, version: 1.0.0 19 Sep 19:01:12 - [info] Installed module: @hlovdal/node-red-lowercase-in-typescript 19 Sep 19:01:12 - [info] Added node types: 19 Sep 19:01:12 - [info] - @hlovdal/node-red-lowercase-in-typescript:lower-case : Error [ERR_REQUIRE_ESM]: require() of ES Module .../.node-red/node_modules/@hlovdal/node-red-lowercase-in-typescript/src/lower-case.js from .../node-red/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/loader.js not supported. Instead change the require of lower-case.js in .../node-red/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/loader.js to a dynamic import() which is available in all CommonJS modules. ``` This pull request fixes that by using [dynamic `import()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Operators/import) instead of `require`. ## Checklist - [x] I have read the [contribution guidelines](https://github.com/node-red/node-red/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md) - [x] For non-bugfix PRs, I have discussed this change on the [forum](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/adding-support-for-installing-esm-module-nodes/81438)/slack team. - [x] I have run `npm run test` to verify the unit tests pass - [ ] I have added suitable unit tests to cover the new/changed functionality

A big step forward for the future of Node-RED.

I've already migrated everything I could in UIBUILDER to ESM but now I can start migrating the runtimes as well.

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Node-RED v5 now supports ESM nodes!

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