Use ECMAScript Modules

[lfdebrux]

What

• Upgrading the Kit package to use import
• Upgrading the existing v13 prototypes to use import

Convert Node.js files in the Prototype Kit to use ECMAScript import, instead of CommonJS require, and set "type": "module" in package.json.

Why

New users familiar with using import to package their JavaScript code will find it confusing that the Kit uses the old method.

ECMAScript Modules are now the standard way to package JavaScript code, and Node.js and GOV.UK Frontend are both moving to prefer import over require. [1, 2]. Using ECMAScript modules will also let us use top-level awaits [3], which makes writing asynchronous scripts easier.

This change shouldn't affect users. Out of scope of this ticket is changing how JavaScript served to browsers by the kit is written.

Who needs to work on this

Developer

Who needs to review this

Developer

Done when

• All Node.js files in the kit use ESM imports
• The package.json for the kit sets the type to be ESM

[joelanman]

Relevant thread:

• When will CommonJS modules (require) be deprecated and removed? nodejs/node#33954

[ruthhammond]

To be broken down by @HannahJMWood and @ollie-b-gds into tasks so it can be picked off in pieces over time