Module does not work with require()

[joepie91]

Requiring this module like so:

const bigVarint = require("big-varint");

... produces the following error:

Error [ERR_REQUIRE_ESM]: Must use import to load ES Module: /home/sven/projects/zapdb-kv/node_modules/big-varint/lib/index.js
require() of ES modules is not supported.
require() of /home/sven/projects/zapdb-kv/node_modules/big-varint/lib/index.js from /home/sven/projects/zapdb-kv/src/storage-encoder/encode.js is an ES module file as it is a .js file whose nearest parent package.json contains "type": "module" which defines all .js files in that package scope as ES modules.
Instead rename index.js to end in .cjs, change the requiring code to use import(), or remove "type": "module" from /home/sven/projects/zapdb-kv/node_modules/big-varint/package.json.

Unfortunately, while it's possible to import CJS modules from ESM code, the other way around is not possible (or at least not when using "type": "module"), so for maximum compatibility a library should use CJS-compatible exports.

[joeltg]

so for maximum compatibility a library should use CJS-compatible exports

I understand that ESM modules are less “compatible”, but they’re clearly the best way to build and distribute libraries going forward. See this explanation by Sindre Sorhus.

[joepie91]

I am aware of their explanations; unfortunately, they are incorrect, as ES modules are in many ways worse, and do not fully replace the functionality of CommonJS modules. I have attempted to bring this up with them, unfortunately without result.