Package Compatibility Checker

Why Check Package Compatibility?

Many popular npm packages have dropped support for older Node.js versions, especially when migrating to ES Modules (ESM). This tool helps you identify potential compatibility issues before upgrading or deploying.

Common Compatibility Issues

ESM-Only Packages

Since 2021, many packages have migrated to ESM-only, dropping CommonJS support. Popular packages like chalk, ora, got,execa, and node-fetch now require Node.js 14+ and ES Module support.

Node.js Version Requirements

Many packages specify minimum Node.js versions in their engines field. Common breaking points include:

Node.js 12: Native ESM support begins
Node.js 14: Most ESM-only packages require this
Node.js 16: Full ESM feature set
Node.js 18: Current LTS, best compatibility

What to Do About Incompatible Packages

Upgrade Node.js: The easiest solution is often to upgrade to a newer Node.js LTS version (18 or 20).
Use older package versions: Check if an older major version supports your Node.js version (e.g., chalk@4 instead of chalk@5).
Find alternatives: Some packages have CJS-compatible alternatives.
Use dynamic imports: For ESM-only packages in CommonJS projects, use await import('package') instead of require().

LTS Schedule

Node.js follows a predictable LTS schedule. Even-numbered versions become LTS: