Architecture Migration

Migrate CommonJS to ES Modules Automatically

Upload your project and get production-ready migrated code in minutes.

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What changes between CommonJS and ES Modules?

  • require() calls converted to import statements; dynamic require() to dynamic import()
  • module.exports and exports.X converted to export default and named exports
  • __dirname and __filename replaced with import.meta.url and fileURLToPath patterns
  • package.json updated with "type": "module" to enable ESM by default
  • File extensions required in relative imports (.js, .mjs) for ESM resolution
  • JSON imports require import assertions or createRequire for compatibility
  • Conditional exports configured in package.json exports field for dual CJS/ESM support
  • Top-level await becomes available without async wrapper functions

How Nivo migrates CommonJS to ES Modules

01

Connect your project

Paste a GitHub URL or upload a ZIP file of your CommonJS project.

02

Nivo detects your CommonJS project

The engine scans your codebase to identify CommonJS patterns, APIs, and configuration that need updating.

03

AI applies all ES Modules migration transforms

Hybrid AST + AI engine applies deterministic transforms for configuration and dependencies, and AI-powered transforms for complex code changes. Every change gets a confidence score.

04

Download migrated codebase + review report

Get a ZIP with your fully migrated code, a complete migration report, and a checklist of items flagged for manual review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I migrate from CommonJS to ES Modules?

ES Modules are the JavaScript standard, enabling better tree shaking, static analysis, and top-level await. Node.js, browsers, and all modern bundlers support ESM natively. Many popular packages are moving to ESM-only distribution.

Is the CommonJS to ESM migration safe?

Yes. Nivo handles require() to import conversion, module.exports to export, and Node.js-specific globals like __dirname. Each file produces a diff you can review. The tool preserves all module semantics.

How long does the migration take?

Most projects complete in under 10 minutes. The time depends on the number of files and complexity of dynamic require() patterns. Straightforward require/exports conversions are instant.

What about dynamic require() calls?

Dynamic require() is converted to dynamic import() which returns a promise. Nivo wraps the consuming code in async/await if it is not already async. For cases where synchronous require is essential, createRequire() is used as a fallback.

Can I support both CommonJS and ESM consumers?

Yes. Nivo can configure dual publishing with conditional exports in package.json. Your package will expose both CJS and ESM entry points, ensuring backward compatibility for CommonJS consumers.

Start your CommonJS to ES Modules migration

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