Starter build fails on Node.js 18.19.1 - ERR_REQUIRE_ESM

[fission-adi]

https://community.n8n.io/t/help-potential-bug-in-n8n-node-starter/214314

I'm building a custom node. I tested the bare starter template first. The build fails. None of the following commands work after npm install:

npm run build
npm run dev

The n8n node cli tool fails as well:

npm create @n8n/node@latest

Error output:

Error: require() of ES Module /home/adibudithi/projects/n8n-nodes-starter/node_modules/@n8n/node-cli/node_modules/change-case/dist/index.js from /home/adibudithi/projects/n8n-nodes-starter/node_modules/@n8n/node-cli/dist/utils/filesystem.js not supported.
Instead change the require of index.js in /home/adibudithi/projects/n8n-nodes-starter/node_modules/@n8n/node-cli/dist/utils/filesystem.js to a dynamic import() which is available in all CommonJS modules.
Code: ERR_REQUIRE_ESM

Seems like an ESM vs CommonJS mismatch in a dependency, particularly change-case.

[Joffcom]

Hey @adibudithi-fissionlabs

I am not able to reproduce this, which version of NodeJS are you using?

Can you also share what steps you took after cloning the starter project?

[fission-adi]

Hi @Joffcom

Node.js v18.19.1

Windows Subsystem for Linux (Ubuntu 24.04)

Steps:

1. git clone https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n-nodes-starter.git
2. npm install
3. npm run build or npm run dev

[fission-adi]

@Joffcom
It works on the latest version (24.11.0). But the docs say at least 18.17.0 is required, so 18.19.1 should work, right? I think a documentation update might be in order...

[Stasgysk]

Same issue here, just cloned it and ran npm install & npm run build. Im running it from cmd.

[lsegg]

Same issue here

[k5sha]

I have fixed it by simply updating the node version to v25.2.1

[austin-aryn-ai]

I have fixed it by simply updating the node version to v25.2.1

This won't work since n8n requires the node version be <= 24.