ESM import regression: `HTMLHint` named export no longer available in `htmlhint@1.8.1`

[sangafabrice]

Describe the bug

Since upgrading to htmlhint@1.8.1, importing HTMLHint as a named export in an ESM context throws an error indicating that the module does not provide the HTMLHint export.

In previous versions, the following ESM import worked:

import { HTMLHint } from "htmlhint";

With 1.8.1, Node.js reports that htmlhint is a CommonJS module and that the named export cannot be resolved.

To Reproduce

Environment:

• Node.js: v24.13.0
• OS: Windows (reproducible in other environments as well)
• Module system: ESM

Steps:

npm install --save-exact htmlhint@1.8.1
node --eval 'import { HTMLHint } from "htmlhint";'

Result:

SyntaxError: Named export 'HTMLHint' not found. The requested module 'htmlhint' is a CommonJS module...

Node suggests using:

import pkg from "htmlhint";
const { HTMLHint } = pkg;

Expected behavior

The following command should execute without error:

node --eval 'import { HTMLHint } from "htmlhint";'

—or the documentation / changelog should explicitly mention that named ESM imports are no longer supported if this is an intentional breaking change.

[coliff]

Sorry for the trouble! I didn't realise that... might have happened with a Dependabot dependency update. I'll work on a fix!

[coliff]

To fix this I think we just need to add this to the package.json - does that look okay to you?:

"exports": {
    ".": {
      "import": "./dist/core/core.js",
      "require": "./dist/htmlhint.js"
    }
  },

[sangafabrice]

To fix this I think we just need to add this to the package.json - does that look okay to you?:

"exports": {
".": {
"import": "./dist/core/core.js",
"require": "./dist/htmlhint.js"
}
},

Yes, that should be the correct solution. I believe the previous implementation worked this way. It’s not a major issue, but first-time users might run into errors even if they follow the setup steps exactly as described on the package’s NPM page.

[sebastianjnuwu]

What's the forecast for when we'll fix it permanently?

[coliff]

Please test and let me know if v1.9.0 is okay for you now!

[coliff]

The change broke things for some users so I reverted the change in v1.9.1.

For now if this issue effects you, you can you use v1.9.0 if that works for you.

Perhaps we'll reintroduce the following change in a semantic-release friendly v2.0.0 release:

 "exports": {
    ".": {
      "import": "./dist/core/core.js",
      "require": "./dist/htmlhint.js"
    },
    "./package.json": "./package.json"
  },

[coliff]

I have an open PR to make changes for this and would greatly appreciate your feedback.
It adds the following:

"types": "./dist/core/core.d.ts",
  "exports": {
    ".": {
      "types": "./dist/core/core.d.ts",
      "import": "./dist/htmlhint.js",
      "require": "./dist/htmlhint.js"
    },
    "./package.json": "./package.json"
  },