Use ESM template by default instead of CommonJS

[piranna]

Prerequisites

• I have written a descriptive issue title
• I have searched existing issues to ensure the feature has not already been requested

🚀 Feature Proposal

EcmaScript modules are supported by all maintained Node.js versions since long ago, so there's no need to use CommonJS modules anymore. I propose to make --esm flag enabled by default, and maybe also fully remove templates for CommonJS. Typescript templates would need to be updated too to generate ESM modules, but although tricky, it's a minor fix.

Motivation

Embrace new and future prove standards, and deprecate old ones.

Example

No response

[mcollina]

While ESM module loading is stable, I don't think ESM is ready yet for general adoption due to the lack of stable loaders API. Take a look at nodejs/TSC#1397.

[piranna]

While ESM module loading is stable, I don't think ESM is ready yet for general adoption due to the lack of stable loaders API. Take a look at nodejs/TSC#1397.

You are right, I have had the same problems with loaders regarding Typescript + ESM combo, that's why I put the comment about it, but definitely it's a boomer.