The eslint-rspack-plugin has reached version 5.0.0, and the release makes it a pure ECMAScript Module (ESM) package, according to infoq.com. The update, reported on August 4, 2026, marks a deliberate shift in how the plugin is distributed and consumed.
InfoQ reports that this change brings the plugin into closer alignment with the broader Rstack ecosystem. Rstack is the collection of tooling projects built around the Rspack bundler, and moving to pure ESM is a compatibility step that matches the direction those related tools have taken. For developers using the plugin, this means the package can no longer be loaded through CommonJS require() calls; it must be imported using native ESM syntax or a compatible loader.
The move to pure ESM is part of a wider trend in the JavaScript tooling space, where maintainers are increasingly dropping CommonJS support to simplify module resolution and take advantage of modern JavaScript features. By following that path, the eslint-rspack-plugin ensures it stays in step with the rest of the Rstack toolchain, which has already embraced ESM as its standard format.
For teams upgrading, the key takeaway is that version 5.0.0 requires an ESM-compatible project setup. Those still on CommonJS will need to adjust their import strategy or remain on an earlier version of the plugin.
What to watch next: whether other Rspack ecosystem plugins follow with similar ESM-only releases, and how the migration guidance from the Rstack team evolves for existing projects.
