Must use import to load ES Module in Nuxt3

[kurtobando]

Environment

Nuxt project info:                                                                                                                                                                                                                  22:58:47

------------------------------
- Operating System: `Linux`
- Node Version:     `v16.15.0`
- Nuxt Version:     `3.2.2`
- Nitro Version:    `2.2.3`
- Package Manager:  `npm@8.5.5`
- Builder:          `vite`
- User Config:      `app`, `modules`
- Runtime Modules:  `@nuxtjs/tailwindcss@6.4.1`, `@nuxtjs/robots@3.0.0`
- Build Modules:    `-`
------------------------------

node -v
v16.15.0

npm -v
8.5.5

Reproduction

Repo
https://github.com/kurtobando/nuxt-sample

Demo
http://nuxt-sample.kurtobando.com/

Describe the bug

I am try to deploy this test nuxt app in my node machine, as Passenger apps. So far, i was not able to get it working, and not sure how to go about this. Perhaps, you have another suggestion to make it work.

So far, here is my setup tied to running Passenger apps in node

PassengerEnabled on
PassengerAppType node
PassengerNodejs /home/kurtobando/.nvm/versions/node/v16.15.0/bin/node
PassengerAppRoot /var/www/nuxt-sample.kurtobando.com
PassengerStartupFile .output/server/index.mjs

In running /home/kurtobando/.nvm/versions/node/v16.15.0/bin/node .output/server/index.mjs

$ /home/kurtobando/.nvm/versions/node/v16.15.0/bin/node .output/server/index.mjs
Listening http://[::]:3000

However, when i visit the Passenger app in node, see demo site
http://nuxt-sample.kurtobando.com/

This returns;

Error [ERR_REQUIRE_ESM]: Must use import to load ES Module: /var/www/nuxt-sample.kurtobando.com/.output/server/index.mjs

Any suggestion?

Additional context

No response

Logs

[ E 2023-02-24 22:57:05.1678 2999/T2x age/Cor/App/Implementation.cpp:304 ]: Could not spawn process for application /home/virtual/site3/fst/var/www/nuxt-sample.kurtobando.com: An error occurred while starting the web application. It exited before signalling successful startup back to Phusion Passenger.
  Error ID: 6ce28159
  Error details saved to: /tmp/passenger-error-f9xktp.html
  Message from application: An error occurred while starting the web application. It exited before signalling successful startup back to Phusion Passenger. Please read <a href="https://github.com/phusion/passenger/wiki/Debugging-application-startup-problems">this article</a> for more information about this problem.<br>
<h2>Raw process output:</h2>
<pre>
internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:926
    throw new ERR_REQUIRE_ESM(filename);
    ^

Error [ERR_REQUIRE_ESM]: Must use import to load ES Module: /var/www/nuxt-sample.kurtobando.com/.output/server/index.mjs
    at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:926:11)
    at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:769:14)
    at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:952:19)
    at Module.require (/.socket/passenger/src/helper-scripts/node-loader.js:80:25)
    at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:88:18)
    at loadApplication (/.socket/passenger/src/helper-scripts/node-loader.js:266:2)
    at setupEnvironment (/.socket/passenger/src/helper-scripts/node-loader.js:231:2)
    at /.socket/passenger/src/helper-scripts/node-loader.js:154:5
    at LineReader.readLine (/.socket/passenger/src/nodejs_supportlib/phusion_passenger/line_reader.js:124:3)
    at readNextOption (/.socket/passenger/src/helper-scripts/node-loader.js:152:15) {
  code: &apos;ERR_REQUIRE_ESM&apos;
}
</pre>

[nishadpnktdi]

Create a .js file with content import("./index.mjs"); and set it as application startup file in Setup Node.js App.
The parameter for import should be the location of index.mjs in server folder

[kurtobando]

Hey, it works. Thank you very much.

[DeVoresyah]

@kurtobando hi, are you using nuxt 3? I'm using nuxt 3 and I create new file .js like in the screenshot below but still didn't work

[nishadpnktdi]

@DeVoresyah What error did you get? Can you try editing package.json inside server folder and set value of "type" to "common".

[kurtobando]

@DeVoresyah it would be better to check your logs e.g in my case, passenger logs, it will tell you more, and see what went wrong.

[adamkhan]

I am getting the same problem after updating Nuxt to v3.10.1 but only when I try to run my app using pm2. Can someone explain @
nishadpnktdi's solution in more detail? What should the .js file be called so that it's seen? Which folder should I put it in? What does it mean to set it as application startup file in Setup Node.js App? What is the Setup Node.js App? Thanks!

[nishadpnktdi]

"Set up Node.js App" is an interface to run Node.js apps in cPanel. You can name the JS file whatever you wish, and you must specify its path in "Application Startup File" field.

[adamkhan]

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. I don't have a cPanel so I've just gone and created an index.js file with this import. I don't think it will help me though, as there's nothing I can see calling the index.js.