Node.js v23.0.0 Released: The End of 32-bit Windows Support

On October 16, 2024, the Node.js community reached a significant milestone with the release of Node.js v23.0.0. This latest version introduces several improvements and new features, but it also brings an important change: Node.js will no longer support 32-bit Windows.

Why Drop 32-bit Windows Support?

According to a GitHub issue, only 0.27% of users are running Windows on 32-bit machines. Moreover, Node.js had already stopped supporting 32-bit Linux due to toolchain limitations and previously dropped support for Windows 7. Given these factors, maintaining support for 32-bit Windows no longer made sense for the project.

What This Means for Users

For most Node.js users, this change will have little to no effect. However, if you're still using a 32-bit version of Windows, this update means that Node.js v23.0.0 and all future versions will no longer be compatible with your system. You will need to either upgrade to a 64-bit version of Windows or continue using an older Node.js version that supports 32-bit systems.

New Features in Node.js v23.0.0

Aside from this significant change, Node.js v23.0.0 also brings some noteworthy new features, including:

Native ES Module Loading with require()

A long-requested feature is now available! In previous versions, loading native ES modules (.mjs files) via require() was only possible using the --experimental-require-module flag. With Node.js v23.0.0, this feature is now fully supported without the need for any flags.

Here’s a simple example of how you can now load an ES module using require()in Node.js v23.0.0:

// Importing a native ES module using require
const { add, subtract } = require('./math.mjs');

// Use the imported functions
console.log(add(5, 3));       // Outputs: 8
console.log(subtract(10, 4)); // Outputs: 6

In this example, we are importing two functions (add and subtract) from an ES module file (math.mjs) using the require() method, which was not natively possible before this release.

With these improvements, Node.js continues to evolve as a powerful, modern, and developer-friendly platform. Whether you’re building large-scale applications or working on small projects, Node.js v23.0.0 offers new capabilities that can enhance your development workflow.

Note: If you're still on a 32-bit system, consider upgrading soon to take advantage of these new features and improvements!