AOT: require('./mod') from inside a class method returns a non-callable value #668

Summary

Under perry compile, a require('./helper') call inside a class method body returns something whose method properties throw TypeError: value is not a function when called. Node + Bun handle the same source (treated as CJS-compatible) and return a real module object.

require() was used in @perryts/redis to break a module-import cycle between connection.ts and pipeline.ts. Workaround: convert to a top-level static ES import — ESM cycles are legal as long as the cross-imports are referenced inside function bodies (which they are here).

Environment

• perry 0.5.795
• macOS 26.4 / Apple M1 Max

Minimal repro

// helper.ts
export function greet(name: string): string {
    return 'hello, ' + name;
}

// repro.ts
class C {
    load(): unknown {
        return require('./helper');
    }
}
const c = new C();
const m = c.load() as any;
console.log('typeof m:    ', typeof m, '  has greet:', m && typeof m.greet);
if (m && typeof m.greet === 'function') console.log(m.greet('world'));

$ perry compile /tmp/repro.ts -o /tmp/repro && /tmp/repro
TypeError: value is not a function
    at <anonymous>
exit=1

Bun output (correct):

typeof m:     object   has greet: function
hello, world

Node + tsx (correct):

typeof m:     object   has greet: function
hello, world

Impact

Any driver/library that uses inline require() to break import cycles is broken under AOT. The fix on the caller side is straightforward (static ESM import) but is a silent runtime failure rather than a compile error, so it's hard to discover without running.

Suggested behavior

Either lower require(literalPath) to an ESM-equivalent static module reference at compile time, or fail at compile with a clear "CJS require is not supported under perry compile — use static import" message.