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nvm (Node Version Manager) is a common version manager for Node.

🛠 Installation ​

  1. Install Script: Run the installation script from the NVM repository:
bash
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash
  1. Reload Shell: Close and reopen your terminal and run
bash
source ~/.bashrc
zsh
source ~/.zshrc
zsh
omz reload

Note

Do not use source ~/.zshrc when using oh-my-zsh. More details

  1. Verify Installation: Check if NVM is installed correctly
bash
nvm --version

📝 Basic Commands ​

  • Install a Node Version: To install a specific version of Node.js:
bash
nvm install 14.17.0
  • Use a Node Version: To switch to a particular Node.js version:
bash
nvm use 14.17.0
  • List Installed Versions: To see all Node.js versions installed on your machine:
bash
nvm ls
  • List Available Versions: To see all available Node.js versions:
bash
nvm ls-remote
  • Set Default Node Version: To set a default Node.js version:
bash
nvm alias defualt 20.17.0

🧙‍♂️ Advanced Tips and Tricks ​

  • Upgrade NVM: Keep NVM up to date to enjoy the latest features and bug fixes:
bash
nvm install-latest-npm
  • Uninstall a Node Version: Remove a Node.js version you no longer need:
bash
nvm uninstall 14.17.0
  • Run Specific Node Version Temporarily: Run a specific Node.js version for a single command:
bash
nvm run 14.17.0 my-script.js
  • Global Packages: When switching Node.js versions, your global packages might differ. Use nvm to manage global packages for each version.

📂 Setting Up .nvmrc for Project-Specific Node Versions ​

When working on multiple projects, it’s often helpful to specify which Node.js version each project uses. This is where the .nvmrc file comes in handy.

  1. Create a .nvmrc File: In the root directory of your project, create a file named .nvmrc:
Specific
echo "14.17.0" > .nvmrc
System
node -v > .nvmrc
  1. Use the .nvmrc File: To automatically use the Node.js version specified in .nvmrc, navigate to your project directory and run:
bash
nvm use

This command reads the .nvmrc file and switches to the specified version.

  1. Set Up Automatic Version Switching: For a smoother workflow, you can use a tool like nvm-auto or nvm-use to automatically switch Node.js versions when you navigate into your project directory. Install nvm-auto globally:
bash
npm install -g nvm-auto

Now, nvm-auto will automatically switch to the Node.js version specified in your .nvmrc file when you enter your project directory.