How to Install NVM on Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide
Node Version Manager (NVM) is a command-line tool that lets you install and switch between multiple versions of Node.js on Ubuntu. Different web projects often need different versions of Node.js to run properly, and NVM stops you from having to uninstall and reinstall software every time you switch tasks.
You can install a specific release like Node.js 20.11.0 in seconds and switch back to an older version whenever a project requires it. The tool installs directly into your user account, keeping your setup clean and safe from system-wide conflicts.
Install NVM by running the provided cURL or Wget command from the official NVM GitHub repository. After the script finishes, reload your shell configuration by running `source ~/.bashrc` to activate NVM.
How to install nvm on Ubuntu Linux
As mentioned above, nvm allows you to quickly install and use different versions of nodes via the command line.
The steps below show you how to do that on Ubuntu Linux.
Install nvm
You can install nvm (Node Version Manager, a tool that lets you manage multiple versions of Node.js) on Ubuntu by running a single download script in your terminal. Paste the official curl or wget command into your command line and press Enter to fetch the setup script, which automatically configures everything you need to start using nvm on your system.
cURL command:
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.2/install.sh | bash
Wget command:
wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.2/install.sh | bash
The script clones the nvm repository to ~/.nvm, and attempts to add the source lines from the snippet below to the correct profile file (~/.bash_profile, ~/.zshrc, ~/.profile, or ~/.bashrc).
After installing, the script should output the lines below.
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm" [ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" # This loads nvm [ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" # This loads nvm bash_completion
By default, it's bash (~/.bashrc).
source ~/.bashrc
To check the version of nvm installed, run the commands below.
nvm --version
Install Node.js with nvm
You can install Node.js with nvm on Ubuntu by running the nvm install command in your terminal. This downloads and sets up the latest or a specific version of Node.js for your user account without needing root permissions, letting you switch between different software versions whenever your projects require it.
Run the commands below to download and install the current and latest version of node.js.
nvm install node
Once installed, you can check the version of node.js installed by running the commands below.
node --version
Run the commands below to install the latest stable version (long-term support).
nvm install node --lts
To install a specific version (12.17.0), run the commands below.
nvm install 12.17.0
To list all available versions in the repository, run the commands below.
nvm ls-remote
If you have multiple versions of node.js installed, run the commands below to specify the version you want to use.
nvm use 12.17.0
To find the current default node.js installed, run the commands below.
nvm run default --version
Uninstall node.js
You can uninstall Node.js using nvm on Ubuntu by running the nvm uninstall command followed by the exact version number you want to remove. This safely deletes that specific release from your machine while leaving nvm and your other installed Node.js versions untouched and ready to use.
nvm uninstall v12.17.0
That should do it!
Conclusion:
- Nvm is a valuable tool for developers to manage multiple versions of node.js on their systems easily.
- By following the installation instructions, developers can quickly install and use different versions of node.js via the command line.
- The provided guide simplifies installing nvm on Ubuntu Linux and showcases how to install and manage node.js using nvm.
- Users are encouraged to provide feedback or suggestions for improvement through the comment section below.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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