How to Install NVM on Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide
You install NVM on Ubuntu to manage multiple Node.js versions on your system.
NVM (Node Version Manager) is a command-line tool that lets you easily install, switch between, and manage different Node.js runtimes for your projects. It works per user, perfect for developers needing diverse Node.js environments.
With NVM, you can install Node.js version 20.11.0 with a single command, then switch to it whenever you need it. This process ensures you always use the correct Node.js version for your specific development tasks.
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
To install or update nvm, you should run the install script. To do that, you may either download and run the script manually or use the following cURL or Wget command.
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
Either of the commands above should download the nvm install script that can be used to install. 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
Once downloaded, you can then activate and reload your shell environment. 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
As mentioned above, nvm can be used to install and manage node.js.
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
To uninstall node.js, run the commands below.
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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