Node Version Manager (opens new window), otherwise known as nvm, is a bash script that simplifies the management of multiple Node.js versions.

To install nvm, use the provided install script:

$ curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.31.3/install.sh | bash

For windows there is a nvm-windows package with an installer. This GithHub (opens new window) page has the details for installing and using the nvm-windows package.

After installing nvm, run "nvm on" from command line. This enables nvm to control the node versions.

Note: You may need to restart your terminal for it to recognize the newly installed nvm command.

Then install the latest Node version:

$ nvm install node

You can also install a specific Node version, by passing the major, minor, and/or patch versions:

$ nvm install 6
$ nvm install 4.2

To list the versions available for install:

$ nvm ls-remote

You can then switch versions by passing the version the same way you do when installing:

$ nvm use 5

You can set a specific version of Node that you installed to be the default version by entering:

$ nvm alias default 4.2

To display a list of Node versions that are installed on your machine, enter:

$ nvm ls

To use project-specific node versions, you can save the version in .nvmrc file. This way, starting to work with another project will be less error-prone after fetching it from its repository.

$ echo "4.2" > .nvmrc
$ nvm use
Found '/path/to/project/.nvmrc' with version <4.2>
Now using node v4.2 (npm v3.7.3)

When Node is installed via nvm we don't have to use sudo to install global packages since they are installed in home folder. Thus npm i -g http-server works without any permission errors.

Homebrew

You can install Node.js using the Homebrew (opens new window) package manager.

Start by updating brew:

brew update

You may need to change permissions or paths. It's best to run this before proceeding:

brew doctor

Next you can install Node.js by running:

brew install node

Once Node.js is installed, you can validate the version installed by running:

node -v

Macports

You can also install node.js through Macports (opens new window).

First update it to make sure the lastest packages are referenced:

sudo port selfupdate

Then install nodejs and npm

sudo port install nodejs npm

You can now run node through CLI directly by invoking node. Also, you can check your current node version with

node -v

Standard installation

All Node.js binaries, installers, and source files can be downloaded here (opens new window).

You can download just the node.exe runtime or use the Windows installer (.msi), which will also install npm, the recommended package manager for Node.js, and configure paths.

Installation by package manager

You can also install by package manager Chocolatey (opens new window) (Software Management Automation).

# choco install nodejs.install

More information about current version, you can find in the choco repository here (opens new window).

Using the apt package manager

sudo apt-get update    
sudo apt-get install nodejs
sudo apt-get install npm
sudo ln -s /usr/bin/nodejs /usr/bin/node

# the node & npm versions in apt are outdated. This is how you can update them:
sudo npm install -g npm
sudo npm install -g n
sudo n stable # (or lts, or a specific version)

Using the latest of specific version (e.g. LTS 6.x) directly from nodesource

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_6.x | sudo -E bash -
apt-get install -y nodejs

Also, for the right way to install global npm modules, set the personal directory for them (eliminates the need for sudo and avoids EACCES errors):

mkdir ~/.npm-global
echo "export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH" >> ~/.profile
source ~/.profile
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'

First, there is a really nice wrapper for setting up n on your system. Just run:

curl -L https://git.io/n-install | bash

to install n. Then install binaries in a variety of ways:

latest

n latest

stable

n stable

lts

n lts

Any other version

n <version>

e.g. n 4.4.7

If this version is already installed, this command will activate that version.

Switching versions

n by itself will produce a selection list of installed binaries. Use up and down to find the one you want and Enter to activate it.

Prerequisites

sudo apt-get install build-essential
sudo apt-get install python

[optional]
sudo apt-get install git

Get source and build

cd ~
git clone https://github.com/nodejs/node.git

OR For the latest LTS Node.js version 6.10.2

cd ~
wget https://nodejs.org/dist/v6.3.0/node-v6.10.2.tar.gz
tar -xzvf node-v6.10.2.tar.gz

Change to the source directory such as in cd ~/node-v6.10.2

./configure
make
sudo make install

To install v6.x update the packages

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_6.x | sudo -E bash -

Using the apt package manager

sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

Node Version Manager (opens new window) (nvm) greatly simplifies the management of Node.js versions, their installation, and removes the need for sudo when dealing with packages (e.g. npm install ...). Fish Shell (opens new window) (fish) "is a smart and user-friendly command line shell for OS X, Linux, and the rest of the family" that is a popular alternative among programmers to common shells such as bash. Lastly, Oh My Fish (opens new window) (omf) allows for customizing and installing packages within Fish shell.

This guide assumes you are already using Fish as your shell.

Install nvm

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.31.4/install.sh | bash

Install Oh My Fish

curl -L https://github.com/oh-my-fish/oh-my-fish/raw/master/bin/install | fish

(Note: You will be prompted to restart your terminal at this point. Go ahead and do so now.)

Install plugin-nvm for Oh My Fish

We will install plugin-nvm (opens new window) via Oh My Fish to expose nvm capabilities within the Fish shell:

omf install nvm

Install Node.js with Node Version Manager

You are now ready to use nvm. You may install and use the version of Node.js of your liking. Some examples:

• Install the most recent Node version: nvm install node
• Install 6.3.1 specifically: nvm install 6.3.1
• List installed verisons: nvm ls
• Switch to a previously installed 4.3.1: nvm use 4.3.1

Final Notes

Remember again, that we no longer need sudo when dealing with Node.js using this method! Node versions, packages, and so on are installed in your home directory.

Prerequisites

• git
• clang and clang++ 3.4^ or gcc and g++ 4.8^
• Python 2.6 or 2.7
• GNU Make 3.81^

Get source

Node.js v6.x LTS

git clone -b v6.x https://github.com/nodejs/node.git

Node.js v7.x

git clone -b v7.x https://github.com/nodejs/node.git

Build

cd node
./configure
make -jX
su -c make install

X - the number of processor cores, greatly speeds up the build

Cleanup [Optional]

cd 
rm -rf node

You can find the installers on Node.js download page (opens new window). Normally, Node.js recommends two versions of Node, the LTS version (long term support) and the current version (latest release). If you are new to Node, just go for the LTS and then click the Macintosh Installer button to download the package.

If you want to find other NodeJS releases, go here (opens new window), choose your release then click download. From the download page, look for a file with extension .pkg.

Once you downloaded the file (with extension .pkg ofcourse), double click it to install. The installer packed with Node.js and npm, by default, the package will install both but you can customize which one to install by clicking the customize button in the Installation Type step. Other than that, just follow the installation instructions, it's pretty straightforward.

Check if Node is installed

Open terminal (if you don't know how to open your terminal, look at this wikihow (opens new window)). In the terminal type node --version then enter. Your terminal will look like this if Node is installed:

$ node --version
v7.2.1

The v7.2.1 is your Node.js version, if you receive the message command not found: node instead of that, then it's mean there is a problem with your installation.