How To Install NVM on Ubuntu 20.04

In the dynamic world of web development, managing multiple Node.js versions efficiently is crucial for developers working on various projects with different compatibility requirements. Node Version Manager (NVM) is a powerful tool that enables you to install, manage, and switch between Node.js versions with ease.

This step-by-step guide is tailored for Ubuntu 20.04 users looking to harness the flexibility of NVM. Whether you’re a seasoned developer aiming to streamline your workflow or a novice stepping into the world of Node.js development, this guide will walk you through the installation process of NVM on Ubuntu 20.04.

Prerequisites

• You must have a running Ubuntu 20.04 Linux system with shell access.
• Log in with a user account to which you need to install node.js.

1. Installing NVM on Ubuntu

A shell script is available for the installation of nvm on the Ubuntu 20.04 Linux system. Open a terminal on your system or connect a remote system using SSH. Use the following commands to install curl on your system, then run the nvm installer script.

sudo apt install curl 
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/master/install.sh | bash 

The nvm installer script creates an environment entry to the login script of the current user. You can either log out and log in again to load the environment or execute the below command to do the same.

source ~/.bashrc   

The nvm installation is successfully completed on your Ubuntu system.

2. Installing Node using NVM

You can install multiple node.js versions using nvm. And use the required version for your application from installed node.js.

Install the latest version of node.js. Here node is the alias for the latest version.

nvm install node 

To install a specific version of node:

nvm install 18.16.0 

Replace 18.16.0 with the desired version number.

You can also install the latest LTS (Long Term Support) version of Node.js by running:

nvm install --lts 

You can choose any other version to install using the above command. The very first version installed becomes the default. New shells will start with the default version of the node (e.g., nvm alias default).

3. Working with NVM

You can use the following command to list installed versions of the node for the current user.

nvm ls 

With this command, you can find the available node.js version for the installation.

nvm ls-remote 

You can also select a different version for the current session. The selected version will be the currently active version for the current shell only.

nvm use 18.16.0 

To find the default Node version set for the current user, type:

nvm run default --version 

You can run a Node script with the desired version of node.js using the below command:

nvm exec 18.16.0 server.js 

4. Uninstall Node Version

To uninstall a specific Node.js version, use the nvm uninstall command followed by the version number. You can find the installed versions using `nvm ls` command. For example, if you want to uninstall Node.js version 18.16.0, run the following command:

nvm uninstall 18.16.0 

Replace 14.18.1 with the desired version number you want to uninstall.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed NVM on Ubuntu 20.04 and learned how to manage multiple Node.js versions. With NVM, you can effortlessly switch between different Node.js versions, making it a valuable tool for developers working on various projects.