How To Install Node.js on Linux Mint 21/20/19

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on installing Node.js on LinuxMint. Node.js is a popular JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine, enabling developers to build scalable network applications. This article is tailored for both beginners and experienced developers looking to set up Node.js on their LinuxMint environment.

We will explore two primary methods to install Node.js: first, by using the official PPA (Personal Package Archive), and second, through the Node Version Manager (NVM), a versatile tool for managing multiple Node.js versions. Additionally, we will walk you through a practical example of creating a demo web server using Node.js, illustrating the power and simplicity of Node.js in web development. Whether you are setting up a development environment or preparing for a production deployment, this guide will ensure a smooth installation process.

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How to Install Node.js on LinuxMint

This quick how-to guide provides you with two methods to install Node.js & NPM on Linux Mint 21, 20, and 19 Linux systems.

Method 1 – Installing Node.js with Official PPA

First of all, you need to node.js PPA in our system provides by Nodejs official website. We also need to install the python-software-properties package if not installed already. You can choose either to install the latest Node.js version or the LTS version.

For Latest Release

sudo apt-get install curl python-software-properties software-properties-common 
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_21.x | sudo bash - 

For LTS Release

sudo apt-get install curl python-software-properties software-properties-common 
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo bash - 

For this tutorial, I have added the latest release Apt repository on my Linux Mint system. NPM will also be installed with node.js. This command will also install many other dependent packages on your system.

sudo apt-get install nodejs 

Method 2 – Installing Node.js with NVM

NVM provides a shell script for the installation on the Linux system. So, execute the installer script with the below commands. This will install the nvm command on your system.

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

Now, load the nvm environment in the current shell with the below command.

source ~/.profile 

NVM is successfully installed on your system. Now you can install any node.js version with the help of NVM.

nvm install 16.14 

You can run the above command with different 2 versions to install any number of Node.js on your Linux Mint systems. For example, you can use nvm install 17 or nvm install 12.18, etc.

The systems have multiple node.js versions installed, can use the below command to set any installed node.js version as an active version.

nvm use 16.14 

You can find detailed instruction’s about the node.js installation in our previous tutorials. Find more details about Node.js installation via NVM.

How to Check Default Node.js Version

After completing the installation process of node.js, Let’s check and verify the installed version. You can find more details about the current version on node.js official website.

node -v  

v19.2.0

Also, check the version of NPM.

npm -v  

8.19.3

• Don’t Miss => Yarn Installation ( A Node Modules Manager)

Step 4: Create A Demo Web Server (Optional)

This is an optional step. If you want to test your node.js install. Let’s create a web server with “Hello World!” text. Create a file http_server.js

nano http_server.js 

and add the following content

var http = require('http');
http.createServer(function (req, res) {
  res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
  res.end('Hello World\n');
}).listen(3000, "127.0.0.1");
console.log('Server running at http://127.0.0.1:3000/');

Now start the web server using the command.

node http_server.js 

Server running at http://127.0.0.1:3000/

The web server has been started on port 3000. Now access http://127.0.0.1:3000/ URL in the browser.

Conclusion

In this article, we have successfully navigated the installation of Node.js on LinuxMint using two reliable methods: the official PPA and NVM. Both methods offer flexibility and ease, catering to different needs and preferences of developers. Using the official PPA provides a straightforward approach to installing Node.js, while NVM offers a more flexible solution for handling multiple versions of Node.js. Additionally, the demo web server example showcased how quickly and efficiently one can start developing with Node.js, making it an excellent choice for modern web development.

Remember, choosing the right installation method depends on your specific project requirements and development setup. With Node.js installed, you’re now ready to embark on building efficient, scalable, and high-performance web applications on your LinuxMint system. Happy coding!