How do I install multiple node js version on the same machine

While working on the multiple projects of NodeJs, you might be required to run different projects on the different nodejs version or for the legacy nodejs projects, you might require an old version of the nodejs, and the others required a new version of node-js, or to checkout the new feature of nodejs, you need to install the latest version of node js

As on the same machine, we can only install one version of the nodejs, so it's very painful to uninstall and install the new node version as per your project requirements.

To overcome this problem, we can use the Node Version Manager (NVM). NVM allows installing multiple node js versions on the same machine and switching between the required node js version.

Installation of NVM

Windows

Download the latest version of NVM

https://github.com/coreybutler/nvm-windows/releases/latest

Download nvm-setup.zip and install on the windows

Verify Installation

nvm version

MacOs/Linux

Using curl

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.38.0/install.sh | bash

Using Wget

wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.38.0/install.sh | bash

Verify Installation

command -v nvm

Usage

Get a List of all available NodeJs versions

nvm  ls available //windows

nvm ls-remote //MacOs/Linux

Install latest NodeJs version

nvm install node

Install latest LTS Release

nvm install --lts

Install particular NodeJs version

Multiple NodeJs version can be installed using the below command.

nvm install 8.11.1 // to install the 8.11.1 version

nvm install 12.13.1 //to install the 12.13.1 version

UnInstall the multiple NodeJs version

nvm uninstall 8.11.1

Switching the NodeJs version

Get a List of installed NodeJs version

nvm list  //for windows

nvm ls //for MacOs/linux

Switching Between installed NodeJs Versions

nvm use 8.11.1  //To enable 8.11.1

nvm use 12.13.1 //To enable 12.13.1

Use Custom alias for installed NodeJs versions

We can create an alias as per the Project basis or the group of projects using the same NodeJs version.

nvm alias awesome-project 12.13.1

After creating an alias, then switch to the alias

nvm use awesome-project

Remove the Alias

nvm unalias awesome-project

Run to specific NodeJs version, without switching

nvm run 8.11.1 app.js

or can be used below command

nvm exec 8.11.1 node app.js

Other Commands

To use installed nodeJs version in the system

nvm use system

To completely remove nvm from the system.

nvm unload 

Conclusion

Node Version Manager (NVM) is a great tool and easy to switch between multiple node versions while working on projects that required different NodeJs versions. It saves a lot of development time by just switching to the version of nodejs needed.