Node.js, a powerful JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 engine, is designed for building scalable network applications. npm is Node.js’s default package manager and a vast software registry. This guide covers three methods for installing Node.js and npm on Ubuntu 22.04, each catering to different requirements.
Method 1: Installing Node.js and npm from NodeSource
NodeSource provides an enterprise-grade Node support with an APT repository containing multiple Node.js versions.
- Install Dependencies:
Update the package list and install necessary packages:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ca-certificates curl gnupg
- Import NodeSource Repository GPG Key:
sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/gpgkey/nodesource-repo.gpg.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.gpg
- Add NodeSource Repository:
For Node.js v20.x, create the NodeSource repository file:
NODE_MAJOR=20
echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.gpg] https://deb.nodesource.com/node_$NODE_MAJOR.x nodistro main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nodesource.list
sudo apt update
- Install Node.js and npm:
sudo apt install nodejs
Verify the installation:
node --version
npm --version
Install development tools for compiling native addons:
sudo apt install build-essential
Method 2: Using NVM (Node Version Manager)
NVM allows managing multiple Node.js versions on a single machine.
- Install NVM:
Download and install the nvm script:
wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash
Reopen the terminal or source the nvm script:
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"
- Verify NVM Installation:
nvm --version
- Install Node.js Versions:
Install the latest Node.js version:
nvm install node
For LTS or a specific version (e.g., v16.15.0):
nvm install --lts
nvm install 16.15.0
Switch between installed versions:
nvm use 16.15.0
Set the default Node.js version:
nvm alias default 16.15.0
Method 3: Installing from Ubuntu Repositories
This method installs Node.js and npm from the Ubuntu repository.
- Install Node.js and npm:
Update the package index and install:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs npm
Verify the installation:
nodejs --version
Conclusion
These three methods provide flexibility in installing Node.js and npm on Ubuntu 22.04, whether you need a specific version, multiple versions, or the simplicity of using the Ubuntu repository. The choice depends on your specific use case and requirements. For additional assistance or questions, feel free to leave a comment.