Unlocking Seamless Node.js Management with NVM

Nazhim Kalam
Enlear Academy
Published in
2 min readMar 9, 2024

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In the dynamic landscape of web development, Node.js stands as a pivotal technology, empowering developers to craft scalable and high-performance applications.

However, as Node.js evolves with frequent updates and releases, managing different versions of Node.js across projects can become a daunting task.

Enter NVM (Node Version Manager), a powerful tool designed to simplify the management of Node.js versions, offering developers flexibility and control over their development environments.

What is NVM?

NVM, short for Node Version Manager, is a command-line utility that allows developers to manage multiple installations of Node.js on a single system.

Whether you’re working on multiple projects with different Node.js dependencies or experimenting with various Node.js versions, NVM provides an elegant solution for switching between Node.js versions seamlessly.

How is NVM used?

Using NVM is straightforward and involves a few simple steps:

  1. Installation: Begin by installing NVM on your system using the provided installation script or package manager. NVM supports various operating systems, including Linux, macOS, and Windows.
  2. Installing Node.js: Once NVM is installed, you can use it to install specific versions of Node.js. For example, you can install Node.js version 14 by running the command nvm install 14.
  3. Switching Node.js Versions: After installing multiple Node.js versions, you can switch between them effortlessly using NVM. For instance, to switch to Node.js version 12, you would execute nvm use 12.
  4. Setting Default Versions: Additionally, NVM allows you to set a default Node.js version for your system. This ensures that new terminal sessions automatically use the specified Node.js version. You can accomplish this by running nvm alias default <version>.
  5. Managing npm: NVM also manages the associated npm (Node Package Manager) versions alongside Node.js versions. This means that when you switch Node.js versions using NVM, the corresponding npm version is also activated, ensuring compatibility with your projects.

In conclusion, NVM (Node Version Manager) empowers developers with the flexibility and control needed to manage Node.js environments effectively.

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