Installing Node.js and npm

bash
# macOS / Linux
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash
nvm install --lts
nvm use --lts

# Windows: use nvm-windows from GitHub

bash
node --version    # v20.x.x
npm  --version    # 10.x.x

• Switch between Node versions per project.
• No sudo headaches.
• Easy upgrade: nvm install --lts && nvm alias default lts/*.

• Official installer from nodejs.org (simplest, one version).
• Package managers: brew install node (macOS), apt install nodejs npm (Ubuntu).
• Docker: FROM node:20-alpine.

bash
npm config set init-author-name  "Your Name"
npm config set init-license      "MIT"
npm config get cache             # where downloads live

We recommend using nvm (Node Version Manager) so you can switch versions per project.

powershell
# nvm-windows from https://github.com/coreybutler/nvm-windows
winget install -e --id CoreyButler.NVMforWindows
# Reopen terminal
nvm install lts
nvm use lts
node -v && npm -v

bash
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash
# restart your shell
nvm install --lts
node -v && npm -v

bash
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_lts.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs
node -v && npm -v

bash
sudo dnf module install -y nodejs:20
node -v && npm -v

bash Run in compiler
mkdir hi && cd hi && npm init -y
echo "console.log('Hello, Node.js!')" > index.js
node index.js