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Install Node.js

Download an LTS build from nodejs.org and install it. Node bundles npm, its package manager, so you get both at once.

Install & verify

bash

node -v     # e.g. v24.4.0
npm -v      # e.g. 10.8.1

Pick the LTS version (not “Current”) for stability — it's the one used in production.

Managing multiple versions

Different projects may need different Node versions. A version manager makes switching effortless.

bash

# nvm (macOS/Linux) - nvm-windows exists for Windows
nvm install 24
nvm use 24
nvm ls              # list installed versions

Tip: Add a .nvmrc file with a version number to a project, then nvm use reads it — so everyone on the team runs the same Node version.

Other package managers

npm is the default, but pnpm (fast, disk-efficient) and Yarn are popular alternatives. Corepack (bundled with Node) lets you enable them per project.

bash

corepack enable      # activates pnpm/yarn as pinned in package.json

Note: You don't need an IDE to start — a terminal and a text editor work — but VS Code is the common choice, with excellent JavaScript/Node support.

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