# How to Install Node.js on Ubuntu 14.04

> URL: https://www.atlantic.net/vps-hosting/how-to-install-node-js-ubuntu-14-04/ | Published: 2015-04-20 | Updated: 2024-06-06 | Author: Jose Velazquez

### Introduction

Node.js is a popular platform that is used to build quick and upgradable network applications efficiently. It achieves maximum productivity with the minimum effort needed, often used in applications used throughout many devices.

## Install Nodejs

There are several ways that we can install node.js in Ubuntu 14.04. We will go over the basic install, the PPM install, and the NVM install.

## The Basic install (Distro-Stable Version)

To update the current packages, the command is:

```
sudo apt-get update
```

Install the node.js package, the command is:

```
sudo apt-get install nodejs
```

Install npm(Node Package Manager)as well for package management; the command is:

```
sudo apt-get install npm
```

Verify the current version of Node.js installed, the command is:

```
node -v
```

Congratulations! You have installed Node.js using The Basic(Distro-Stable Version) install.

## The PPA install (Personal Package Archive)

Install the PPA to get access to its contents; the command is:

```
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup | sudo bash -
```

If you get the following error message “-bash: curl: command not found,” run the following command to update the apt-get file:

```
sudo apt-get install apt-file && apt-file update
```

Update your local packages; the command is:

```
sudo apt-get update
```

Install the node.js, the command is:

```
sudo apt-get install nodejs
```

Install npm(Node Package Manager)to manage your package.

```
sudo apt-get install npm
```

Verify your version of Node.js is installed; the command is:

```
node -v
```

Congratulations! You have installed Node.js using The PPA(Personal Package Archive) install.

## The NVM install (Nodejs Version Manager)

The NVM install is another way of installing Node.js

```
using apt.
```

Installed through a tool called,

```
nvm
```

(Node.js version manager).

Using NVM will give you a selection of different versions of Node.js, from the latest to several previous ones.

Update the system to build the source packages; the command is:

```
sudo apt-get update
```

Install the following to make your components with the nvm script that we’ll go over next:

```
sudo apt-get install build-essential libssl-dev
```

Download then install the nvm script with the following command or get them from https://github.com/creationix/nvm

```
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.7.0/install.sh | sh
```

The software will install in a subdirectory of your home directory

```
~/.nvm
```

and will add the necessary lines to your

```
~/.profile
```

file to use the file.

With the following command, source the

```
~/.profile
```

for your session to know about these changes, and you can access the nvm functionality.

```
source ~/.profile
```

Nvm has been installed. Now you can install whatever version of Node.js is available.

To view the versions that are currently available, the command is:

```
nvm ls-remote
```

![Sample nvm output](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/node1.jpg)

Sample nvm output

You should see something like the following;

Install the version you want with the command:

```
nvm install [your version]
```

Example:

```
nvm install 0.11.16
```

Configure nvm to use the version of Node.js that you just downloaded; the command is:

```
nvm use [your version]
```

Example:

```
nvm use 0.11.16
```

To verify the current version of Node.js installed, the command is:

```
node -v
```

If you have a lot of Node.js versions, see what’s installed, the command is:

```
nvm ls
```

![Sample nvm ls](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/node2.jpg)

Sample nvm ls

To default one of the versions that are installed, the command is:

```
nvm alias default [your version]
```

Example:

```
nvm alias default 0.11.16
```

You can also reference it by the following alias:

```
nvm use default
```

You can have

```
npm
```

install packages to the Node.js project’s

```
./node_modules
```

directory by using the standard format:

```
npm install express
```

![Install npm](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/node3.jpg)

Install npm

If you’d like to install it globally (available to the other projects using the same Node.js version), you can add the

```
-g
```

flag:

```
npm install -g express
```

![Install npm](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/node4.jpg)

Install npm

This will install the package in:

```
~/.nvm/node_version/lib/node_modules/package_name
```

Installing globally will let you run the commands from the command line, but you’ll have to use link the package into your locally to require it from within a program:

```
npm link express
```

![npm Link Express](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/node5.jpg)

npm Link Express

Other options are available with the following command:

```
nvm help
```

![Sample nvm help page](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/node6.jpg)

NVM Help

Congratulations! You have installed Node.js using The PPA(Personal Package Archive) install.

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