I was recently going through the version of node in my ubuntu 16.04 when node -v command was used it shows me version 6.9.1 but when nodejs -v it shows 6.9.2 previously before using this commands npm update command was used.
Now what's these difference in node -v and nodejs -v? and how to update to the latest LTS version of node/nodejs?
According to official docs to install node on Debian and Ubuntu based distributions:
node v12 (Old)
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_12.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
node v14 (For new users: install this one):
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_14.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
node v15 (Current version):
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_15.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
Other older versions: Just replace the desired version number in the link above.
Optional: install build tools
To compile and install native packages
sudo apt-get install -y build-essential
To update node to the latest version just:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
To keep npm updated
sudo npm i -g npm
To find out other versions try npm info npm and in versions find your desired version and replace [version-tag] with that version tag in npm i -g npm@[version-tag]
And I also recommend trying yarn instead of npm
Using Node Version Manager (NVM):
Install it:
wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.33.11/install.sh | bash
Test your installation:
close your current terminal, open a new terminal, and run:
command -v nvm
Use it to install as many versions as u like:
nvm install 8 # Install nodejs 8
nvm install --lts # Install latest LTS (Long Term Support) version
List installed versions:
nvm ls
Use a specific version:
nvm use 8 # Use this version on this shell
Set defaults:
nvm alias default 8 # Default to nodejs 8 on this shell
nvm alias default node # always use latest available as default nodejs for all shells
Use sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade nodejs to upgrade node (and only upgrade node) using the package manager.
The package name is nodejs, see https://stackoverflow.com/a/18130296/4578017 for details.
You can also use nvm to install and update node.
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.32.1/install.sh | bash
Then restart the terminal, use nvm ls-remote to get latest version list of node, and use nvm install lts/* to install latest LTS version.
nvm is more recommended way to install or update node, even if you are not going to switch versions.
Use n module from npm in order to upgrade node
sudo npm cache clean -f
sudo npm install -g n
sudo n stable
To upgrade to latest version (and not current stable) version, you can use
sudo n latest
Undo :
sudo apt-get install --reinstall nodejs-legacy # fix /usr/bin/node sudo n rm 6.0.0 # replace number with version of Node that was installed sudo npm uninstall -g n
Difference: When I first installed node, it installed as 'nodejs'. When I upgraded it, it created 'node'. By executing node, we are actually executing nodejs. Node is just a reference to nodejs. From my experience, when I upgraded, it affected both the versions (as it is supposed to). When I do nodejs -v or node -v, I get the new version.
Upgrading: npm update is used to update the packages in the current directory. Check https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/update
To upgrade node version, based on the OS you are using, follow the commands here https://nodejs.org/en/download/package-manager/
Please refer nodejs official site for installation instructions at the following link
https://nodejs.org/en/download/package-manager/#debian-and-ubuntu-based-linux-distributions
Anyway, please find the commands to install nodejs version 10 in ubuntu below.
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_8.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
Try this:
Edit or create the file :nodesource.list
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nodesource.list
Insert this text:
deb https://deb.nodesource.com/node_10.x bionic main
deb-src https://deb.nodesource.com/node_10.x bionic main
Run these commands:
curl -s https://deb.nodesource.com/gpgkey/nodesource.gpg.key | apt-key add -
sudo sh -c "echo deb https://deb.nodesource.com/node_10.x cosmic main /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nodesource.list"
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nodejs
Use n module from npm in order to upgrade node sudo npm cache clean -f sudo npm install -g n sudo n stable To upgrade to latest version (and not current stable) version, you can use sudo n latest
To undo: sudo apt-get install --reinstall nodejs-legacy # fix /usr/bin/node sudo n rm 6.0.0 # replace number with version of Node that was installed sudo npm uninstall -g n
