A comprehensive guide to setting up and using Node Version Manager (NVM) on macOS.

A comprehensive guide to setting up and using Node Version Manager (NVM) on macOS.

Introduction

NVM, or Node Version Manager, is a command-line tool that allows you to install, manage, and switch between multiple versions of Node.js on a single machine. This is particularly useful for developers who work on various projects that may have different Node.js version requirements, ensuring compatibility and preventing version-related conflicts.

Prerequisites

Before installing NVM, you’ll need to have the following:

Command Line Tools: Ensure that Xcode Command Line Tools are installed. You can install them by running the following command in your terminal:
```
  xcode-select --install
```

Installation Guide

The most straightforward way to install NVM is by using the official install script.

Run the Install Script: Open your terminal and execute the following command. This will download and run the NVM installation script.
```
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash
```
Configure Your Shell Profile: After the installation, you need to configure your shell to automatically load NVM every time you open a new terminal window. Depending on your shell, you will need to add the following lines to the corresponding configuration file (~/.zshrc for Zsh, which is the default for modern macOS, or ~/.bash_profile for Bash).
```
export NVM_DIR="$([ -z "${XDG_CONFIG_HOME-}" ] && printf %s "${HOME}/.nvm" || printf %s "${XDG_CONFIG_HOME}/nvm")"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" # This loads nvm
```
Apply the Changes: To apply the changes to your current terminal session, you can either close and reopen the terminal or run the source command on your configuration file.

For Zsh:
```
source ~/.zshrc
```
For Bash:
```
source ~/.bash_profile
```

Verification

To confirm that NVM has been installed correctly, run the following command:

nvm --version

If the installation was successful, you will see the installed NVM version number.

Basic Usage

Here are some of the most common commands for managing your Node.js versions with NVM.

Listing Available Node.js Versions: To see a list of all the Node.js versions that you can install, use the ls-remote command.
```
  nvm ls-remote
```
Installing a Specific Node.js Version: You can install a particular version of Node.js. For example, to install the latest Long-Term Support (LTS) version, which is generally recommended for most projects, use:
```
  nvm install --lts
```
To install a specific version number, such as 18.17.0, you would run:
```
  nvm install 18.17.0
```
Switching Between Installed Versions: To switch to a different installed version of Node.js for your current terminal session, use the use command.
```
  nvm use 18.17.0
```
Setting a Default Node.js Version: To set a default Node.js version that will be used every time you open a new terminal, use the alias default command.
```
  nvm alias default 18.17.0
```