Installing Node.js on WSL2

Install Node Version Manager (NVM) on Ubuntu

Node Version Manager (NVM) is a tool that will allow you to download and install multiple versions of Node.js, one of the environments for the JavaScript programming language that we teach at Flatiron School. Installing NVM is the first step in installing Node.js on your Ubuntu operating system.

Action Item

1. Open the "Ubuntu" application using the "Start" menu
2. Type curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash and press <Enter>
3. Close the "Ubuntu" application
4. Reopen the "Ubuntu" application
5. Type nvm and press <Enter>

Check Your Work

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4X3ELqRnRd0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If you see a message ending with "Note: to remove, delete, or uninstall nvm", continue below.

Note: If nvm is not recognized, or you are seeing new errors when restarting the "Ubuntu" application, check out the troubleshooting steps in the Verify and Troubleshoot your WSL2 Environment Setup lesson later on in this module.

Install Node.js on Ubuntu

For our JavaScript labs and lessons, we expect that students use Node.js on Ubuntu. If Node Version Manager (NVM) has been successfully installed, you can quickly install Node.js with a couple of commands.

Action Item

1. Open the "Ubuntu" application using the "Start" menu
2. Type nvm install --lts and press <Enter>
3. Type nvm list and press <Enter>

Check Your Work

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SqSwrdEENfI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If you see a message starting with "-> v16.0.0" (or any higher number, like "-> 16.11.1"), continue to the next lesson, Windows WSL2 Ruby Installation.