Node.js Installation & Setup
Install Node.js, understand LTS releases, verify your installation, and set up a clean development environment with VS Code and the terminal.
Install Node.js, understand LTS releases, verify your installation, and set up a clean development environment with VS Code and the terminal.
Here's everything this chapter covers, in the order you'll learn it:
- Installing Node.js on Windows, macOS and Linux
- LTS (Long-Term Support) version vs Current version
- Checking the installed Node version
- Checking the installed npm version
- Using the Node REPL for quick experiments
- Running a JavaScript file with node
- Creating a project folder
- Setting up VS Code for Node.js development
- Basic terminal / command-line usage
- Common installation errors and fixes
node --version
npm --version
# Open the interactive Node REPL
node- Always install the LTS (Long-Term Support) version for production projects — it gets security patches for years.
- On Windows, prefer installing via the official installer or a version manager like nvm-windows.
- Use nvm (Node Version Manager) if you need to switch between multiple Node.js versions across projects.
Q What's the most important thing to understand about node.js installation & setup?
Focus on: Installing Node.js · LTS Versions · node --version · npm --version · Node REPL · VS Code Setup. These are the core building blocks this chapter's examples are built around, and they show up repeatedly in later chapters of this course.
Q Do I need external npm packages for node.js installation & setup?
Only where explicitly shown in the code examples above (like Express, Zod, or Socket.IO) — otherwise, this chapter relies entirely on Node.js's own built-in capabilities.