nodenv

Install a specific version of Node.js

$ nodenv install [version]

$ nodenv install --list

$ nodenv global [version]

$ nodenv local [version]

$ nodenv version

$ nodenv which [command]

nodenv command [args]

commands
    List all available nodenv commands.

local
    Set or show the local application-specific Node.js version.

global
    Set or show the global Node.js version.

shell
    Set or show the shell-specific Node.js version.

version
    Display the current Node.js version in use.

versions
    List all Node.js versions known to nodenv.

shims
    List all nodenv shims.

rehash
    Rehash nodenv shims (create executables for Node.js commands).

install
    Install a specific Node.js version.

uninstall
    Uninstall a specific Node.js version.

prefix
    Display nodenv's directory.

root
    Alias for nodenv prefix.

nodenv is a command-line tool that allows you to easily manage multiple Node.js versions on your system.
It avoids the problems of installing Node.js globally by allowing each project to specify and use a specific Node.js version without interfering with other projects or the system's default Node.js installation. It works by modifying your PATH to point to the desired Node.js version at runtime, ensuring that the correct version is used when you execute Node.js commands like node, npm, and yarn. This makes it indispensable for developers working on multiple projects with varying Node.js version requirements, eliminating conflicts and ensuring consistent environments. It simplifies the update process, and ensures compatibility between projects, tools and libraries.

Requires proper shell integration (e.g., adding nodenv init to your shell's rc file).
Node.js versions must be installed separately using the nodenv install command.

nodenv's functionality can be extended through plugins, allowing for integration with tools like nodenv-doctor for troubleshooting and nodenv-use for easier version switching.

Proper shell integration is crucial for nodenv to work correctly. This usually involves adding a snippet of code to your shell's rc file (e.g., .bashrc, .zshrc) to initialize nodenv.

nodenv was inspired by rbenv and ruby-build, adapting the version management approach to Node.js.
It gained popularity as a lightweight and non-intrusive alternative to nvm, focusing on simplicity and compatibility with existing workflows. Over time, it has been enhanced with features like plugin support and improved shell integration, becoming a widely adopted tool in the Node.js development community.

nvm(1), asdf(1), rvm(1)