How to Install and Set Up Node js?

Hi, I'm Subham Maity, a software engineer. I also enjoy teaching others how to code through my tutorials. I'm always eager to learn new things and share my knowledge with the community.

⚡ I recently wrote an article on How to Install and Set Up Node js and wanted to share it with you all. You can find the article on my website https://codexam.vercel.app/docs/node/node1 [Better View]

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❗ For a more in-depth look at this topic, including a detailed table of contents, check out the complete tutorial on my GitHub Repo

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⭐ Install and Setup Node Js

⚡ Method 1: Using the Installer

• Visit the official Node.js website here and download the .msi file according to your system environment (32-bit or 64-bit).

• Run the Node.js setup wizard by double-clicking on the downloaded .msi file.

• Click Next to proceed through the setup wizard.

• Accept the terms in the License Agreement and click Next.

• Choose the destination folder where Node.js will be installed and click Next.

• Select the features you want to install and click Next.

• Click Install to start the installation process.

• Once the installation is complete, click Finish.

⚡ Method 2: Using a Package Manager

• Choose a package manager for your operating system from this list.

• Follow the instructions on the package manager's website to install Node.js. For example, for Windows, you can use Chocolatey, Scoop, or Winget.

Note: Some package managers may require additional steps or commands to install Node.js. Refer to the documentation of the package manager for more details.

⚡ Verifying the Installation

To verify that Node.js is installed on your computer, open a terminal or command prompt and type node -v. This should display the version of Node.js that you have installed.

⚡ Updating Node.js

To update Node.js to the latest version, you can either download the latest installer from the Node.js website and run it or use a package manager to update it.

📃 Using the Installer

• Visit the official Node.js website here and download the latest .msi file according to your system environment (32-bit or 64-bit).

• Run the Node.js setup wizard by double-clicking on the downloaded .msi file.

• Follow the same steps as when installing Node.js for the first time.

📃 Using a Package Manager

Open a terminal or command prompt and type in the command to update Node.js using your package manager of choice. For example, for Windows using Chocolatey, you can type choco upgrade nodejs.

Note: The command to update Node.js may vary depending on your package manager. Refer to its documentation for more details.

⚡ Running a Node.js Program

To run a Node.js program, you need to create a file with the .js extension and write some JavaScript code in it.

• Open a text editor such as Notepad or Visual Studio Code

• Type in some JavaScript code such as console.log('Hello, world!').

• Save the file with a .js extension such as hello.js.

• Open a terminal or command prompt and navigate to the directory where hello.js is located using cd command.

• Type node hello.js and press Enter.

  This should print Hello, world! to the terminal or command prompt.

⭐ Install NPM and Node

What is NPM?

In simple words, npm controls the packages that you use in your Node.js projects. It lets you download and use free packages or modules from the npm registry, and also lets you publish and distribute your own packages or modules.

• npm is a package manager for Node.js, which is a JavaScript runtime

• npm lets you download and use free packages or modules from the npm registry

• npm also lets you publish and distribute your own packages or modules

• npm helps you manage the dependencies, versions, and scripts of your Node.js projects

• npm is included when you install Node.js on your computer

⭐ Some IDE for Node Js

1. Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

• Key Features: Debugging, IntelliSense, Git integration, extensions marketplace, integrated terminal, code snippets, built-in JavaScript/TypeScript support.

• Why Use It: VS Code is a free, open-source, and highly customizable IDE that supports a wide range of programming languages including Node.js. It has a large and active community that creates and maintains a variety of extensions, making it a powerful tool for Node.js developers.

• Download Link: Download VS Code

• Note: VS Code also has a Node.js extension that provides additional features like auto-completion, debugging, and npm integration.

2. WebStorm

• Key Features: Refactoring, debugging, testing, code analysis, intelligent code completion, Git integration, integrated terminal.

• Why Use It: WebStorm is a powerful and user-friendly IDE that provides a range of features specifically designed for Node.js development. It also has built-in support for various web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, making it a great choice for full-stack developers.

• Download Link: Download WebStorm

• Note: WebStorm is a paid IDE, but it offers a free trial period.

3. Atom

• Key Features: Customizable UI, Git integration, package manager, built-in JavaScript/Node.js support, multiple panes, code snippets.

• Why Use It: Atom is a free and open-source text editor that is highly customizable and has a thriving community of developers who contribute to its ecosystem of packages and plugins. It also has built-in support for Node.js, making it a great choice for Node.js developers.

• Download Link: Download Atom

• Note: Atom has a slower performance compared to other IDEs, especially when dealing with large projects.

4. Sublime Text

• Key Features: Multiple cursors, command palette, powerful search and replace, code snippets, Git integration, customizability.

• Why Use It: Sublime Text is a lightweight and fast text editor that is highly customizable and has a large library of plugins and packages. It has built-in support for JavaScript and Node.js, making it a popular choice among web developers.

• Download Link: Download Sublime Text

• Note: Sublime Text is a paid text editor, but it offers a free trial period.