Managing Multiple Node.js Versions on Linux Using NVM

Why Avoid System Node Packages?

Installing Node.js via sudo apt install nodejs locks you into an outdated distribution version and forces you to run global npm commands as root. Node Version Manager (NVM) installs Node runtimes entirely within your user home directory, enabling smooth version switching without permission errors.

Step 1: Installing NVM on Ubuntu

Run the official NVM install script from GitHub:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.1/install.sh | bash

Source your shell configuration or open a new terminal window:

source ~/.bashrc
# Or if using zsh: source ~/.zshrc

Step 2: Installing Specific Node.js Versions

Install the latest Long-Term Support (LTS) release alongside the latest current release:

# Install current LTS (e.g. Node 20.x)
nvm install --lts

# Install latest release (e.g. Node 22.x)
nvm install 22

# Verify installed versions
nvm ls

Step 3: Switching Active Versions

Switch between versions on the fly:

nvm use 20
node -v

nvm use 22
node -v

Step 4: Using .nvmrc for Team Consistency

To ensure all team members use the identical Node version, create an .nvmrc file in your repository root:

echo "20" > .nvmrc
nvm use

Global npm packages installed with NVM are isolated per Node version and never require root permissions.