Node.js is an open source server-side JavaScript platform that allows developers to create dynamic web applications and services quickly and easily. It provides a number of useful features such as asynchronous I/O, event-driven programming and scalability on multiple CPU cores. This article will explain how to install Node.js on Ubuntu 14.04, the latest version of the popular Linux distribution.
Installing Node.js on Ubuntu 14.04 is relatively easy compared to other operating systems, due to its well established package management system and availability of precompiled binaries from the official repositories. In addition, there are several third party sources available for obtaining Node packages which can simplify installation process further by eliminating dependency resolution problems associated with manually compiling software from source code.
By following this guide, users should be able to set up their development environment in no time, allowing them to start building applications using Node almost immediately after completing the installation process.
Prerequisites
Before installing Node.js on Ubuntu 14.04, it is important to ensure that the necessary prerequisites are in place. The first prerequisite is a working installation of the Ubuntu operating system. It should also be noted that this tutorial assumes that users have access to a terminal window and know how to use basic shell commands such as ‘sudo’ or ‘apt-get’ for package management. Additionally, an internet connection will be needed for downloading packages from remote repositories during the installation process.
Once these requirements are met, users can begin by updating their existing packages with the latest available versions from the default Ubuntu repositories. This can be accomplished by running ‘sudo apt-get update’ at the command line prompt. After updating all packages, users should then proceed to install any other dependencies required before continuing with the Node.js installation process.
Installation Through Ubuntu Repositories
Before starting the installation of Node.js, it is important to update the package list available on Ubuntu 14.04. This can be done with the command “sudo apt-get update”. Afterwards, Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager) packages are included in the default repositories for Ubuntu 14.04 installation. To install both packages at once, type in this command: “sudo apt-get install nodejs npm” which will download and install all necessary files for both programs. After typing that command into terminal, a verification prompt will appear asking if you want to continue with the installation process; enter “y” or “yes” to move forward with it.
Once the process has been completed, simply type “nodejs -v” then check what version of Node you have installed by looking at the output line given below; same goes when checking npm version using “npm -v” as well. With this procedure, users can now use Node and its modules without any further configuration needed within Ubuntu 14.04 environment.
Installing Node.Js Using The Nvm Script
Installing Node.js using the NVM Script is a straightforward process that requires only minimal steps. The first step is to install curl:
- Install Curl
- Update package manager index `$ sudo apt-get update`
- Install curl `$ sudo apt-get install curl`
The next step is to download the nvm installation script from GitHub and execute it with bash:
- Download & Execute NVM Installation Script
- Download script `$ curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.33.6/install.sh | bash`
- Check if installed correctly by running command `command -v nvm`
- If successful, move onto installing node version 8 or later, such as version 10 `nvm install 10`
Once the installation of Node.js has completed, you can verify its success by checking for which versions have been installed on your system with the command line ‘node –version’; this will display the current active version of Node.js in use on your machine. Additionally, you may also test out some basic commands like ‘console.log(‘Hello World’)’ to ensure everything was properly set up after installation before proceeding with any further development work in Node.js environment on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS machine.
Updating Node.Js On Ubuntu 14.04
It is important to keep Node.js up-to-date on Ubuntu 14.04 as newer versions have improvements that can enhance user experience when developing applications. In order to update Node.js, it is necessary to install a new version and uninstall the previous one using NVM Script. The steps for updating Node.js are outlined below:
| Step | Description |
| 1 | Uninstall the previously installed version of node with nvm uninstall <version> command in terminal |
| 2 | Install a new version of node with nvm install <version> command in terminal where <version> is the desired version number you want to download and use (e.g., v0.12) |
| 3 | Use the nvm alias default <version> command to set the newly installed version of node as your system’s default version so that it will be used every time you open a new shell session or type “node” into your system’s terminal window |
| 4 | Verify installation by typing “node -v” which should return the newly installed version of node |
Once these steps are followed, users will have successfully updated their Node.js on Ubuntu 14.04 machine and can start utilizing its features for development purposes. Additionally, users may also check if there are any updates available from time to time by running nvm ls-remote command in their terminal window which returns all available versions along with associated long term support (LTS) information like release date and end of life (EOL).
Uninstalling Node.Js From Ubuntu 14.04
Uninstalling Node.js from Ubuntu 14.04 is relatively straightforward. To begin, open the Terminal and enter the command ‘sudo apt-get remove node’ followed by the name of the version installed on your system (e.g., sudo apt-get remove node v4). This will uninstall all previously installed packages associated with that version of Node.js, including npm (Node Package Manager). The user may also need to delete any files stored within their home directory related to Node.js or npm if they are still present after uninstalling them through apt-get.
Additionally, a user can run ‘apt-cache policy node’ in order to check for any remaining configuration files related to previous versions of Node.js which might have been left behind by apt-get during uninstallation. If found, these should be deleted as well before reinstalling a newer version of Node.js onto the system. Once all steps above have been completed successfully, Node is completely removed from your Ubuntu 14.04 system and ready for either fresh installation or an upgrade to a newer version of Node.
Troubleshooting And Common Issues
When installing Node.js on Ubuntu 14.04, it is important to be aware of potential troubleshooting and common issues that may arise. It is recommended to read through the official Node.js documentation before beginning installation as this may help mitigate any issues that occur while installing or using Node.js.
Some common errors include failing to correctly set environment variables, missing packages needed for compilation, incorrect versions (Node.js version versus installed package manager), and insufficient permissions when running certain commands. When these types of issues are encountered, the user should refer back to the official Node.js documentation for further information about how to properly install and use the software in order to minimize any problems with its usage and ensure a successful installation process.
Conclusion
It is important to note that installing Node.js on Ubuntu 14.04 can be done using the Debian package manager or through a script called NVM. Updating and uninstalling Node.js from Ubuntu 14.04 is also possible with minimal effort required by the user. It should be noted that if any issues arise during installation, such as missing dependencies, they must first be resolved in order for the installation process to complete successfully.
In addition, troubleshooting common issues related to Node.js may require additional research depending on the specifics of the issue at hand. For these reasons, users should ensure they have a solid understanding of how to install and manage Node.js before attempting to do so on their system. By taking this approach, users will be able to maximize their efficiency when working with Node.js on Ubuntu 14.04 and avoid potential complications down the line.
