Guide on Installing Node.js & npm {macOS & Windows}

This is a step-by-step guide that will go over everything you need to do before our React workshop!

Outline

Check if you already have Node.js or npm

Since we will be using the create-react-app tool, Node ≥ 14.0.0 is required!

1. Create a my_project folder – Somewhere inside your Document folder will be good.
2. From the terminal, go inside the my_project folder and then run the following commands:

node -v
npm -v

If Node & npm are missing, let’s install them!

macOS with nodenv

We recommend installing Node.js using nodenv to manage node versions. This allows your computer to have a specific Node.js version per project.

⚠️ Remove any existing installations of Node.js before installing nodenv! ⚠️

Having different Node.js installations can lead to conflict issues.

Step 1. Install nodenv with Homebrew

Step 2. Set up nodenv shell integration

Step 3. Implement the changes

Close & open a new Terminal window for the changes to take place.

Step 4. Verify that nodenv is properly set up using the nodenv-doctor script.

• For those using Z shell (Zsh) shell:

  curl -fsSL https://github.com/nodenv/nodenv-installer/raw/master/bin/nodenv-doctor | bash
  

• Expected result:

  Checking for `nodenv' in PATH: /usr/local/bin/nodenv
  Checking for nodenv shims in PATH: OK
  Checking `nodenv install' support: /usr/local/bin/nodenv-install (node-build 3.0.22-4-g49c4cb9)
  Counting installed Node versions: none
    There aren't any Node versions installed under `~/.nodenv/versions'.
    You can install Node versions like so: nodenv install 2.2.4
  Auditing installed plugins: OK
  

Step 5. Install Node.js inside the Workshop folder (my_project)

Now you're ready to install specific Node.js versions!

Inside my_project folder, install Node.js version 14.5.0:

  cd my_project/

  nodenv install 14.5.0

  nodenv local 14.5.0

Alright! Your Mac is now armed with Node.js!

Download the required packages by opening a terminal for both the frontend & backend folders and then running the npm install command!

Windows with nvm-windows

The following steps are straight from the Microsoft Docs on Set up NodeJS on native Windows. We recommend installing and managing Node.js with nvm-windows

⚠️ Remove any existing installations of Node.js before installing nvm-windows! ⚠️

Having different Node.js installations can lead to conflict issues.

Step 1. Go to windows-nvm's latest release.

Step 2. Download the nvm-setup.zip file for the most recent release.

Step 3. Once downloaded, open the zip file, then execute the nvm-setup.exe file.

Step 4. The Setup-NVM-for-Windows installation wizard will walk you through the setup steps, including choosing the directory where both nvm-windows and Node.js will be installed.

Step 5. After the installation is complete, open PowerShell & enter nvm ls

• nvm ls lists out installed Node versions (should be none at this point)
• 

Step 6. Install Node.js inside the Workshop folder (my_project)

• Now you're ready to install specific Node.js versions!
• Inside the my_project folder, install Node.js version 14.5.0:

  cd .Documentsmy_project

  nvm install 14.5.0

  nvm use 14.5.0

Alright! Your Windows is now armed with Node.js!

Download the required packages by opening a terminal for both the frontend & backend folders and then running the npm install command!

Installing Node.js - Video