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Installation and setup of Nodejs

If you're just starting your journey with Node.js, the first step is to get it installed on your computer. This article will guide you through the process of installing and setting up Node.js.

Prerequisites​

Before you start, you need to have a working computer running either Windows, macOS, or Linux.

What is Node.js?​

Node.js is an open-source runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript on your server without a web browser. It's built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine, which makes it very efficient and powerful. Node.js is used to build scalable network applications with high performance.

Step 1: Download Node.js Installer​

To get started with Node.js, you first need to download the installer. Visit the official Node.js website at https://nodejs.org and download the appropriate installer for your operating system.

You will find two versions available for download, LTS and Current. The LTS (Long-Term Support) version is recommended for most users as it receives all the critical bug fixes and has a long period of support and maintenance. The Current version includes the latest features but may not be as stable.

Step 2: Install Node.js​

For Windows Users​

  1. Open the downloaded installer.
  2. Follow the instructions in the installer (Accept the license agreement, click the NEXT button a few times, and finally the Install button).
  3. Restart your computer.

For macOS Users​

  1. Open the downloaded .pkg installer file.
  2. The system will guide you through the necessary steps.

For Linux Users​

  1. Open a terminal window.
  2. Update your package manager cache.
  3. Download and install Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager).

For Debian-based distributions (like Ubuntu), use the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs npm

For Red Hat-based distributions (like CentOS), use these commands:

sudo yum update
sudo yum install nodejs npm

Step 3: Verify Installation​

To verify that Node.js has been installed, open a terminal (or command prompt on Windows) and type the following command:

node -v

This should display the version number of Node.js that you've installed.

Similarly, you can check the npm version by typing:

npm -v

Step 4: Update Node.js​

You can update Node.js to the latest version by using npm (Node Package Manager). To do this, type the following command in your terminal:

npm install -g npm@latest

This command updates npm to the latest version.

Then, to update Node.js, on Windows and macOS you can download and install the latest version from the official Node.js website. On Linux, you can use the package manager to update Node.js.

Conclusion​

You have now successfully installed and set up Node.js on your machine! You're ready to start building amazing things with Node.js.

In the next steps of your Node.js journey, you'll learn to write your first Node.js script, understand how modules work, and delve into the world of asynchronous programming. Keep practicing and happy coding!