I recently saw a Tweet that mentioned Volta for mananging node versions. It sounded interesting as I have used nvm on Mac and Linux and nvm for Windows on Windows.
It turns out there are several popular tools available for managing Node.js versions on your computer, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a brief comparison of some of the most commonly used ones:
nvm (Node Version Manager): nvm is a widely used and popular tool for managing Node.js versions on Unix-based systems. It allows you to easily install and switch between different versions of Node.js, and it also provides an easy way to manage global and project-specific packages. nvm is not officially supported on Windows, but there are community-supported versions available. It also has a .nvmrc file that can be added to a repository to switch to the correct version of node in that project.
nvm for Windows: nvm for Windows is a community-supported version of nvm that works on Windows. It provides a similar experience to nvm on Unix-based systems, allowing you to easily install and switch between different versions of Node.js. From memory, this did not support .nvmrc when I used it last.
n: n is a command-line tool that allows you to switch between different versions of Node.js. It is lightweight and easy to use, but it doesn’t provide as many features as some of the other tools on this list.
fnm (Fast Node Manager): fnm is a fast and simple Node.js version manager that supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. It allows you to easily install and switch between different versions of Node.js, and it also provides support for global and project-specific packages.
asdf: asdf is a multi-language version manager that supports Node.js, among other languages like python or ruby. It allows you to easily install and switch between different versions of Node.js, and it also provides an easy way to manage global and project-specific packages. It is highly customizable and supports a wide range of plugins.
volta: volta is a new, cross-platform tool for managing Node.js versions that aims to provide a simpler and more consistent experience than some of the other tools on this list. It allows you to easily install and switch between different versions of Node.js, and it also provides an easy way to manage global and project-specific packages.
Overall, the best tool for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. If you are using a Unix-based system, nvm is a great option, while nvm for Windows is a good choice if you are using Windows. n and fnm are lightweight and easy to use, while asdf is highly customizable and supports a wide range of languages.
volta is a promising new tool that aims to simplify the process of managing Node.js versions. volta sounds interesting in that it can use used across all my computers and is a Rust binary that promises to be fast. Another things on my list to check out.
Here are the Git repository URLs for each tool:
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nvm (Node Version Manager): https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm
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nvm for Windows: https://github.com/coreybutler/nvm-windows
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fnm (Fast Node Manager): https://github.com/Schniz/fnm
These repositories contain the source code for each tool, as well as documentation, issue trackers, and other resources. If you are interested in contributing to any of these tools, you can also find information about how to contribute in their respective repositories.