Install Node.js, npm, and VS Code

 

Approaches to installing Node.js and npm

There are several ways you can install Node.js.

The best way to install Node.js and npm is through Node.js Version Manager, or nvm. With nvm, you can install multiple versions of both the Node.js runtime and npm, and they can all coexist, though you can only specify one active version of either at a time. What I mean is, you don't have to uninstall one version of Node.js or npm to install another, just tell nvm which one you want to use. It's great for compatibility testing and managing your Node.js environment in general.

The easiest approach is to download the package for your platform directly from the Node.js project's Node.js Downloads page and run the installation program. This approach is ideal for Windows users, but it also works for MacOS and Linux as well.

If you're a Mac user, a better approach is to use Homebrew. Homebrew bills itself as the "missing package manager for MacOS." You can use it to install and manage hundreds of different packages for MacOS.