nvm and Node.js Version Management: Best Practices

nvm (Node Version Manager) lets you install and switch between multiple Node.js versions.

Installation

# Install nvm
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash

# Add to shell profile (~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc)
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"

# Reload shell
source ~/.zshrc

Essential Commands

# List available LTS versions
nvm ls-remote --lts

# Install specific version
nvm install 20
nvm install 20.11.0

# Install latest LTS
nvm install --lts

# Use a version (current session)
nvm use 20

# Set default version
nvm alias default 20

# List installed versions
nvm ls

# Current version
nvm current

# Uninstall version
nvm uninstall 18

.nvmrc Files

# Create .nvmrc in project root
echo "20" > .nvmrc
# or
echo "lts/iron" > .nvmrc

# Use version from .nvmrc
nvm use         # reads .nvmrc automatically
nvm install     # installs version from .nvmrc

Auto-switch with Shell Integration

# Add to ~/.zshrc for auto-switching
autoload -U add-zsh-hook

load-nvmrc() {
  local nvmrc_path
  nvmrc_path="$(nvm_find_nvmrc)"

  if [ -n "$nvmrc_path" ]; then
    local nvmrc_node_version
    nvmrc_node_version=$(nvm version "$(cat "${nvmrc_path}")")

    if [ "$nvmrc_node_version" = "N/A" ]; then
      nvm install
    elif [ "$nvmrc_node_version" != "$(nvm version)" ]; then
      nvm use
    fi
  elif [ -n "$(PWD=$OLDPWD nvm_find_nvmrc)" ] && [ "$(nvm version)" != "$(nvm version default)" ]; then
    nvm use default
  fi
}

add-zsh-hook chpwd load-nvmrc
load-nvmrc

Migration Between Versions

# Reinstall global packages when switching versions
nvm install 20 --reinstall-packages-from=18

# List globally installed packages
npm list -g --depth=0

# Migrate manually
nvm use 18
npm list -g --depth=0 > /tmp/packages.txt
nvm use 20
cat /tmp/packages.txt | awk '{print $2}' | grep -v npm | xargs npm install -g

Alternative: Volta

# Volta - faster alternative to nvm
curl https://get.volta.sh | bash

# Install and pin Node version
volta install node@20
volta pin node@20   # saves to package.json

# Automatic per-project version switching

Using .nvmrc files ensures your entire team uses the same Node.js version.