Use nvm to install Node.js, not Homebrew

I come across this decision every time I get a new Mac laptop/computer.

I like nvm, node version manager, because it allows me to install multiple versions of node/npm in case I need to switch within different versions.

Does homebrew offer the same? Are there other install recommendations for Mac?

The need to switch node versions does come up when asked to work on another project that is “stuck” on an older version of node due to outdated packages that no one wants to maintain but is still used in the project.

April 12, 2023 Update Thanks for all the great recommendations and insight. I decided to use fnm for my own preference at this time, but all alternatives seem great in their own way. Here is a great article from Honeybadger comparing many node environment managers: https://www.honeybadger.io/blog/node-environment-managers

I installed node in the past with the help of someone irrc, but npm is not installed when I checked:

Mac-Users-Apple-Computer:~ z$ npm -v
internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:583
    throw err;
    ^

Error: Cannot find module '../lib/utils/unsupported.js'
    at Function.Module._resolveFilename (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:581:15)
    at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:507:25)
    at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:637:17)
    at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:22:18)
    at /usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/bin/npm-cli.js:19:21
    at Object.<anonymous> (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/bin/npm-cli.js:153:3)
    at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:689:30)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:700:10)
    at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:599:32)
    at tryModuleLoad (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:538:12)

I guess I wanted to try a clean install of node.js with npm, but when I tried to remove node, I got this, a yarn dependency, something I also had someone help install at some point for something(can tell, I'm a newbie to this):

Mac-Users-Apple-Computer:~ z$ brew uninstall node
Error: Refusing to uninstall /usr/local/Cellar/node/11.11.0
because it is required by yarn, which is currently installed.
You can override this and force removal with:
  brew uninstall --ignore-dependencies node

Should I override / remove node and do an install from scratch? Or can I install npm separately(don't know that that would be advised). it seems brew install node should install node and npm based on a reference link further down below, I just don't see npm on my system right now and don't recall how i had node installed the first time.

here are some references I was looking at:

https://treehouse.github.io/installation-guides/mac/node-mac.html

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11177954/how-do-i-completely-uninstall-node-js-and-reinstall-from-beginning-mac-os-x

Hi everyone,

I'm building a website where I would like to apply this effect. So I read that I need to install npm in order to download its dependencies. The thing is that when I execute the command npm install I get this error: -bash: npm: command not found I searched for this error trying to figuring out what's wrong but I could't find a solution. I'm currently using Mac High Sierra operating system.

Can you help me understand how to install npm correctly?

thanks

I had a major problem with Homebrew in the past and I know it had something to do with symlinks and Node. I'm pretty sure I stumbled through completely uninstalling Node and completely uninstalling Homebrew and then reinstalling Node and NPM and everything all over again...but I don't want to go through that crap again.

Most people seem to recommend Homebrew and say "everyone is doing it" like I'm a moron if I don't want to use it, so I figured I will try to get with the program and learn how to use it. Should I just install Node with Homebrew from the get-go if I'm going to be using Homebrew anyway? Thanks.