Hey dev, this is a short and sweet step by step instruction to install Node.js. Also I tell you, how to quickly set up a project with npm
Node Version
First, let's check if Node.js is already installed on your computer. Open your terminal or command prompt and run:
$ node -v
$ npm -v
If both commands return version numbers, Node.js and npm are already installed. If not, continue with the steps below.
Node Installation Steps
Go to the official Node.js website:
https://nodejs.org/
You will see two download options:
👉 LTS (Long-Term Support) – stable and recommended,
👉Current – latest features but less stable. Choose LTS for most projects.
Click the LTS button to download the installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Once downloaded, run the installer.
Follow the installation prompts:
👉Accept the license agreement.
👉Keep the default settings.
👉Make sure "Add to PATH" is checked.
After installation, verify Node.js and npm by running in the terminal:
$ node -v
$ npm -v
You should see version numbers for both.
Creating a Node.js Project
After you have Node.js installed, you can create a project with it. Choose a directory where you want your Node.js files to be, and run the following command in your terminal:
$ npm init
This command will ask you a few questions about your project and then create a package.json file that stores all meta information about your project.
Now Node.js is installed, and you have your first Node.js project ready to build. Happy Coding! 🚀
