[](https://www.npmjs.com/package/get-node)
[](/src/main.d.ts)
[](https://codecov.io/gh/ehmicky/get-node)
[](https://fosstodon.org/@ehmicky)
[](https://medium.com/@ehmicky)
Download a specific version of Node.js.
The Node.js release is downloaded, uncompressed and untared to an executable
file ready to run.
# Hire me
Please
[reach out](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7018596298127781890/)
if you're looking for a Node.js API or CLI engineer (10 years of experience).
Most recently I have been [Netlify Build](https://github.com/netlify/build)'s
and [Netlify Plugins](https://www.netlify.com/products/build/plugins/)'
technical lead for 2.5 years. I am available for full-time remote positions in
either US or EU time zones.
# Features
Fast:
- the download is cached
- the best compression algorithm available on your machine is used
- everything is streamed
Reliable:
- the binary is checked against
[official checksums](https://github.com/nodejs/node#verifying-binaries)
- can be safely run concurrently
- atomic writes
Features include:
- Linux/Mac/Windows support
- works with old Node.js versions
- [progress bar](#progress)
- using [version ranges](#getnodeversion-options)
- specifying [a mirror website](#mirror) for nodejs.org
- helpful error messages
- can guess the current project's version using its
[`.nvmrc` or `package.json` (`engines.node` field)](#getnodeversion-options)
# Example
```js
import getNode from 'get-node'
// Download a specific Node.js release
const { path, version } = await getNode('8')
console.log(path) // /home/user/.cache/nve/8.17.0/node
console.log(version) // 8.17.0
```
```js
// Download Node.js latest release
const { path, version } = await getNode('latest')
console.log(path) // /home/user/.cache/nve/16.3.0/node
console.log(version) // 16.3.0
```
```js
// Any version range can be used
await getNode('8.12.0')
await getNode('<7')
```
```js
// Download latest LTS Node.js version
await getNode('lts')
```
```js
// Download Node.js version from `~/.nvmrc` or the current process version
await getNode('global')
```
```js
// Download current directory's Node.js version using its `.nvmrc` or
// `package.json` (`engines.node` field)
await getNode('local')
```
```js
// Specify the output directory
const { path } = await getNode('8', {
output: '/home/user/.cache/node_releases/',
})
console.log(path) // /home/user/.cache/node_releases/13.0.1/node
```
```js
// Use a mirror website
await getNode('8', { mirror: 'https://npmmirror.com/mirrors/node' })
```
```js
// Specify the CPU architecture
await getNode('8', { arch: 'x32' })
```
# Install
```bash
npm install get-node
```
`node >=14.18.0` must be globally installed. However any Node version can be
downloaded.
This package is an ES module and must be loaded using
[an `import` or `import()` statement](https://gist.github.com/sindresorhus/a39789f98801d908bbc7ff3ecc99d99c),
not `require()`. If TypeScript is used, it must be configured to
[output ES modules](https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/esm-node.html),
not CommonJS.
To use this module as a CLI instead, please check
[`get-node-cli`](https://github.com/ehmicky/get-node-cli).
# Usage
## getNode(versionRange, options?)
`versionRange`: `string`\
`options`: `object?`\
_Return value_: `Promise<object>`
`versionRange` can be any [version range](https://github.com/npm/node-semver)
such as `12`, `12.6.0` or `<12`, or one of the following aliases:
- `latest`: Latest available Node version
- `lts`: Latest LTS Node version
- `global`: Global Node version
- Using the home directory [`.nvmrc`](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm#nvmrc) or
[`package.json` (`engines.node` field)](https://docs.npmjs.com/files/package.json#engines)
- [Some additional files](https://github.com/ehmicky/preferred-node-version/blob/main/README.md)
used by other Node.js version managers are also searched for
- If nothing is found, defaults to the current process's Node version
- `local`: Current directory's Node version
- Using the current directory or parent directories
[`.nvmrc`](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm#nvmrc),
[`package.json` (`engines.node` field)](https://docs.npmjs.com/files/package.json#engines)
(or
[additional files](https://github.com/ehmicky/preferred-node-version/blob/main/README.md))
- Defaults to the `global` version
### Options
#### output
_Type_: `string`\
_Default_: [global cache directory](https://github.com/ehmicky/global-cache-dir)
such as `/home/user/.cache/nve/`.
Output directory for the `node` executable.
It the directory already has a `node` executable, no download is performed. This
enables caching.
#### progress
_Type_: `boolean`\
_Default_: `false`
Whether to show a progress bar.
#### mirror
_Type_: `string`\
_Default_: `https://nodejs.org/dist`
Base URL to retrieve Node.js binaries. Can be customized (for example
`https://npmmirror.com/mirrors/node`).
The following environment variables can also be used: `NODE_MIRROR`,
`NVM_NODEJS_ORG_MIRROR`, `N_NODE_MIRROR` or `NODIST_NODE_MIRROR`.
#### fetch
_Type_: `boolean`\
_Default_: `undefined`
The list of available Node.js versions is cached for one hour by default. If the
`fetch` option is:
- `true`: the cache will not be used
- `false`: the cache will be used even if it's older than one hour
#### arch
_Type_: `string`\
_Default_: [`process.arch`](https://nodejs.org/api/process.html#process_process_arch)
Node.js binary's CPU architecture. This is useful for example when you're on x64
but would like to run Node.js x32.
All the values from
[`process.arch`](https://nodejs.org/api/process.html#process_process_arch) are
allowed except `mips` and `mipsel`.
#### cwd
_Type_: `string | URL`\
_Default_: `.`
When using the [`local` alias](#getnodeversion-options), start looking for a
Node.js version file from this directory.
### Return value
The returned `Promise` resolves to an object with the following properties.
#### path
_Type_: `string`
Absolute path to the `node` executable.
#### version
_Type_: `string`
[Normalized](https://github.com/ehmicky/normalize-node-version) Node.js version.
# See also
- [`get-node-cli`](https://github.com/ehmicky/get-node-cli): `get-node` as a CLI
- [`nve`](https://github.com/ehmicky/nve): Run a specific Node.js version (CLI)
- [`nvexeca`](https://github.com/ehmicky/nve): Run a specific Node.js version
(programmatic)
- [`preferred-node-version`](https://github.com/ehmicky/preferred-node-version):
Get the preferred Node.js version of a project or user
- [`node-version-alias`](https://github.com/ehmicky/node-version-alias): Resolve
Node.js version aliases like `latest`, `lts` or `erbium`
- [`normalize-node-version`](https://github.com/ehmicky/normalize-node-version):
Normalize and validate Node.js versions
- [`all-node-versions`](https://github.com/ehmicky/all-node-versions): List all
available Node.js versions
- [`fetch-node-website`](https://github.com/ehmicky/fetch-node-website): Fetch
releases on nodejs.org
- [`global-cache-dir`](https://github.com/ehmicky/global-cache-dir): Get the
global cache directory
# Support
For any question, _don't hesitate_ to [submit an issue on GitHub](../../issues).
Everyone is welcome regardless of personal background. We enforce a
[Code of conduct](CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md) in order to promote a positive and
inclusive environment.
# Contributing
This project was made with ❤️. The simplest way to give back is by starring and
sharing it online.
If the documentation is unclear or has a typo, please click on the page's `Edit`
button (pencil icon) and suggest a correction.
If you would like to help us fix a bug or add a new feature, please check our
[guidelines](CONTRIBUTING.md). Pull requests are welcome!
Thanks go to our wonderful contributors:
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<table>
<tr>
<td align="center"><a href="https://fosstodon.org/@ehmicky"><img src="https://avatars2.githubusercontent.com/u/8136211?v=4?s=100" width="100px;" alt=""/><br /><sub><b>ehmicky</b></sub></a><br /><a href="https://github.com/ehmicky/get-node/commits?author=ehmicky" title="Code">💻</a> <a href="#design-ehmicky" title="Design">🎨</a> <a href="#ideas-ehmicky" title="Ideas, Planning, & Feedback">🤔</a> <a href="https://github.com/ehmicky/get-node/commits?author=ehmicky" title="Documentation">📖</a></td>
<td align="center"><a href="https://tunnckoCore.com"><img src="https://avatars3.githubusercontent.com/u/5038030?v=4?s=100" width="100px;" alt=""/><br /><sub><b>Charlike Mike Reagent</b></sub></a><br /><a href="https://github.com/ehmicky/get-node/issues?q=author%3AtunnckoCore" title="Bug reports">🐛</a></td>
<td align="center"><a href="http://instagram.com/private.number_"><img src="https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/1075694?v=4?s=100" width="100px;" alt=""/><br /><sub><b>hiroki osame</b></sub></a><br /><a href="https://github.com/ehmicky/get-node/commits?author=privatenumber" title="Code">💻</a> <a href="https://github.com/ehmicky/get-node/commits?author=privatenumber" title="Tests">⚠️</a> <a href="#ideas-privatenumber" title="Ideas, Planning, & Feedback">🤔</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
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