How can I update NodeJS and NPM to the next versions?

Question

I just installed Node.js and npm (for additional modules).

How can I update Node.js and the modules which I\'m using to the latest versions

Answer 1

Use n module from npm in order to upgrade node . n is a node helper package that installs or updates a given node.js version.

sudo npm cache clean -f
sudo npm install -g n
sudo n stable
sudo ln -sf /usr/local/n/versions/node//bin/node /usr/bin/nodejs

NOTE that the default installation for nodejs is in the /usr/bin/nodejs and not /usr/bin/node

To upgrade to latest version (and not current stable) version, you can use

sudo n latest

To undo:

sudo apt-get install --reinstall nodejs-legacy     # fix /usr/bin/node
sudo n rm 6.0.0     # replace number with version of Node that was installed
sudo npm uninstall -g n

If you get the following error bash: /usr/bin/node: No such file or directory then the path you have entered at

sudo ln -sf /usr/local/n/versions/node//bin/node /usr/bin/nodejs

if wrong. so make sure to check if the update nodejs has been installed at the above path and the version you are entered is correct.

I would advise strongly against doing this on a production instance. It can seriously mess stuff up with your global npm packages and your ability to install new one.