Sometimes you might want to install a legacy version of node in order to circumvent some installation issues. e.g. I recently tried to install and run webgl worksop on my local machine that was developed a few years ago with an older version of node. Installing with a more recent version I get the following error:
ReferenceError: primordials is not defined
at fs.js:45:5
at req_ (/Users/danlobo/Sites/webgl-workshop/node_modules/natives/index.js:143:24)
at Object.req [as require] (/Users/danlobo/Sites/webgl-workshop/node_modules/natives/index.js:55:10)
at Object.<anonymous> (/Users/danlobo/Sites/webgl-workshop/node_modules/cpr/node_modules/graceful-fs/fs.js:1:37)
at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1072:14)
at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:1101:10)
at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:937:32)
at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:778:12)
at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:961:19)
at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js:92:18)There are workarounds to the primordials is not defined error. However without getting into shrink wrap files and updating gulp, often the quickest route is to use an earlier version of node js (11.15.0) in my case. To assist with this we can use Node Version Manager.
To install Node Version Manager using Homebrew.
brew update
brew install nvm
mkdir ~/.nvm
# if using zsh shell
echo "export NVM_DIR=~/.nvm\nsource \$(brew --prefix nvm)/nvm.sh" >> .zshrc
# if using bash shell
echo "export NVM_DIR=~/.nvm\nsource \$(brew --prefix nvm)/nvm.sh" >> .bashrc
source ~/.bashrcOnce you have added you can reload like so in your terminal window. This is also useful command as nvm does not appear to show sometimes after re-opening a new terminal and this works around that
# if using zsh shell
source ~/.zshrc
# if using bash shell
source ~/.bashrc
Now to specify and install the version of node we want to use simply enter:
nvm install 11.15.0Other useful nvm commands
nvm --help Show this message
--no-colors Suppress colored output
nvm --version Print out the installed version of nvm
nvm install [<version>] Download and install a <version>. Uses .nvmrc if available and version is omitted.
The following optional arguments, if provided, must appear directly after `nvm install`:
-s Skip binary download, install from source only.
--reinstall-packages-from=<version> When installing, reinstall packages installed in <node|iojs|node version number>
--lts When installing, only select from LTS (long-term support) versions
--lts=<LTS name> When installing, only select from versions for a specific LTS line
--skip-default-packages When installing, skip the default-packages file if it exists
--latest-npm After installing, attempt to upgrade to the latest working npm on the given node version
--no-progress Disable the progress bar on any downloads
--alias=<name> After installing, set the alias specified to the version specified. (same as: nvm alias <name> <version>)
--default After installing, set default alias to the version specified. (same as: nvm alias default <version>)
nvm uninstall <version> Uninstall a version
nvm uninstall --lts Uninstall using automatic LTS (long-term support) alias `lts/*`, if available.
nvm uninstall --lts=<LTS name> Uninstall using automatic alias for provided LTS line, if available.
nvm use [<version>] Modify PATH to use <version>. Uses .nvmrc if available and version is omitted.
The following optional arguments, if provided, must appear directly after `nvm use`:
--silent Silences stdout/stderr output
--lts Uses automatic LTS (long-term support) alias `lts/*`, if available.
--lts=<LTS name> Uses automatic alias for provided LTS line, if available.
nvm exec [<version>] [<command>] Run <command> on <version>. Uses .nvmrc if available and version is omitted.
The following optional arguments, if provided, must appear directly after `nvm exec`:
--silent Silences stdout/stderr output
--lts Uses automatic LTS (long-term support) alias `lts/*`, if available.
--lts=<LTS name> Uses automatic alias for provided LTS line, if available.
nvm run [<version>] [<args>] Run `node` on <version> with <args> as arguments. Uses .nvmrc if available and version is omitted.
The following optional arguments, if provided, must appear directly after `nvm run`:
--silent Silences stdout/stderr output
--lts Uses automatic LTS (long-term support) alias `lts/*`, if available.
--lts=<LTS name> Uses automatic alias for provided LTS line, if available.
nvm current Display currently activated version of Node
nvm ls [<version>] List installed versions, matching a given <version> if provided
--no-colors Suppress colored output
--no-alias Suppress `nvm alias` output
nvm ls-remote [<version>] List remote versions available for install, matching a given <version> if provided
--lts When listing, only show LTS (long-term support) versions
--lts=<LTS name> When listing, only show versions for a specific LTS line
--no-colors Suppress colored output
nvm version <version> Resolve the given description to a single local version
nvm version-remote <version> Resolve the given description to a single remote version
--lts When listing, only select from LTS (long-term support) versions
--lts=<LTS name> When listing, only select from versions for a specific LTS line
nvm deactivate Undo effects of `nvm` on current shell
--silent Silences stdout/stderr output
nvm alias [<pattern>] Show all aliases beginning with <pattern>
--no-colors Suppress colored output
nvm alias <name> <version> Set an alias named <name> pointing to <version>
nvm unalias <name> Deletes the alias named <name>
nvm install-latest-npm Attempt to upgrade to the latest working `npm` on the current node version
nvm reinstall-packages <version> Reinstall global `npm` packages contained in <version> to current version
nvm unload Unload `nvm` from shell
nvm which [current | <version>] Display path to installed node version. Uses .nvmrc if available and version is omitted.
--silent Silences stdout/stderr output when a version is omitted
nvm cache dir Display path to the cache directory for nvm
nvm cache clear Empty cache directory for nvm
nvm set-colors [<color codes>] Set five text colors using format "yMeBg". Available when supported.
Initial colors are:
g b y r e
Color codes:
r/R = red / bold red
g/G = green / bold green
b/B = blue / bold blue
c/C = cyan / bold cyan
m/M = magenta / bold magenta
y/Y = yellow / bold yellow
k/K = black / bold black
e/W = light grey / white
Example:
nvm install 8.0.0 Install a specific version number
nvm use 8.0 Use the latest available 8.0.x release
nvm run 6.10.3 app.js Run app.js using node 6.10.3
nvm exec 4.8.3 node app.js Run `node app.js` with the PATH pointing to node 4.8.3
nvm alias default 8.1.0 Set default node version on a shell
nvm alias default node Always default to the latest available node version on a shell
nvm install node Install the latest available version
nvm use node Use the latest version
nvm install --lts Install the latest LTS version
nvm use --lts Use the latest LTS version
nvm set-colors cgYmW Set text colors to cyan, green, bold yellow, magenta, and white
Note:
to remove, delete, or uninstall nvm - just remove the `$NVM_DIR` folder (usually `~/.nvm`)
Summary
Using NVM to manage your version of node is a great way of quickly switching to a specific node version and saving you a headache when running legacy code.
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