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To switch to an older version of Node.js, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Check the current Node.js version
Before switching to an older version of Node.js, it's important to know the current version installed on your system. To check the current Node.js version, open your terminal and run the following command:
node -v
This command will display the current version of Node.js installed on your system.
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Step 2: Choose the desired Node.js version
Once you know the current version, you can choose the desired older version of Node.js that you want to switch to. There are several ways to manage Node.js versions, but one popular method is to use a version manager like nvm (Node Version Manager).
Step 3: Install nvm
If you don't have nvm installed, you can install it by following the official installation guide for your operating system. Here are the installation steps for Linux and macOS:
For Linux:
1. Open your terminal and run the following command to download the nvm installation script:
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
2. Close and re-open your terminal to start using nvm.
For macOS:
1. Open your terminal and run the following command to install nvm using Homebrew:
brew install nvm
2. Follow the instructions printed by Homebrew to set up nvm.
Step 4: Install the desired Node.js version
Once nvm is installed, you can use it to install the desired older version of Node.js. Open your terminal and run the following command to install a specific version:
nvm install <version>
Replace <version> with the specific version number you want to install, for example:
nvm install 12.22.1
This command will download and install the specified version of Node.js.
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Step 5: Switch to the installed Node.js version
After installing the desired version of Node.js, you can switch to it by running the following command:
nvm use <version>
Replace <version> with the specific version number you installed, for example:
nvm use 12.22.1
This command will set the selected Node.js version as the active version.
Step 6: Verify the Node.js version
To verify that you have successfully switched to the desired older version of Node.js, you can run the following command:
node -v
This command will display the currently active Node.js version, which should match the version you installed.
Alternative method: Using Node Version Manager (n)
Another popular tool for managing Node.js versions is n, which is a simple command-line utility. If you prefer using n instead of nvm, you can follow these steps:
1. Install n by running the following command:
npm install -g n
2. Once n is installed, you can use it to install the desired Node.js version by running the following command:
n <version>
Replace <version> with the specific version number you want to install, for example:
n 12.22.1
3. To switch to the installed version, run the following command:
n use <version>
Replace <version> with the specific version number you installed.
4. Verify the Node.js version by running the following command:
node -v
This command will display the currently active Node.js version.
Best practices
When switching to an older version of Node.js, it's important to consider the following best practices:
1. Always test your application with the new Node.js version before switching to it in a production environment. This ensures compatibility and identifies any potential issues.
2. Keep track of the Node.js versions used in your projects. Consider using a version tracking tool like nvmrc or engines field in package.json to specify the required Node.js version for your project.
3. Regularly update your Node.js version to take advantage of the latest features, security patches, and performance improvements. It's recommended to stay up to date with the LTS (Long-Term Support) versions if stability is a priority.
4. Use a version manager like nvm or n to easily switch between different Node.js versions. These tools provide a seamless way to manage multiple versions and ensure a consistent development environment.