Install nodejs without package manager

Question

I've downloaded nodejs I want to install it on Ubuntu 16.10 ,I have the node folder with this files

bin  CHANGELOG.md  include  lib  LICENSE  README.md  share

Where I have to place it to use node?

see https://nodejs.org/en/download/package-manager/#debian-and-ubuntu-based-linux-distributions — heynnema, Mar 12 '17 at 14:47

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 12 '17 at 18:20

2

You can place them anywhere and link to a bin folder. The common places are /usr/share, /usr/local/share. On my personal computer, I usually place things like that in my home directory like that: ~/bin/node/*.

However, I would generally not recommend it with node, unless you have no choice. I would rather go with NVM. This way you can install any version of node you want and switch them if needed.

edited Mar 12 '17 at 18:20

Tim

32,861
27
118
178

answered Mar 12 '17 at 13:20

Mat

289

~/bin is already in $PATH. Just create ~/bin if it doesn't already exist. – heynnema Mar 12 '17 at 14:50
yeah, but I never put binaries directly in ~/bin. Rather folders, but yeah, you could symlink ~/bin/node -> ~/bin/nodejs/bin/node – Mat Mar 13 '17 at 14:07
Yes, exactly. I was trying to convince @George of that. – heynnema Mar 13 '17 at 14:53

George Udosen · Answer 2 · 2017-03-12T17:27:42.540

0

Let give this simple method:

Create a folder /home/$USERNAME/devenv
Download binaries into folder in step 1
untar the node file
Create a symbolic link in the /home/$USERNAME/devenv
```
ln -s untared-node-file-name node
```
Place it in your path in the /home/$USERNAME/.profile file with at the end:
```
PATH=$PATH:$HOME/devenv/node/bin
```
Source the /home/$USERNAME/.profile by running this in terminal:
```
source ~/.profile
```
Now check with node -v and npm -v

Information:

To update just download new version and change symbolic link.

edited Mar 12 '17 at 17:27

answered Mar 12 '17 at 13:37

George Udosen

36,677

1

No need to create the denenv dir, link it, and edit .profile. Just create ~/bin, and it's already in the $PATH. – heynnema Mar 12 '17 at 14:44
Yes if you don't need the extra luggage, but I prefer to group things – George Udosen Mar 12 '17 at 15:43
Just drop folders into ~/bin and you can still group things by folder name. No? – heynnema Mar 12 '17 at 15:49
Can you be more explicit? – George Udosen Mar 12 '17 at 15:54
It sounds like to keep things organized, you're creating new folders (devenv) in your home directory. That can get kind of messy, yes? Instead, drop the nodejs folder into ~/bin, and if need be, create a link in ~/bin that points to the executable in the folder. Type echo $PATH to see the current path, and you'll see that ~/bin is the first item. – heynnema Mar 12 '17 at 16:07
I believe this is better? – George Udosen Mar 12 '17 at 16:25
Well... I guess not then... :-( You don't have to create new folders for every new binary, and you don't have to edit .profile or source .profile. Drag a new folder into ~/bin, and create a new link, sounds easier :-) – heynnema Mar 12 '17 at 16:53
Could you please edit my answeer so I get what your trying to put across – George Udosen Mar 12 '17 at 16:55
Mat's answer is almost the same idea... except I put the folder containing the binary (or the executable or shell script) into the ~/bin directly, and then link into a folder hierarchy if need be. – heynnema Mar 12 '17 at 16:59

Install nodejs without package manager

2 Answers2