nodist

A node.js and io.js version manager for the windows folks out there. Inspired by n. And nodenv.

...> nodist 5
5

...> node -v
v5.11.0

...> nodist
  0.10.26
  4.4.3
> 5.11.0 (global: 5)

(see Usage)

Installation

Nodist was designed to replace any existing node.js installation, so if node is already installed on your machine, uninstall it first.

Installing with the official installer

1. Download the installer here
2. Run the installer and follow the install wizard

Migrating from <=0.6

If you're looking to upgrade your Nodist installation, the easiest way is to uninstall (see below) the old installation and install the new version with the installer above.

Uninstall (<v0.7)

1. Remove <..path..>\nodist\bin from your path. (how?).

2. Remove the NODIST_PREFIX env var.

3. Delete the nodist directory

4. Run npm config delete prefix on the command prompt to restore NPM functionality if you are going back to the official node install.

Usage

Nodist understands version patterns, like 0.12 or 4.x or ~5 as well as 4.4.3 or v4.4.3. As an added bonus, you may also use latest.

io.js is supported natively: Since node and io.js versions form a continuum you can simply use io.js versions as if they were node versions.

Btw, nodist also works in your PowerShell, but you might first need to 'Unblock' the file bin\nodist.ps1.

Commands

All commands automatically install the latest matching version before setting the version pattern.

> nodist
# Lists installed versions highlighting the active ones.

> nodist 4.x
# Sets the global node version.

> nodist local 4.x
# Sets the node version per directory (including all subdirectories).

> nodist env 4.x
# Sets the node version per terminal.

> nodist npm 3.x
# Globally activate npm 3

> nodist npm match
# Globally activates the npm version that corresponds to the active node version
# (the active node version may be the env, local or global version)

call nodist env 4.x
# In a batch script use `call`.

> nodist dist
# Lists all available node versions.

> nodist r 4.x -- foo.js -s
# Runs a specific version without modifying any state.

> nodist + 4.x
# Just checks, if the version is installed and downloads it if not.

> nodist + all
# will install *everything*.

> nodist - 4.1.1
# Removes a version.

> nodist --help
# Displays a complete list of commands with examples.

Settings

> set HTTP_PROXY=http://myproxy.com:8213
# Set a proxy to use for fetching the executables
# (you may also use `HTTP_PROXY`/`http_proxy`/`HTTPS_PROXY`/`https_proxy`).

> set NODIST_NODE_MIRROR=https://mymirror.com/dist
# Set a mirror that has the same directory structure as https://nodejs.org/dist
# (you may also use `NODIST_IOJS_MIRROR` in the same fashion).

> set NODIST_X64=0
# (Set to `1` to enforce 64bit, `0` to enforce 32bit.)

Details

Node executables are stored in NODIST_PREFIX\v and NODIST_PREFIX\v-x64. The global node.exe is a shim and chooses the right node version to run based on the various version settings:

• global -- NODIST_PREFIX\.node-version contains the global node version pattern
• local -- ./.node-version in the current working directory contains the local version pattern
• env -- NODIST_VERSION containst the per-terminal version pattern

npm is always switched globally!

As the global node version will be subject to change, nodist comes with its own dedicated node binary.

Got ideas? Doesn't work for you? Want to give feedback?

File an issue and tell me what you'd change or add or what doesn't work for you. Every issue is welcome!

Debugging

To see all debug messages, set the DEBUG env var before running nodist or node as follows:

> set DEBUG=nodist:*

Testing

The default test suite can be ran using npm

$ npm test

Testing also accepts env variables for using a mirror to download from, as well as setting a proxy.

> set NODIST_NODE_MIRROR=http://nodejs.serverpals.com/dist
> vows --spec test\cli-test.js

Building

Building nodist requires

• go for compiling the shim
• NSIS v2 for compiling the installer
  • NSIS Plugin: AccessControl
• node.js for running the build script
• and npm for installing nodist's dependencies
• Finally you need to go get github.com/marcelklehr/semver github.com/tj/go-debug

If you have met all requirements, run the build command:

> npm run build

Afterwards you'll find the installer in build/out/NodistSetup.exe and fully prepared installation folder in build/out/staging (you could zip this, for example).

Legal

Copyright (c) 2012-2016 by Marcel Klehr
MIT License

Changelog

v0.8.0

• Add NPM version management (thanks to @nullivex)
• Treat io.js versions as node versions
• Allow setting ranges in global/local/env (don't resolve before setting versions)
• Drop support for setting node command line args
• Respect engines field declaration in package.json
• Fix local switching: Use the target script's dir as the base dir
• Allow setting env vars for mirror support
• Support bash
• Remove selfupdate command
• Fix help flag
• [installer] Fix: Set system not user PATH
• [installer] Fix: auto-detect x64 arch
• Improve build script

v0.7.2

• correct version of NPM
• Fixed offline support (#104)

v0.7.1

• Fix x64 support

v0.7.0 (thanks to @nullivex)

• Add support for hashing downloading binaries and comparing to upstream
• Code refactor to implement standards similar to npmjs style
• Implement download progress bar
• Add debugging output to aid in development and issue handling
• Bump NPM version to 3.3.8
• Improve testing and offer ability to see test output
• Testing now accepts mirror env variables
• Env variables can now be used to point nodist at a mirror
• Only downloads binaries from HTTPS now as node is phasing out HTTP support

v0.6.1

• Fix for node v4 dist directory structure (thanks to @jakub-g)

v0.6.0

• Write out version spec that's being used, to make version errors more intuitive. (thanks to @blzaugg)
• Fix replace for nodistPrefix and envVersion (thanks to @sdovenor)
• Fix chocolatey package (thanks to @u9520107)
• Add support for io.js

v0.5.2

• Fix nodist version

v0.5.1

• Fix npm prefix in nodist selfupdate

v0.5.0

• Use a binary shim
• Support for localized version switching

v0.4.8

• Check in dependencies to avoid relying on npm on install

v0.4.7

• Update bundled npm to v1.4.6 and check-in all files

v0.4.6

• Update pre-packaged npm to v1.4.3

v0.4.5

• Fix nodist -v in powershell (thanks to @devert for reporting)

v0.4.4

• Fix GOTO in batch file (thanks to @BergWerkGIS)

v0.4.3

• Fix a type coercion catch in x64 detection (NODIST_X64=0 had the same effect as NODIST_X64=1; thanks to @springmeyer for reporting)

v0.4.2

• Use the right URI for fetching the x64 executables

v0.4.1

• x64 auto-detection

v0.4.0

• Refactor 64bit support (All commands now work with x64 versions)
• Make npm use the user-chosen node version (thanks to @k-j-kleist for reporting)
• Fix some minor bugs in error handling
• Don't try installing 'vUpdate' after running nodist update
• Install latest stable version after running nodist update

v0.3.11

• Fix 'use' command in powershell (thanks to @paulbatum for reporting)

v0.3.10

• Fix 'use' by fixing 'path' and 'bin' commands

v0.3.9

• Fix renaming mistake (thanks to @paulbatum for reporting)
• Tighten nodist update

v0.3.8

• Add support for x64 versions (thanks to @CycoPH)
• Improve performance by caching version lists

v0.3.7

• Fix nodist run and list commands
• Allow people to use an http proxy (thanks to @gratex)

v0.3.5

• Fix install script. How did that go astray?

v0.3.4

• Fix error message if n.checkout fails

v0.3.3

• Fix installer (thanks to @Ciantic for reporting)
• Fix a bug introduced by npm update

v0.3.2

• Update npm on install/update

v0.3.1

• Optimized nodist + all
• Use a clean npm
• Don't bundle dependencies, anymore -- nodist update must be run at install

v0.3.0

• Dropped optimist (caused more problems than it solved)
• Using node-semver, now, for better usability... (fixes #10)
• Allow use of version patterns for every command (fixes #9)
• Fix issue #8: Version patterns should require internet access

v0.2.8

• Fix use command

v0.2.7

• Deploy by copying node.exe, again, this should allow people to use nodist together with nodemon

v0.2.6

• Fix a bug, that used to break everything on Win7 x64

v0.2.5

• Updated npm to v1.1.48

v0.2.4

• Fix nodist update command to work from all drives
• Add basic support for MinGW shell (thanks to jdiamond) (update and use commands are still missing)
• Fix tests
• Allow npm updates with npm u npm -g
• updated npm

v0.2.3

• Install latest stable as default version
• Add update command
• Updated npm