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Node.js — Setup Guide (Ubuntu)

Version manager used: nvm — Node Version Manager Do NOT install Node from apt/nala — the Debian/Ubuntu repos ship outdated versions. nvm gives you full control.

1. Core — Runtime via nvm

# Install nvm
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.4/install.sh | bash

After install, nvm adds itself to your .bashrc / .zshrc automatically. Reload your shell or source it manually:

source ~/.zshrc
# or
source ~/.bashrc

Verify nvm is working:

nvm --version
# Install the latest LTS version of Node (recommended for most projects)
nvm install --lts

# Or install a specific version
nvm install 22
nvm install 20

# Set a default version globally
nvm alias default 22

# Check active version
node -v
npm -v

Add this to your .zshrc / .bashrc if nvm doesn't auto-source:

export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"

2. Package Managers

# corepack — manages yarn and pnpm versions per project (ships with Node 16+)
corepack enable

# pnpm — fast, disk-efficient npm alternative (recommended)
corepack prepare pnpm@latest --activate
# or via npm:
npm install -g pnpm

# yarn — alternative to npm, still widely used
corepack prepare yarn@stable --activate
# or via npm:
npm install -g yarn

Use pnpm for new projects. It's faster and avoids node_modules duplication via a global store.

3. Global Developer Tools

# npx — already ships with npm, no install needed
# But if you want it always available:
npm install -g npx

# tsx — run TypeScript directly without compiling (replaces ts-node for modern TS)
npm install -g tsx

# ts-node — TypeScript execution for Node (classic, still useful)
npm install -g ts-node

# nodemon — auto-restart on file changes during development
npm install -g nodemon

# pm2 — process manager for production Node apps (keep alive, logs, clustering)
npm install -g pm2

4. TypeScript

# TypeScript compiler
npm install -g typescript

# Check version
tsc -v

For projects: install typescript as a devDependency, not globally. Global install is just for quick CLI use (tsc --init, one-off checks).

5. Code Quality — Linters & Formatters

# ESLint — the standard JS/TS linter
npm install -g eslint

# Prettier — opinionated code formatter
npm install -g prettier

# Biome — all-in-one linter + formatter, written in Rust (replaces ESLint + Prettier)
npm install -g @biomejs/biome

Recommendation: use biome for new projects. Fast as hell, zero config to start, replaces both ESLint and Prettier. For existing projects already using ESLint — stick with it, migration isn't always worth it.

6. Project Scaffolding

# Vite — modern build tool, instant dev server (replaces CRA)
# Run without installing globally:
pnpm create vite@latest

# Create Next.js app
pnpm create next-app@latest

# Create React app (Vite-based, not CRA)
pnpm create vite@latest my-app -- --template react-ts

Never use create-react-app — it's dead. Vite is the move.

7. Testing

# Vitest — blazing fast test runner, compatible with Jest API (Vite ecosystem)
npm install -g vitest

# Jest — classic test runner, still dominant in larger codebases
npm install -g jest

# Playwright — E2E browser testing
npm install -g @playwright/test
# Install browsers after:
npx playwright install

For new projects: vitest if using Vite, jest if working with an existing codebase.

8. Terminal Productivity

# http-server — serve a folder over HTTP instantly
npm install -g http-server

# json-server — fake REST API from a JSON file (great for frontend dev)
npm install -g json-server

# serve — static file server (Vercel's tool)
npm install -g serve

# tldr — community man pages
sudo nala install tldr

# HTTPie — curl but readable (also works for API testing)
sudo nala install httpie

9. Debugging & Inspection

# clinic — performance profiling for Node.js apps
npm install -g clinic

# why-is-node-running — tells you why Node won't exit
npm install -g why-is-node-running

# ndb — improved Node.js debugging (uses Chrome DevTools)
npm install -g ndb

10. Security & Auditing

# npm audit — built-in, no install needed
npm audit
npm audit fix

# snyk — advanced vulnerability scanning
npm install -g snyk
snyk auth   # login with your Snyk account

# lockfile-lint — validate your package-lock.json / yarn.lock
npm install -g lockfile-lint

11. nvm — Useful Commands Cheatsheet

nvm ls                    # List installed versions
nvm ls-remote             # List all available versions
nvm install <version>     # Install a specific version
nvm use <version>         # Switch version in current shell
nvm alias default <ver>   # Set global default
nvm current               # Show active version
nvm uninstall <version>   # Remove a version

Pin the Node version per project using a .nvmrc file:

echo "22" > .nvmrc
# Then in the project directory:
nvm use

nvm will read .nvmrc automatically if configured in your shell.

Recommended Minimal Install (fast start)

# 1. Install nvm
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.4/install.sh | bash

# 2. Reload shell
source ~/.zshrc

# 3. Install Node LTS + set as default
nvm install --lts
nvm alias default node

# 4. Enable corepack + install pnpm
corepack enable
corepack prepare pnpm@latest --activate

# 5. Global dev tools
npm install -g tsx nodemon typescript @biomejs/biome

# 6. Optional but solid
npm install -g http-server serve json-server pm2

12. VSCode Extensions for Node / JS / TS

Install the essentials via CLI:

code --install-extension dbaeumer.vscode-eslint
code --install-extension esbenp.prettier-vscode
code --install-extension biomejs.biome
code --install-extension christian-kohler.npm-intellisense
code --install-extension eg2.vscode-npm-script
code --install-extension PKief.material-icon-theme
code --install-extension Orta.vscode-jest

Core — Non-negotiable

Extension ID Why
ESLint dbaeumer.vscode-eslint Real-time linting in the editor
Prettier esbenp.prettier-vscode Auto-format on save
Biome biomejs.biome All-in-one linter + formatter (Rust-based, fast)
npm Intellisense christian-kohler.npm-intellisense Autocomplete for npm imports

Productivity

Extension ID Why
npm Scripts eg2.vscode-npm-script Run npm scripts directly from sidebar
Jest Orta.vscode-jest Run/debug tests inline
Thunder Client rangav.vscode-thunder-client REST client inside VSCode

Skip these — not worth it

  • TSLint — deprecated, ESLint does everything now
  • Vetur — Vue 2 only, use Volar instead if you're on Vue 3
  • Path Intellisense — npm Intellisense covers most of this

settings.json — Node / TypeScript block

Add this to your VSCode settings.json:

"typescript.preferences.importModuleSpecifier": "relative",
"typescript.suggest.autoImports": true,
"typescript.inlayHints.parameterNames.enabled": "all",
"typescript.inlayHints.variableTypes.enabled": true,
"typescript.inlayHints.functionLikeReturnTypes.enabled": true,
"[javascript]": {
  "editor.defaultFormatter": "biomejs.biome",
  "editor.formatOnSave": true,
  "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
    "source.fixAll.biome": "always",
    "source.organizeImports.biome": "always"
  }
},
"[typescript]": {
  "editor.defaultFormatter": "biomejs.biome",
  "editor.formatOnSave": true,
  "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
    "source.fixAll.biome": "always",
    "source.organizeImports.biome": "always"
  }
},
"[typescriptreact]": {
  "editor.defaultFormatter": "biomejs.biome",
  "editor.formatOnSave": true
}

If you prefer Prettier over Biome, swap biomejs.biome for esbenp.prettier-vscode in the formatter fields.

Notes

  • Nunca instales Node vía apt/nala para desarrollo — la versión está desactualizada.
  • Usa .nvmrc en cada proyecto para fijar la versión de Node y evitar sorpresas en CI.
  • Prefiere pnpm sobre npm para proyectos nuevos — más rápido, menor uso de disco.
  • Para monorepos: pnpm workspaces o turborepo son la combinación correcta.
  • biome en 2025 es lo que debería reemplazar tu stack de ESLint + Prettier en proyectos nuevos.