Node Version Manager Install - Nvm Command Not Found

Robert Thorne
Robert Thorne
• • 14 min read

I Am Trying to Install Nvm as per These Instructions I Typed in This Command in Terminal: $ Curl | Sh After Running the Install, I Restart the Terminal and...

Node Version Manager Install - Nvm Command Not Found

I am trying to install NVM as per these instructions

I typed in this command in terminal:

$ curl  | sh

After running the install, I restart the terminal and attempt to install Node.js with this command:

$ nvm install 0.8

but I get the response:

-bash: nvm: command not found

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong here.

Additional Info--

I've been looking around for solutions from other posts and forums. I found another solution using

$ git clone git:// ~/.nvm

but this times out every time I attempt that. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

1

32 Answers

1
2

I think you missed this step:

source ~/.nvm/nvm.sh

You can run this command on the bash OR you can put it in the file /.bashrc or ~/.profile or ~/.zshrc to automatically load it

20

Check your .bash_profile, .zshrc, or .profile file. You most likely had a problem during the installation.

You should have the following at the end of one of those files.

[[ -s $HOME/.nvm/nvm.sh ]] && . $HOME/.nvm/nvm.sh  # This loads NVM

The . $HOME/.nvm/nvm.sh is the same as source $HOME/.nvm/nvm.sh

See: Sourcing a File

You can also check to see if you have a .nvm folder.

ls -a | grep .nvm

If you're missing that folder then the installation failed to run the git command. This could be due to being behind a proxy. Try running the following instead.

git clone  .nvm
12

This works for me:

  1. Before installing nvm, run this in terminal: touch ~/.bash_profile

  2. After, run this in terminal:
    curl -o- | bash

  3. Important... - DO NOT forget to Restart your terminal OR use command source ~/.nvm/nvm.sh (this will refresh the available commands in your system path).

  4. In the terminal, use command nvm --version and you should see the version

3

Must Read

Quick answer

Figure out the following:

  1. Which shell is your terminal using, type in: echo $0 to find out (normally works)
  2. Which start-up file does that shell load when starting up (NOT login shell starting file, the normal shell starting file, there is a difference!)
  3. Add source ~/.nvm/nvm.sh to that file (assuming that file exists at that location, it is the default install location)
  4. Start a new terminal session
  5. Profit?
Robert Thorne

Robert Thorne

Automotive & Future Transportation Editor
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Robert Thorne covers electric vehicle innovations, autonomous driving systems, global mobility trends, and automotive engineering developments.