How To Install Node.js on Debian 10 / Debian 9

Node.js is a free and open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime built on Google’s V8 JavaScript engine for developing web applications and network tools,

Node.js lets you use JavaScript for server-side scripting to create dynamic web page contents before the page is sent to the user’s web browser. It uses an event-driven and non-blocking I/O model, which makes Node.js fast and scalable.

Ryan Dahl developed Node.js in 2009.

Node.js Versions

There are two versions of Node.js available for the users.

1. v12.x (Long Term Supported)
2. v13.x (Current Latest Version)

Prerequisites

Update the repository index.

sudo apt update

Install build tools if you plan to compile and install native addons from npm.

sudo apt install -y build-essential curl

Add Node.js Repository

NodeSource maintains Node.js binary packages for Debian operating systems. You can configure any one of the Node.js version’s repository depending upon your requirement.

Node.js v12.x (LTS)

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_12.x | sudo -E bash -

Node.js v13.x (Current Latest version)

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_13.x | sudo -E bash -

Install Node.js

Once after adding the repository on your system, install the Node.js by using the apt command.

Installing Node.js will also install the NPM (Node Package Manager).

sudo apt install -y nodejs

Check the version of Node.js and NPM using the following command.

nodejs -v

Output:

  v12.15.0

NPM version.

npm -v

Output:

  6.13.4

Install Yarn

Yarn is another package manager to install and manage packages for Node.js. To install the Yarn package manager, run:

curl -sL https://dl.yarnpkg.com/debian/pubkey.gpg | sudo apt-key add -

echo "deb https://dl.yarnpkg.com/debian/ stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/yarn.list

sudo apt update

sudo apt install -y yarn

Create Test Web Server

Now, we will create a web server and run with Node.js to test the Node.js installation.

Let’s create a file called web_server.js.

nano web_server.js

Place the below content into the web_server.js file.

const http = require('http');
const port = 8080;
const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
   res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
   res.end('Hello World\n');
});
server.listen(port, () => {
  console.log(`Node.js server listening on port ${port}`);
});

Now, start the webserver with Node.js.

nodejs --inspect web_server.js

You should get the following message on your terminal.

Debugger listening on ws://127.0.0.1:9229/c7b0e7d1-9753-4501-84b2-293065fdc650
For help, see: https://nodejs.org/en/docs/inspector
Node.js server listening on port 8080

This message confirms that the webserver has been started and listening on port 8080.

Verify Node.js Installation

Open a browser and go to the below address.

You should get the Hello World page.

Conclusion

That’s All. You have successfully installed Node.js on Debian 10 / Debian 9.