Virtual Environments for Node

If you want a global nave command, you could install this thing with npm. But that's not really necessary. You can run the nave.sh shell script from here, or symlink it wherever you want.

Usage: nave <cmd>

Commands:

  install <version>    Install the version passed (ex: 0.1.103)
  use <version>        Enter a subshell where <version> is being used
  use <ver> <program>  Enter a subshell, and run "node <program>", then exit
  usemain <version>    Install in /usr/local/bin (ie, use as your main nodejs)
  clean <version>      Delete the source code for <version>
  uninstall <version>  Delete the install for <version>
  ls                   List versions currently installed
  ls-remote            List remote node versions
  ls-all               List remote and local node versions
  latest               Show the most recent dist version
  help                 Output help information

<version> can be the string "latest" to get the latest distribution.
<version> can be the string "stable" to get the latest stable version.

That's about it. Enjoy.

Check the $NAVE variable to see which version is being used. $NAVELVL tells you how many layers in you are. (A lot of nave use commands can create a nested situation. Not really sure what this would be useful for, though.)

When you're done using a specific version of node, just exit the shell to return to where you were before using nave.

nave borrows concepts, inspiration, and code from Tim Caswell's "nvm" and Kris Kowal's "sea" programs.

Sea is really nice, but is very tied to Narwhal. Also, it's a require.paths manager, which nave is not.

Nvm is also really nice, but has to be sourced rather than being run, and thus is a little bit wonky for some use cases. But it doesn't involve subshells, which makes it better for many others.