nvm install node fails to install on macOS Big Sur M1 Chip

[andyaccelerate]

I'm trying to install the latest version of node using nvm. I've just got the newly released SIlicon Macbook Pro with the M1 chip (not sure if that is related). I've installed xcode on the app store and the xcode tools on the command line. The main error i'm getting is:

clang: error: no such file or directory: 'CXX=c++'

Full command output is at the bottom of the page.

Any help appreciated,
Thanks

Operating system and version:

MacOS Big Sur

nvm debug output:

nvm --version: v0.33.0
$SHELL: /bin/zsh
$HOME: /Users/andy
$NVM_DIR: '$HOME/.nvm'
$PREFIX: ''
$NPM_CONFIG_PREFIX: ''
nvm current: none
which node: node not found
which iojs: iojs not found
which npm: npm not found
npm config get prefix: nvm:119: command not found: npm
npm root -g: nvm:119: command not found: npm

nvm ls output:

N/A
node -> stable (-> N/A) (default)
iojs -> N/A (default)
lts/* -> lts/fermium (-> N/A)
lts/argon -> v4.9.1 (-> N/A)
lts/boron -> v6.17.1 (-> N/A)
lts/carbon -> v8.17.0 (-> N/A)
lts/dubnium -> v10.23.0 (-> N/A)
lts/erbium -> v12.19.1 (-> N/A)
lts/fermium -> v14.15.1 (-> N/A)

How did you install nvm?

install script in readme

What steps did you perform?

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.33.0/install.sh | bash
nvm install node

What happened?

Downloading and installing node v15.2.1...
Local cache found: $NVM_DIR/.cache/bin/node-v15.2.1-darwin-arm64/node-v15.2.1-darwin-arm64.tar.gz
Computing checksum with shasum -a 256
Provided checksum to compare to is empty.
Checksum check failed!
Removing the broken local cache...
Downloading https://nodejs.org/dist/v15.2.1/node-v15.2.1-darwin-arm64.tar.gz...
##O#-  #                                                                                                                        
Computing checksum with shasum -a 256
Provided checksum to compare to is empty.
tar: Error opening archive: Unrecognized archive format
Binary download failed, trying source.
Local cache found: $NVM_DIR/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/node-v15.2.1.tar.gz
Checksums match! Using existing downloaded archive $NVM_DIR/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/node-v15.2.1.tar.gz
Node.js configure: Found Python 2.7.16...
INFO: configure completed successfully
/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/make -C out BUILDTYPE=Release V=0
  LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/lib.host:/Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/lib.target:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH; export LD_LIBRARY_PATH; cd ../.; mkdir -p /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj/gen; dtrace -h -xnolibs -s src/node_provider.d -o "/Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj/gen/node_provider.h"
  LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/lib.host:/Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/lib.target:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH; export LD_LIBRARY_PATH; cd ../.; mkdir -p /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release; tools/specialize_node_d.py "/Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/node.d" src/node.d mac arm64
  touch /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/tools/icu/icu_implementation.stamp
  touch /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/tools/icu/icu_uconfig.stamp
  touch /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/tools/icu/icu_uconfig_target.stamp
  touch /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.host/tools/icu/icu_implementation.stamp
  touch /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.host/tools/icu/icu_uconfig.stamp
  cc CXX=c++ -o /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/bio_ssl.o ../deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/bio_ssl.c '-DV8_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS' '-DV8_IMMINENT_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS' '-D_DARWIN_USE_64_BIT_INODE=1' '-DOPENSSL_NO_PINSHARED' '-DOPENSSL_THREADS' '-DOPENSSL_NO_HW' '-DOPENSSL_NO_QUIC=1' '-DNDEBUG' '-DL_ENDIAN' '-DOPENSSL_PIC' '-DOPENSSL_CPUID_OBJ' '-DOPENSSL_BN_ASM_MONT' '-DSHA1_ASM' '-DSHA256_ASM' '-DSHA512_ASM' '-DKECCAK1600_ASM' '-DVPAES_ASM' '-DECP_NISTZ256_ASM' '-DPOLY1305_ASM' '-DOPENSSLDIR="/System/Library/OpenSSL/"' '-DENGINESDIR="/dev/null"' -I../deps/openssl/openssl -I../deps/openssl/openssl/include -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/include -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/modes -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/ec/curve448 -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/ec/curve448/arch_32 -I../deps/openssl/config -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2 -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/include -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/crypto -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/crypto/include/internal  -O3 -gdwarf-2 -mmacosx-version-min=10.13 -arch arm64 -Wall -Wendif-labels -W -Wno-unused-parameter -Wno-missing-field-initializers -fno-strict-aliasing -MMD -MF /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/.deps//Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/bio_ssl.o.d.raw   -c
  cc CXX=c++ -o /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/d1_lib.o ../deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/d1_lib.c '-DV8_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS' '-DV8_IMMINENT_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS' '-D_DARWIN_USE_64_BIT_INODE=1' '-DOPENSSL_NO_PINSHARED' '-DOPENSSL_THREADS' '-DOPENSSL_NO_HW' '-DOPENSSL_NO_QUIC=1' '-DNDEBUG' '-DL_ENDIAN' '-DOPENSSL_PIC' '-DOPENSSL_CPUID_OBJ' '-DOPENSSL_BN_ASM_MONT' '-DSHA1_ASM' '-DSHA256_ASM' '-DSHA512_ASM' '-DKECCAK1600_ASM' '-DVPAES_ASM' '-DECP_NISTZ256_ASM' '-DPOLY1305_ASM' '-DOPENSSLDIR="/System/Library/OpenSSL/"' '-DENGINESDIR="/dev/null"' -I../deps/openssl/openssl -I../deps/openssl/openssl/include -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/include -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/modes -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/ec/curve448 -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/ec/curve448/arch_32 -I../deps/openssl/config -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2 -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/include -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/crypto -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/crypto/include/internal  -O3 -gdwarf-2 -mmacosx-version-min=10.13 -arch arm64 -Wall -Wendif-labels -W -Wno-unused-parameter -Wno-missing-field-initializers -fno-strict-aliasing -MMD -MF /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/.deps//Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/d1_lib.o.d.raw   -c
  cc CXX=c++ -o /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/d1_msg.o ../deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/d1_msg.c '-DV8_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS' '-DV8_IMMINENT_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS' '-D_DARWIN_USE_64_BIT_INODE=1' '-DOPENSSL_NO_PINSHARED' '-DOPENSSL_THREADS' '-DOPENSSL_NO_HW' '-DOPENSSL_NO_QUIC=1' '-DNDEBUG' '-DL_ENDIAN' '-DOPENSSL_PIC' '-DOPENSSL_CPUID_OBJ' '-DOPENSSL_BN_ASM_MONT' '-DSHA1_ASM' '-DSHA256_ASM' '-DSHA512_ASM' '-DKECCAK1600_ASM' '-DVPAES_ASM' '-DECP_NISTZ256_ASM' '-DPOLY1305_ASM' '-DOPENSSLDIR="/System/Library/OpenSSL/"' '-DENGINESDIR="/dev/null"' -I../deps/openssl/openssl -I../deps/openssl/openssl/include -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/include -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/modes -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/ec/curve448 -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/ec/curve448/arch_32 -I../deps/openssl/config -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2 -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/include -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/crypto -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/crypto/include/internal  -O3 -gdwarf-2 -mmacosx-version-min=10.13 -arch arm64 -Wall -Wendif-labels -W -Wno-unused-parameter -Wno-missing-field-initializers -fno-strict-aliasing -MMD -MF /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/.deps//Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/d1_msg.o.d.raw   -c
  cc CXX=c++ -o /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/d1_srtp.o ../deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/d1_srtp.c '-DV8_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS' '-DV8_IMMINENT_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS' '-D_DARWIN_USE_64_BIT_INODE=1' '-DOPENSSL_NO_PINSHARED' '-DOPENSSL_THREADS' '-DOPENSSL_NO_HW' '-DOPENSSL_NO_QUIC=1' '-DNDEBUG' '-DL_ENDIAN' '-DOPENSSL_PIC' '-DOPENSSL_CPUID_OBJ' '-DOPENSSL_BN_ASM_MONT' '-DSHA1_ASM' '-DSHA256_ASM' '-DSHA512_ASM' '-DKECCAK1600_ASM' '-DVPAES_ASM' '-DECP_NISTZ256_ASM' '-DPOLY1305_ASM' '-DOPENSSLDIR="/System/Library/OpenSSL/"' '-DENGINESDIR="/dev/null"' -I../deps/openssl/openssl -I../deps/openssl/openssl/include -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/include -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/modes -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/ec/curve448 -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/ec/curve448/arch_32 -I../deps/openssl/config -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2 -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/include -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/crypto -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/crypto/include/internal  -O3 -gdwarf-2 -mmacosx-version-min=10.13 -arch arm64 -Wall -Wendif-labels -W -Wno-unused-parameter -Wno-missing-field-initializers -fno-strict-aliasing -MMD -MF /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/.deps//Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/d1_srtp.o.d.raw   -c
  cc CXX=c++ -o /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/methods.o ../deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/methods.c '-DV8_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS' '-DV8_IMMINENT_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS' '-D_DARWIN_USE_64_BIT_INODE=1' '-DOPENSSL_NO_PINSHARED' '-DOPENSSL_THREADS' '-DOPENSSL_NO_HW' '-DOPENSSL_NO_QUIC=1' '-DNDEBUG' '-DL_ENDIAN' '-DOPENSSL_PIC' '-DOPENSSL_CPUID_OBJ' '-DOPENSSL_BN_ASM_MONT' '-DSHA1_ASM' '-DSHA256_ASM' '-DSHA512_ASM' '-DKECCAK1600_ASM' '-DVPAES_ASM' '-DECP_NISTZ256_ASM' '-DPOLY1305_ASM' '-DOPENSSLDIR="/System/Library/OpenSSL/"' '-DENGINESDIR="/dev/null"' -I../deps/openssl/openssl -I../deps/openssl/openssl/include -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/include -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/modes -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/ec/curve448 -I../deps/openssl/openssl/crypto/ec/curve448/arch_32 -I../deps/openssl/config -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2 -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/include -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/crypto -I../deps/openssl/config/archs/darwin64-arm64-cc/asm_avx2/crypto/include/internal  -O3 -gdwarf-2 -mmacosx-version-min=10.13 -arch arm64 -Wall -Wendif-labels -W -Wno-unused-parameter -Wno-missing-field-initializers -fno-strict-aliasing -MMD -MF /Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/.deps//Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/methods.o.d.raw   -c
clang: error: no such file or directory: 'CXX=c++'
clang: error: no such file or directory: 'CXX=c++'
clang: error: no such file or directory: 'CXX=c++'
make[1]: *** [/Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/d1_msg.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** Waiting for unfinished jobs....
make[1]: *** [/Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/bio_ssl.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [/Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/d1_lib.o] Error 1
clang: error: no such file or directory: 'CXX=c++'
clang: error: no such file or directory: 'CXX=c++'
make[1]: *** [/Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/methods.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [/Users/andy/.nvm/.cache/src/node-v15.2.1/files/out/Release/obj.target/openssl/deps/openssl/openssl/ssl/d1_srtp.o] Error 1
make: *** [node] Error 2
nvm: install v15.2.1 failed!

[aeharding]

Just installed for me on my m1 MacBook Air - nvm version 0.37.0 running nvm i v15

Try upgrading your version of nvm. I just dowloaded via the curl command.

Took a long time though - had to build node from source!

[kevcube]

I got a failure to install node v14 via NVM.

I assumed nvm wasn't working, and attempted installing node v15 via brew (on ARM) and it succeeded.

I'll try nvm again because I'd like older versions.

--update--
Tried nvm again, it's succeeding for v15, but not node v14.

I guess for now I'll live without old versions of node 😜

[ljharb]

Old versions of node might simply not work on apple silicon machines.

Definitely don’t install nvm via homebrew; i don’t support that.

[sreuter]

Yeah, existing versions of node 14 simply don't compile.

I've opened a bug here: nodejs/node#36161

[ljharb]

@andyaccelerate if you try with node 15 and the latest version of nvm, does everything work? If so, this should be closed.

[lukebettridge]

Installing older versions of Node wouldn't work for me either, tried v10 & v12 on the latest version of NVM. Took a long time but v15 installed successfully.

[AshCripps]

The support for apple silicon is only on master and possibly 15.x. older versions are expected to not work because they are missing the correct version of V8

[ljharb]

What would be ideal, then, is for nvm to detect that you're on Apple Silicon, and trying to install a version that's not supported (< 15, at least), and fail with a helpful message. I'll leave this open to track that.

[ruffin--]

Quick warning that even once you've got the latest nvm up and running, you're going to be in a world of pain when you try to install dependencies. Pattern of...

node-pre-gyp WARN Tried to download(404): https://fsevents-binaries.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/v1.2.4/fse-v1.2.4-node-v88-darwin-arm64.tar.gz 
node-pre-gyp WARN Pre-built binaries not found for fsevents@1.2.4 and node@15.2.1 (node-v88 ABI, unknown) (falling back to source compile with node-gyp) 

then lots of build errors before it gives up, at least for me.

So even though Node is limited to just building the latest, here's an OT heads up that lots of other stuff doesn't appear to be able to do even that. The Bleeding Edge Cuts (c) 1842.

[ljharb]

Indeed, that will always be the case for compiled deps, but many dep graphs intentionally avoid having those :-)

[andyaccelerate]

Thanks guys, when I first installed nvm I took the install script link from an article that I didn't realise was a bit old and installed v0.33 rather than the latest v0.37. Updating nvm fixed my issue with being able to install the latest version of node, but of course it looks like there is still the issue of installing older versions of node (which is not really the same problem as with my initial issue, but i'm sure I would of run into that one as well).

[bdruth]

Just fyi - if you set the Open using Rosetta option on Terminal.app or iTerm.app - you'll save yourself a lot of headache until more stuff works w/ aarch64 and the toolchain on the M1 macs. TBF, most if not all of this stuff already works on, e.g. Raspberry Pi or Amazon Graviton2 instances ... but, there's a lot of bad scripts that hard-code detections for macOS and do something differently ... it'll take awhile to get those sorted, I expect.