Node.js

ApplicationOpenJS Foundation

Dem still dey call am node, node.js, nodejs runtime

OpenJS FoundationProductivity

JavaScript runtime from OpenJS Foundation. Di official Windows installer dey put node.exe under Program Files\nodejs and e include npm.

Wetin you need know

Node.js dey run JavaScript. npm dey follow come with di official installer.

node.exe na di Node.js runtime. Di official Windows installer still dey put npm for PATH. python.exe na CPython. node.exe inside project folder na often local or nvm install.

Wetin e be?: JavaScript runtime with npm
Same thing as Python?: No. Different language
node.exe inside project?: Often na local or nvm copy

Feex tok say

If node.exe dey sidon for dev server wey dem abandon, I go read di command line for server.js or npm. I no go uninstall Python make e shut up.

Wetin be Node.js?

Node.js na di OpenJS JavaScript runtime. Official builds dey stay under Program Files\nodejs or inside nvm folder. E no be Python and e no be Windows component.

If you never use am before

If README talk say make you install Node, get di LTS installer from nodejs.org. Dat package dey include npm. You no need Python for basic Node app. node.exe inside Program Files\nodejs na di global runtime. node.exe wey dey near project na often nvm-windows or vendored copy.

Wetin dem dey use am for?

Run JavaScript tools

Dev servers, CLIs, and scripts dey start as node.exe. Dat one no be python.exe.

npm installs

npm.cmd dey follow come with di official installer. Composer na di PHP equivalent, no be dis one.

Version managers

nvm-windows dey keep extra node.exe copies. Those ones na still Node, no be System32 file.

Na who e dey for?

People wey their tools assume npm
Users wey find node.exe for inside project think say na malware
Anybody wey mistake am for Python because both of dem talk say runtime

Current status

Dem still dey develop am well. OpenJS dey ship Current and LTS trains. Dis article na for di Windows desktop runtime, no be Node inside WSL.

How old e be?

Ryan Dahl release Node.js for 2009. E younger pass Python (1991) and old pass most Electron editors. Current Windows work dey use LTS from nodejs.org, no be di 0.x era.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers no dey all verified here.

LTS

Current

System requirements

Values dey follow wetin di publisher release publicly. Workload still dey change di real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	Current 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, according to nodejs.org
RAM	Di runtime small. Bundlers and node_modules dey decide memory

Resource profile

CPU demand: Dey follow wetin you open inside di app
RAM demand: Dey follow documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

Dese executables belong to dis product when e dey installed.

Installed processes
node.exe	Node.js runtime for dat install

Startup components

Startup npm script fit start am. Na you or vendor do am, no be inbox Windows service wey dem name Node.

File locations

Common Node.js locations
Typical install	C:\Program Files\nodejs\

File formats

JSMJSpackage.json

Common wahala dem

Leftover localhost server

npm start fit keep node.exe alive after you don close di editor. End dat command line, no be python.exe.

Project-local node.exe

Some tools dey vendor runtime. Open file location. Program Files\nodejs na di official install.

How to get unstuck

where.exe node and node -v

Confirm Program Files\nodejs versus nvm versus project copy. where.exe python na different install.

If di work dey inside Ubuntu, dis exe na di wrong one

WSL Node dey stay inside di distro. To end Windows node.exe no go stop Linux Node.

Reinstall from nodejs.org, no be from random Node pack

Di official LTS installer dey include npm. Search-ad bundle na useless software.

Alternatives

Python na different language. Bun and Deno dey overlap for some JS work.

Official help and downloads

Start with di vendor. Random exe sites no be support channel.

Official contacts
Download	nodejs.org/ Official installer or vendor page
Help	nodejs.org/docs Vendor support
Official site	nodejs.org/ Start here, no be random exe host
Release index	nodejs.org/en/download/releases When project pin older major

Related hardware

Di runtime itself dey light. Large TypeScript projects dey want RAM and SSD for node_modules.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers dey change. Dis article no pin down any build.

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

Node.js official site · Vendor product page
Node.js help · Vendor support
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on top Windows PCs. No be lab benchmark.

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