Node.js does provide pre-built installers for all platforms but here we are going to talk about how to install and prep your PC for Node.js development when you don’t have administrator rights.
Step 1: Get Node.exe First you will need to download the Windows Binary. You can get it from Node.js download page or http://nodejs.org/dist/latest/. For x64, you will have to download from the appropriate folder. Move the executable to a local folder.
Step 2: Get NPM NPM (Node Package Manager) is the package manager for Node.js and you will need this for your development. You can download NPM from https://github.com/npm/npm/releases and extract the zip file to a local folder.
Step 3: Configure the environment PATH variable. You need to set up the PATH variable so that you can call node from anywhere in the system.
set PATH=%PATH%;D:\path-to-your-node;D:\path-to-your-npm
Mostly likely, the usual way of setting environment variables may not be accessible or not sufficient for you. instead you might want to hit Win + R (Open the Run dialog) and execute this:
rundll32 sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables
This command will provide you with Environment Variables dialog box. You will be able to add/modify the PATH variable for the current user.
Step 4: Testing your Node.js installation Quick way to test your Node.js installation is to get the version of Node.js that you are running by running the following command:
node --version
You should get something like this:
Extra: Setting up NPM to work behind a proxy Apart from the hurdle of not having admin rights, one common issue is working behind the corporate proxy. Fire up your command line and type in the following:
npm config set proxy http://proxy:port
npm config set https-proxy https://proxy:port
If you need to specify the credentials, then use the following syntax:
npm config set proxy http://username:password@proxy:port
npm config set https-proxy https://username:password@proxy:port
Now you can get your hands dirty with Node.js. Happy programming! :)