node.md

Node.js Install Script

Installs Node.js, nvm, yarn, and needed dependencies.

Script status: Stable

OS support: Debian 9+, Ubuntu 16.04+, and downstream distros.

Syntax

./node-debian.sh [Location to install nvm] [node version to install (use "none" to skip)] [non-root user] [Update rc files flag]

Argument	Default	Description
Location to install nvm	/usr/local/share/nvm	Location to install the Node Version Manager (nvm) along with Node.js and Node modules.
Node version to install	lts/*	Node.js version to install. Use none to skip installing anything and just install nvm and yarn.
Non-root user	automatic	Specifies a user in the container other than root that will use Node.js. A value of automatic will cause the script to check for a user called vscode, then node, codespace, and finally a user with a UID of 1000 before falling back to root.
Add to rc files flag	true	A true/false flag that indicates whether sourcing the nvm script should be added to /etc/bash.bashrc and /etc/zsh/zshrc.

Usage

1. Add node-debian.sh to .devcontainer/library-scripts

2. Add the following to your .devcontainer/Dockerfile:

   ENV NVM_DIR="/usr/local/share/nvm"
   ENV NVM_SYMLINK_CURRENT=true \
       PATH=${NVM_DIR}/current/bin:${PATH}
   COPY library-scripts/node-debian.sh /tmp/library-scripts/
   RUN apt-get update && bash /tmp/library-scripts/node-debian.sh "${NVM_DIR}"

Using nvm from a Dockerfile or postCreateCommand

Certain operations like postCreateCommand run non-interactive, non-login shells. Unfortunately, nvm is really particular that it needs to be "sourced" before it is used - which can only be done from interactive or login shells (via an rc or profile file).

Try doing the following instead:

"postCreateCommand": "bash -i -c 'nvm install --lts'"

Or you can source the file before using nvm:

"postCreateCommand": ". ${NVM_DIR}/nvm.sh && nvm install --lts"

That's it!