How to install node.js on squeeze or wheezy

Node.js is a server-side software system designed for writing scalable Internet applications, notably web servers. Programs are written on the server side in JavaScript, using event-driven, asynchronous I/O to minimize overhead and maximize scalability.

Node.js contains a built-in HTTP server library, making it possible to run a web server without the use of external software, such as Apache or Lighttpd, and allowing more control of how the web server works. Node.js enables web developers to create an entire web application in JavaScript, both server-side and client-side.

These instructions and tested and fully working on both squeeze and wheezy.

1. Install packages required to compile the source code

apt-get install build-essential


2. Download the latest source code from nodejs.org

wget http://nodejs.org/dist/v0.10.9/node-v0.10.9.tar.gz


3. Extract the tar archive

tar zxvf node-v0.10.9.tar.gz


4. Enter the directory we just extracted from the tar archive

cd node-v0.10.9


5. Compile and install

./configure
make
make install


6. Test node.js to make sure it’s working correctly

echo "console.log('Hello World');" | node


This should simply print “Hello World” in the console. If you don’t get any errors, node.js is installed and functional and you may just have executed your first node.js script.