To install Node.js, first install the below prerequisite and add the node.js repository. # sudo apt-get install python-software-properties # sudo apt-add-repository ppa:chris-lea/node.js Now install Node.js and npm (the Node Packet Manager). # sudo apt-get update # sudo apt-get install nodejs npm Thats it. Your Node.js is ready. Test by running the below command. # node -v v0.6.18 Node.js stable releases are done quite frequently. To upgrade run, # sudo apt-get update # sudo apt-get upgrade nodejs npm You could also use the Ubuntu Update Manager to do the update. If you are the kind who prefers to directly build from the sources then, # cd <directory> # sudo wget http://nodejs.org/dist/v0.6.18/node-v0.6.18.tar.gz # sudo tar -zxf node-v0.6.18.tar.gz # cd node-v0.6.18 # sudo ./configure # sudo make # sudo make install # node -v v0.6.18 The latest version was v0.6.18 at the time of writing this post. For other platforms, installation is simple.