ekalinin/nodeenv

What is it?

Key features

• 01Creates isolated Node.js environments with their own installation directories.
• 02Installs prebuilt Node.js binaries by default, or compiles from source on Unix.
• 03Accepts exact versions, semver ranges, and keywords like lts and latest.
• 04Integrates with an existing Python virtualenv via the -p option.
• 05Installs npm packages from requirements files, globally or into node_modules.
• 06Supports custom download mirrors, including local directories and authenticated URLs.

Use cases

• Running a Python project that also needs a specific Node.js version for build tooling.
• Setting up reproducible Node.js and npm package versions across machines.
• Installing Node.js on hosts where a mirror or local package copy is required.
• Keeping several Node.js versions side by side for testing compatibility.

Quick start

1. 1

   Install nodeenv globally with pipx

   pipx install nodeenv
2. 2

   Create a Node.js environment named env

   nodeenv env
3. 3

   Activate the new environment

   . env/bin/activate

Things to know

• !The license is listed as NOASSERTION, so check the repository for license terms before use.
• !Building Node.js from source needs libssl-dev and, for versions older than 13, a python2 command.

Topics

FAQ

What is nodeenv?

A Python tool that creates isolated Node.js virtual environments, each with its own Node.js and npm install, optionally integrated with a Python virtualenv. nodeenv creates isolated Node.js environments. Each environment has its own installation directory and does not share global npm packages with other nodeenv environments, similar in spirit to Python's virtualenv.

Is nodeenv free to use? What license does it have?

nodeenv is open source under the Other license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.

Is nodeenv still maintained?

Actively maintained. The last commit to nodeenv was on Nov 2, 2026.

What can I use nodeenv for?

Running a Python project that also needs a specific Node.js version for build tooling. Setting up reproducible Node.js and npm package versions across machines. Installing Node.js on hosts where a mirror or local package copy is required. Keeping several Node.js versions side by side for testing compatibility.

How do I install nodeenv?

Install nodeenv globally with pipx: pipx install nodeenv Create a Node.js environment named env: nodeenv env Activate the new environment: . env/bin/activate

Where can I get nodeenv?

The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/ekalinin/nodeenv