Node.js versions

Most PHP projects also need a JavaScript toolchain — for Vite, asset builds, or a front-end dev server. Butler manages Node.js versions for you through fnm, so you don’t need a separate Node manager.

Install Node

Node support comes from the fnm component. Install it once, then install the Node versions you want:

butler install fnm
butler fnm install 22      # install the latest Node 22.x
butler fnm install 20

Set a default version:

butler fnm default 22

The Node section of the menu bar app shows your installed versions with a picker to install more or change the default — the same actions without the terminal.

Run node, npm and npx

Butler exposes the active Node toolchain through its own subcommands, so they use the version Butler manages regardless of what’s otherwise on your PATH:

butler node -v
butler npm install
butler npx vite build

Put Butler’s toolchain on your PATH

If you’d rather call node, npm, php and composer directly (without the butler prefix), install Butler’s shell integration:

butler shell install

This hooks your shell so Butler’s php, fnm/Node, and Composer are on your PATH, with per-directory version switching. Check what’s resolving with:

butler which node

nvm conflicts with fnm

If you already use nvm and it’s sourced in your shell profile, it competes with Butler’s fnm for node/npm on your PATH, which causes version flip-flopping. butler doctor warns when it detects this — remove nvm’s init lines from your shell RC (or uninstall nvm) to let Butler’s fnm manage Node cleanly.