nvm vs rbenv
nvm
github.comrbenv
rbenv.orgSide by side
| Figure | nvm | rbenv |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Runtime Version Managers | 8.5 (#4) | 7.3 (#21) |
| Spec score · Development Environment Managers | 8.4 (#10) | 7.2 (#42) |
| Purpose | nvm lets users install and use different Node.js versions from the command line. | rbenv manages Ruby versions on Unix-like systems so projects can use the Ruby version they require. |
| Support | The project states that only the latest nvm version is supported. | The project directs users to its GitHub issue tracker for bugs and ruby-build Discussions for build troubleshooting. |
Plans
In their own words
nvm
nvm is a free, MIT-licensed command-line tool for installing and managing Node.js versions. It is designed for installation per user and invocation per shell, and works in POSIX-compliant shells including sh, dash, ksh, zsh, and bash. Users can install specific versions, switch between them, set aliases such as a default, and use LTS aliases and commands to select long-term support versions. A project can specify its Node.js version in an.nvmrc file; documented shell snippets can support automatic switching. During installation, nvm can reinstall global npm packages from another installed Node.js version. With the --offline flag, it can install a version that was previously downloaded or cached without network access. The project documents use in Docker, including an example for CI/CD jobs. On Windows, nvm can work through WSL and may work with Git Bash or Cygwin depending on the environment. Fish shell is not supported, and the project points users to community alternatives. The project states that only the latest nvm version is supported.