nvm vs rustup
nvm
github.com
rustup
rustup.rsSide by side
| Figure | nvm | rustup |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Runtime Version Managers | 8.5 (#4) | 8.2 (#5) |
| License | nvm is distributed under the MIT License, permitting use, modification, distribution and sale subject to retaining notices. | The rustup repository is licensed under either Apache License 2.0 or the MIT license. |
| Purpose | nvm lets users install and use different Node.js versions from the command line. | rustup installs the Rust programming language from official release channels. |
| Security | The GitHub repository links to a security policy, but the README does not state a security certification or compliance standard. | rustup downloads over HTTPS but does not yet validate download signatures. |
| Support | The project states that only the latest nvm version is supported. | The rustup site directs users to the Rust community for help, and the rustup book points to the GitHub issue tracker for problems. |
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.
rustup
rustup installs Rust from its official release channels and manages the toolchains and supporting components developers use. It can switch among stable, beta, and nightly compilers, keep toolchains updated, and install specific versions or dated releases. For cross-compilation, add a target’s standard library with `rustup target add`; Android builds also require the Android NDK and usually a linker. rustup manages official channels, archived releases, alternate hosts, and local builds. It installs command proxies for tools including rustc, rustdoc, Cargo, rust-analyzer, Clippy, and Miri. Component availability varies by release and toolchain, especially for nightly. Installation uses a shell script on Unix and rustup-init.exe on Windows. Downloads use HTTPS, but download signatures are not yet validated. rustup is free and open source, with a free plan. Its listed supported platforms are Linux, macOS, and Windows; the installer also runs on FreeBSD, NetBSD, Solaris, and illumos.