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NOTE: This post refers to Node v0.8.x. For new v0.10.x please visit this.

In my previous post I’ve described how to install Node v.0.6.19 into your Fox Board G20. Now I will show how to install the “fresh” 0.8 release of Node. For the identical steps please visit this.

1. Step 1 to step 4

   The same as this.

2. Step 5: download Node source code

   To download Node source code simply use customized nvm:

   debarm:~$ nvm download v0.8.0

   1	debarm:~$ nvm download v0.8.0

3. Step 6: customize SConstruct file

   After a while you have the Node source code and you must customize the v8 script:

   debarm:~$ nano ~/nvm/src/node-v0.8.0/deps/v8/SConstruct

   1	debarm:~$ nano ~/nvm/src/node-v0.8.0/deps/v8/SConstruct

   'gcc': { 'all': { 'CCFLAGS': ['$DIALECTFLAGS', '$WARNINGFLAGS'], 'CXXFLAGS': ['-fno-rtti', '-fno-exceptions'], }, 'visibility:hidden': { # Use visibility=default to disable this. 'CXXFLAGS': ['-fvisibility=hidden'] },

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   'gcc': {     'all': {       'CCFLAGS':      ['$DIALECTFLAGS', '$WARNINGFLAGS'],       'CXXFLAGS':     ['-fno-rtti', '-fno-exceptions'],     },     'visibility:hidden': {       # Use visibility=default to disable this.       'CXXFLAGS':     ['-fvisibility=hidden']     },

   and modify as follow:

   'gcc': { 'all': { 'CCFLAGS': ['$DIALECTFLAGS', '$WARNINGFLAGS', '-march=armv5tej', '-mthumb-interwork'], 'CXXFLAGS': ['-fno-rtti', '-fno-exceptions', '-march=armv5tej', '-mthumb-interwork'], }, 'visibility:hidden': { # Use visibility=default to disable this. 'CXXFLAGS': ['-fvisibility=hidden'] },

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   'gcc': {     'all': {       'CCFLAGS':      ['$DIALECTFLAGS', '$WARNINGFLAGS', '-march=armv5tej', '-mthumb-interwork'],       'CXXFLAGS':     ['-fno-rtti', '-fno-exceptions', '-march=armv5tej', '-mthumb-interwork'],     },     'visibility:hidden': {       # Use visibility=default to disable this.       'CXXFLAGS':     ['-fvisibility=hidden']     },

   and finally this:

   'armeabi:softfp' : { 'CPPDEFINES' : ['USE_EABI_HARDFLOAT=0'], 'vfp3:on': { 'CPPDEFINES' : ['CAN_USE_VFP_INSTRUCTIONS'] }, 'simulator:none': { 'CCFLAGS': ['-mfloat-abi=softfp'], } },

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   'armeabi:softfp' : {         'CPPDEFINES' : ['USE_EABI_HARDFLOAT=0'],         'vfp3:on': {           'CPPDEFINES' : ['CAN_USE_VFP_INSTRUCTIONS']         },         'simulator:none': {           'CCFLAGS':     ['-mfloat-abi=softfp'],         }       },

   in this one:

   'armeabi:softfp' : { 'CPPDEFINES' : ['USE_EABI_HARDFLOAT=0'], # 'vfp3:on': { # 'CPPDEFINES' : ['CAN_USE_VFP_INSTRUCTIONS'] # }, 'simulator:none': { 'CCFLAGS': ['-mfloat-abi=soft'], } },

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   'armeabi:softfp' : {         'CPPDEFINES' : ['USE_EABI_HARDFLOAT=0'],         # 'vfp3:on': {         #   'CPPDEFINES' : ['CAN_USE_VFP_INSTRUCTIONS']         # },         'simulator:none': {           'CCFLAGS':     ['-mfloat-abi=soft'],         }       },

4. Step 7: customize common.gypi

   By default the v8 installer recognize the Fox Board as an armv7, but isn’t right (see this).

   Edit common.gypi:

   debarm:~$ nano ~/nvm/src/node-v0.8.0/deps/v8/build/common.gypy

   1	debarm:~$ nano ~/nvm/src/node-v0.8.0/deps/v8/build/common.gypy

   and change this:

   { 'variables': { 'use_system_v8%': 0, 'msvs_use_common_release': 0, 'gcc_version%': 'unknown', 'v8_compress_startup_data%': 'off', 'v8_target_arch%': '<(target_arch)',

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   {   'variables': {     'use_system_v8%': 0,     'msvs_use_common_release': 0,     'gcc_version%': 'unknown',     'v8_compress_startup_data%': 'off',     'v8_target_arch%': '<(target_arch)',

   as follow:

   { 'variables': { 'armv7%': 0, 'arm_neon%': 0, 'use_system_v8%': 0, 'msvs_use_common_release': 0, 'gcc_version%': 'unknown', 'v8_compress_startup_data%': 'off', 'v8_target_arch%': '<(target_arch)',

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   {   'variables': {     'armv7%': 0,     'arm_neon%': 0,     'use_system_v8%': 0,     'msvs_use_common_release': 0,     'gcc_version%': 'unknown',     'v8_compress_startup_data%': 'off',     'v8_target_arch%': '<(target_arch)',

5. Step 8: customize macro-assembler-arm.cc

   As workaround for “For thumb inter-working we require an architecture which supports blx” error message during v8 compilation, you must customize macro-assembler-arm.cc source code:

   debarm:~$ nano ~/nvm/src/node-v0.8.0/deps/v8/src/arm/macro-assembler-arm.cc

   1	debarm:~$ nano ~/nvm/src/node-v0.8.0/deps/v8/src/arm/macro-assembler-arm.cc

   from this:

   // We do not support thumb inter-working with an arm architecture not supporting // the blx instruction (below v5t). If you know what CPU you are compiling for // you can use -march=armv7 or similar. #if defined(USE_THUMB_INTERWORK) && !defined(CAN_USE_THUMB_INSTRUCTIONS) # error 'For thumb inter-working we require an architecture which supports blx' #endif

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   // We do not support thumb inter-working with an arm architecture not supporting // the blx instruction (below v5t).  If you know what CPU you are compiling for // you can use -march=armv7 or similar. #if defined(USE_THUMB_INTERWORK) && !defined(CAN_USE_THUMB_INSTRUCTIONS) # error 'For thumb inter-working we require an architecture which supports blx' #endif

   to this:

   // We do not support thumb inter-working with an arm architecture not supporting // the blx instruction (below v5t). If you know what CPU you are compiling for // you can use -march=armv7 or similar. // #if defined(USE_THUMB_INTERWORK) && !defined(CAN_USE_THUMB_INSTRUCTIONS) // # error 'For thumb inter-working we require an architecture which supports blx'; // #endif

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   // We do not support thumb inter-working with an arm architecture not supporting // the blx instruction (below v5t).  If you know what CPU you are compiling for // you can use -march=armv7 or similar. // #if defined(USE_THUMB_INTERWORK) && !defined(CAN_USE_THUMB_INSTRUCTIONS) // # error 'For thumb inter-working we require an architecture which supports blx'; // #endif

6. Step 9: install Node

   Now use again nvm:

   debarm:~$ nvm foxinstall v0.8.0

   1	debarm:~$ nvm foxinstall v0.8.0

   After a few hours (be patient!) you have compiled the latest Node version and you must use it:

   debarm:~$ nvm use v0.8.0

   1	debarm:~$ nvm use v0.8.0

   Done! Now you can verify all:

   debarm:~$ node -v debarm:~$ npm -v

   1 2	debarm:~$ node -v debarm:~$ npm -v

   If all versions appear, you can install your desired Node packages using npm as you know:

   debarm:~$ npm install express

   1	debarm:~$ npm install express

   You can also set the default Node version as follow:

   debarm:~$ nvm alias default v0.8.0

   1	debarm:~$ nvm alias default v0.8.0

Good programming with Node!

Arm , Node.js

About Marcello Gesmundo

I'm the founder of Yoovant company. I'm an engineer and an artist: what could be better than combine the technologies with the arts?