How to install Node.js on ARM based SBC Fox Board G20

June 10, 2012

NOTE: This post refers to Node v0.6.19. For new v0.8.0 please visit this.

On Node.js website I read:

Node.js is a platform built on Chrome’s JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications. Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient, perfect for data-intensive real-time applications that run across distributed devices.

Awesome! Now I want to install Node on my Fox Board G20, my preferred ARM based SBC!
To do this I want the latest version of Node, but from Acmesystems website I can download only an older version. No problem: if you want as me the latest Node on your Fox Board G20, read below and you can.

Step 1: enable swap

By default Fox Board has his swap disabled, but to complete all tasks to install node.js it must be enabled; open your terminal and type:

debarm:~$ nano /etc/fstab

#Mount the fat16 partition where is located
#the Kernel image
/dev/mmcblk0p1 /media/mmc_p1 vfat noatime 0 1

#Mount the rootfs partition
/dev/mmcblk0p2 / ext4 noatime 0 1

#Mount the data partition
/dev/mmcblk0p3 /media/data ext4 noatime 0 1

#Enable the swap memory
#/dev/mmcblk0p4 none swap sw 0 0

proc /proc proc none 0 0

uncomment the line #12:

#Mount the fat16 partition where is located
#the Kernel image
/dev/mmcblk0p1 /media/mmc_p1 vfat noatime 0 1

#Mount the rootfs partition
/dev/mmcblk0p2 / ext4 noatime 0 1

#Mount the data partition
/dev/mmcblk0p3 /media/data ext4 noatime 0 1

#Enable the swap memory
/dev/mmcblk0p4 none swap sw 0 0

proc /proc proc none 0 0[/sourcecode]

save and exit and reboot your Fox Board.

Step 2: install prerequisites

To install all prerequisites simply type:

debarm:~$ aptitude update
debarm:~$ aptitude install git-core curl build-essential openssl libssl-dev python libcurl4-openssl-dev

Step 3: install nvm

The most simple method to install latest Node is using nvm (Node Version Manager) hosted on Github.
Get nvm from Github:
```
debarm:~$ git clone git://github.com/creationix/nvm.git ~/nvm
```

Step 4: customize nvm

Unfortunately using the default nvm isn’t possible to compile Node due to ARM type used on Fox Board. Typing:

debarm:~$ cat /proc/cpuinfo

you see:

Processor	: ARM926EJ-S rev 5 (v5l)
BogoMIPS	: 197.83
Features	: swp half thumb fastmult edsp java 
CPU implementer	: 0x41
CPU architecture: 5TEJ
CPU variant	: 0x0
CPU part	: 0x926
CPU revision	: 5

Hardware	: Acme Systems srl FOX Board G20
Revision	: 0000
Serial		: 0000000000000000

therefore gcc must be use right CPU architecture and vfp feature isn’t present. To avoid this problem you must customize nvm script:

debarm:~$ nano ~/nvm/nvm.sh

case $1 in
    "help" )
      echo
      echo "Node Version Manager"
      echo
      echo "Usage:"
      echo "    nvm help                    Show this message"
      echo "    nvm install [-s] <version>  Download and install a <version>"
      echo "    nvm uninstall <version>     Uninstall a version"
      echo "    nvm use <version>           Modify PATH to use <version>"
      echo "    nvm run <version> [<args>]  Run <version> with <args> as arguments"
      echo "    nvm ls                      List installed versions"
      echo "    nvm ls <version>            List versions matching a given description"
      echo "    nvm ls-remote               List remote versions available for install"
      echo "    nvm deactivate              Undo effects of NVM on current shell"
      echo "    nvm alias [<pattern>]       Show all aliases beginning with <pattern>"
      echo "    nvm alias <name> <version>  Set an alias named <name> pointing to <version>"
      echo "    nvm unalias <name>          Deletes the alias named <name>"
      echo "    nvm copy-packages <version> Install global NPM packages contained in <version> to current version"
      echo
      echo "Example:"
      echo "    nvm install v0.4.12         Install a specific version number"
      echo "    nvm use 0.2                 Use the latest available 0.2.x release"
      echo "    nvm run 0.4.12 myApp.js     Run myApp.js using node v0.4.12"
      echo "    nvm alias default 0.4       Auto use the latest installed v0.4.x version"
      echo
    ;;

    "install" )
      # initialize local variables
      if [ ! `which curl` ]; then
        echo 'NVM Needs curl to proceed.' >&2;
      fi

Edit code as below:

  case $1 in
    "help" )
      echo
      echo "Node Version Manager"
      echo
      echo "Usage:"
      echo "    nvm help                    Show this message"
      echo "    nvm download <version>      Download only a <version>"
      echo "    nvm foxinstall <version>    Install a <version> in Fox Board G20"
      echo "    nvm install <version>       Download and install a <version>"
      echo "    nvm uninstall <version>     Uninstall a version"
      echo "    nvm use <version>           Modify PATH to use <version>"
      echo "    nvm run <version> [<args>]  Run <version> with <args> as arguments"
      echo "    nvm ls                      List installed versions"
      echo "    nvm ls <version>            List versions matching a given description"
      echo "    nvm deactivate              Undo effects of NVM on current shell"
      echo "    nvm alias [<pattern>]       Show all aliases beginning with <pattern>"
      echo "    nvm alias <name> <version>  Set an alias named <name> pointing to <version>"
      echo "    nvm unalias <name>          Deletes the alias named <name>"
      echo "    nvm copy-packages <version> Install global NPM packages contained in <version> to current version"
      echo
      echo "Example:"
      echo "    nvm install v0.4.12         Install a specific version number"
      echo "    nvm use 0.2                 Use the latest available 0.2.x release"
      echo "    nvm run 0.4.12 myApp.js     Run myApp.js using node v0.4.12"
      echo "    nvm alias default 0.4       Auto use the latest installed v0.4.x version"
      echo
    ;;
        "download" )
          if [ ! `which curl` ]; then
            echo 'NVM Needs curl to proceed.' >&2;
          fi
 
          if [ $# -ne 2 ]; then
            nvm help
            return
          fi
          VERSION=`nvm_version $2`
 
          [ -d "$NVM_DIR/$VERSION" ] && echo "$VERSION is already installed." && return
 
          tarball=''
          if [ "`curl -Is "http://nodejs.org/dist/$VERSION/node-$VERSION.tar.gz" | grep '200 OK'`" != '' ]; then
            tarball="http://nodejs.org/dist/$VERSION/node-$VERSION.tar.gz"
          elif [ "`curl -Is "http://nodejs.org/dist/node-$VERSION.tar.gz" | grep '200 OK'`" != '' ]; then
            tarball="http://nodejs.org/dist/node-$VERSION.tar.gz"
          fi
          if (
            [ ! -z $tarball ] && \
            mkdir -p "$NVM_DIR/src" && \
            cd "$NVM_DIR/src" && \
            curl -C - --progress-bar $tarball -o "node-$VERSION.tar.gz" && \
            tar -xzf "node-$VERSION.tar.gz" && \
            cd "node-$VERSION"
            )
          then
            echo "nvm: please customize $NVM_DIR/src/node-$VERSION/deps/v8/SConstruct"
          else
            echo "nvm: download $VERSION failed!"
          fi
        ;;
        "foxinstall" )
          if [ $# -ne 2 ]; then
            nvm help
            return
          fi
          VERSION=`nvm_version $2`
 
          [ -d "$NVM_DIR/$VERSION" ] && echo "$VERSION is already installed." && return
 
          if (
            cd "$NVM_DIR/src/node-$VERSION" && \
            ./configure --prefix="$NVM_DIR/$VERSION" && \
            make && \
            rm -f "$NVM_DIR/$VERSION" 2>/dev/null && \
            make install
            )
          then
            nvm use $VERSION
            if ! which npm ; then
              echo "Installing npm..."
              if [[ "`expr match $VERSION '\(^v0\.1\.\)'`" != '' ]]; then
                echo "npm requires node v0.2.3 or higher"
              elif [[ "`expr match $VERSION '\(^v0\.2\.\)'`" != '' ]]; then
                if [[ "`expr match $VERSION '\(^v0\.2\.[0-2]$\)'`" != '' ]]; then
                  echo "npm requires node v0.2.3 or higher"
                else
                  curl http://npmjs.org/install.sh | clean=yes npm_install=0.2.19 sh
                fi
              else
                curl http://npmjs.org/install.sh | clean=yes sh
              fi
            fi
          else
            echo "nvm: install $VERSION failed!"
          fi
        ;;    
    "install" )
      if [ ! `which curl` ]; then
        echo 'NVM Needs curl to proceed.' >&2;
      fi

Save nvm.sh file and activate your nvm:

debarm:~$ . ~/nvm/nvm.sh

Step 5: download Node source code

To download Node source code simply use customized nvm:
```
debarm:~$ nvm download v0.6.19
```

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-v0.6.19/deps/v8/SConstruct

  '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=armv5te'],
      'CXXFLAGS':     ['-fno-rtti', '-fno-exceptions', '-march=armv5te'],
    },
    'visibility:hidden': {
      # Use visibility=default to disable this.
      'CXXFLAGS':     ['-fvisibility=hidden']
    },

and finally

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

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

Step 7: install Node

Now use again nvm:
```
debarm:~$ nvm foxinstall v0.6.19
```
After a few hours (be patient!) you have compiled the latest Node version and you must use it:
```
debarm:~$ nvm use v0.6.19
```
Done! Now you can verify all:
```
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
```
You can also set the default Node version as follow:
```
debarm:~$ nvm alias default v0.6.19
```

Good programming with Node!

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?

7 Comment(s)

maadaf August 20, 2013 at 16:49

Hi Marcello,
Thank you for your step by step guide.
I’m really a newbie on Aria G25 and on Linux embedded.
I’m trying to install Node.1.10 but when I enter the command ‘aptitude update’ it gave me some errors and later I can’t run the nsm.sh.

W: GPG error: http://packages.dotdeb.org stable Release: The following signatures couldn’t be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY E9C74FEEA2098A6E
W: Failed to fetch http://packages.dotdeb.org/dists/stable/all/binary-armel/Packages: 404 Not Found
E: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
E: Couldn’t rebuild package cache

Thank you in advance
maadaf

Reply

Marcello Gesmundo August 20, 2013 at 19:06
Hi Maadaf,

your error message is about a non recognized repository: http://packages.dotdeb.org. If you really want to use this instead the standard repository, type:
```
root@debarm:~# gpg --keyserver pgpkeys.mit.edu --recv-key E9C74FEEA2098A6E
root@debarm:~# gpg -a --export E9C74FEEA2098A6E | apt-key add -
```
and next try to use aptitude.

Best regards,

Marcello
Reply

maadaf August 22, 2013 at 10:58

Hi Marcello,

You were right. I remove that repository and now it works fine.

Thanks

Maddaf

Reply

Marcello Gesmundo August 22, 2013 at 11:00

You are welcome Maadaf!

Marcello

Reply

Arturo September 12, 2013 at 14:04

Hi,
I try to install and when I launch make, I receive following message:

/root/nvm/src/node-v0.6.19/deps/v8/src/arm/macro-assembler-arm.cc:64:3: error: #error “For thumb inter-working we require an architecture which supports blx”
scons: *** [obj/release/arm/macro-assembler-arm.o] Error 1
scons: building terminated because of errors.
Waf: Leaving directory `/root/nvm/src/node-v0.6.19/out’
Build failed: -> task failed (err #2):
{task: libv8.a SConstruct -> libv8.a}
make: *** [program] Error 1
What do you think about?

Many thanks.

Arturo

Reply

Marcello Gesmundo September 12, 2013 at 15:41

Hi Arturo,

please see the step 5. You can also install the new 0.10x following my newly post.

Regards,

Marcello

Reply

Arturo September 13, 2013 at 10:26

It’ works now! Great guide!

Many thanks.

Arturo

Reply