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Node is now updated to 0.10.1 version: following this simple guide you can easy install the latest Node version into your Acme Systems Aria G25 board. Let’s go to see how to install Node 0.10 on ARM based board.

1. Update Debian

The first step is the Debian updating to use new gcc compiler: see my guide to upgrade Debian Squeeze to Wheeze on your Aria G25 board.

2. Install prerequisites

Follow the steps from 1 to 3 on my previous guide.

3. Customize nvm

Edit nvm.sh:

debarm:~# nano nvm.sh

      if (
        [ ! -z $tarball ] && \
        mkdir -p "$NVM_DIR/src" && \
        cd "$NVM_DIR/src" && \
        curl --progress-bar $tarball -o "node-$VERSION.tar.gz" && \
        if [ "$sum" = "" ]; then : ; else nvm_checksum `${shasum} node-$VERSION.tar.gz | awk '{print $1}'` $sum; fi && \
        tar -xzf "node-$VERSION.tar.gz" && \
        cd "node-$VERSION" && \
        ./configure --prefix="$NVM_DIR/$VERSION" $ADDITIONAL_PARAMETERS && \
        make && \
        rm -f "$NVM_DIR/$VERSION" 2>/dev/null && \
        make install
        )
      then

adding the highlighted line:

      if (
        [ ! -z $tarball ] && \
        mkdir -p "$NVM_DIR/src" && \
        cd "$NVM_DIR/src" && \
        curl --progress-bar $tarball -o "node-$VERSION.tar.gz" && \
        if [ "$sum" = "" ]; then : ; else nvm_checksum `${shasum} node-$VERSION.tar.gz | awk '{print $1}'` $sum; fi && \
        tar -xzf "node-$VERSION.tar.gz" && \
        read -p "Please customize $NVM_DIR/src/node-$VERSION/deps/v8/src/arm/macro-assembler-arm.cc and press [Enter]..." && \
        cd "node-$VERSION" && \
        ./configure --prefix="$NVM_DIR/$VERSION" $ADDITIONAL_PARAMETERS && \
        make && \
        rm -f "$NVM_DIR/$VERSION" 2>/dev/null && \
        make install
        )
      then

4. Install Node from source code

If you have customized your nvm.sh file open your terminal and type:

debarm:~# nvm install v0.10.1
######################################################################## 100.0%
Checksums do not match.
Binary download failed, trying source.
Additional options while compiling: 
######################################################################## 100.0%
Please customize /root/.nvm/src/node-v0.10.1/deps/v8/src/arm/macro-assembler-arm.cc and press [Enter]...

Customize now the macro-assembler-arm.cc file:

debarm:~# nano .nvm/src/node-v0.10.1/deps/v8/src/arm/macro-assembler-arm.cc

adding the highlighted lines:

// We always generate arm code, never thumb code, even if V8 is compiled to
// thumb, so we require inter-working support
#if defined(__thumb__) && !defined(USE_THUMB_INTERWORK)
#error "flag -mthumb-interwork missing"
#endif

#if !defined(CAN_USE_THUMB_INSTRUCTIONS)
# define CAN_USE_THUMB_INSTRUCTIONS 1
#endif

// 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

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

debarm:~# nvm use v0.10.1

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 v0.10.1

Good programming with Node!

UPDATE: If you are interested to cross-compile Node please see my latest post.

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?