Tested with Debian Wheezy in 2013-11-17

readme_install_node

# Quick cp from http://sekati.com/etc/install-nodejs-on-debian-squeeze
#
# Needed to install TileMill from MapBox
#
# Installs node.js which has npm bundled
#

# Build Dependencies (the -y flag avoids [Y/n] menus)
sudo apt-get update -y && sudo apt-get install git-core curl build-essential openssl libssl-dev -y

# Install Node.js & NPM

git clone https://github.com/joyent/node.git
cd node
 
# 'git tag' shows all available versions: select the latest stable.
# Stable as of 2013-11-17
git checkout v0.10.22
 
# Configure seems not to find libssl by default so we give it an explicit pointer.
# Optionally: you can isolate node by adding --prefix=/opt/node

./configure --openssl-libpath=/usr/lib/ssl
make
make test
sudo make install
node -v # it's alive!
 
# Luck us: NPM is packaged with Node.js source so this is now installed too
# curl http://npmjs.org/install.sh | sudo sh
npm -v # it's alive!