Install node and npm with nvm using Docker.

build.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash

# confirm docker daemon is running and connected
docker version

# build the image based on the Dockerfile and name it `nvm`
docker build -t nvm .

# confirm image is present
docker images

# enter container terminal
docker run -it nvm bash

Dockerfile

# set the base image to Debian
# https://hub.docker.com/_/debian/
FROM debian:latest

# replace shell with bash so we can source files
RUN rm /bin/sh && ln -s /bin/bash /bin/sh

# update the repository sources list
# and install dependencies
RUN apt-get update \
    && apt-get install -y curl \
    && apt-get -y autoclean

# nvm environment variables
ENV NVM_DIR /usr/local/nvm
ENV NODE_VERSION 4.4.7

# install nvm
# https://github.com/creationix/nvm#install-script
RUN curl --silent -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.31.2/install.sh | bash

# install node and npm
RUN source $NVM_DIR/nvm.sh \
    && nvm install $NODE_VERSION \
    && nvm alias default $NODE_VERSION \
    && nvm use default

# add node and npm to path so the commands are available
ENV NODE_PATH $NVM_DIR/v$NODE_VERSION/lib/node_modules
ENV PATH $NVM_DIR/versions/node/v$NODE_VERSION/bin:$PATH

# confirm installation
RUN node -v
RUN npm -v

nvm not found can result from it being installed for a different user than the one who is executing the container. You may need to prefix the installation with the custom user who is executing the container. The last USER statement defines the container user.

USER $USERNAME

RUN curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash

Reason

Diving into a nvm install script, e. g. v0.39.1, one can see that is installed into $HOME of the current user. If you have not changed it, the default user of a ubuntu image is root. When starting the container with a different user however, nvm won't be found; hence make sure user of installation and execution align.

nvm_default_install_dir() {
  [ -z "${XDG_CONFIG_HOME-}" ] && printf %s "${HOME}/.nvm" || printf %s "${XDG_CONFIG_HOME}/nvm"
}

I'm using the .nvmrc file to automatically install and use the node version, but after building my dockerfile, it is using always the Default version as default -> 18.3.0 (-> v18.3.0 *) even though using this version "v16.14.1". Could someone have any idea about this issue? please find the docker file and image building log below.

Dockerfile

FROM node:slim
RUN rm /bin/sh && ln -s /bin/bash /bin/sh 
RUN apt-get update >/dev/null \
    && apt-get install -y curl >/dev/null \
    && apt-get -y autoclean >/dev/null
ENV NVM_DIR /usr/local/nvm
RUN mkdir -p /usr/local/nvm
COPY .nvmrc .   # Copy local .nvmrc file to dockerimage, .nvmrc file contains string "16.14.1" which is the node_version i need to run 
COPY .testfile .  # this file contains deeper shell integration -->https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm/tree/v0.39.1#bash
RUN curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash
RUN source $NVM_DIR/nvm.sh \  
            && nvm install \
            && nvm use
RUN cat .testfile >> $HOME/.bashrc
RUN source $HOME/.bashrc
RUN echo $NODE_VERSION
ENV NODE_PATH $NVM_DIR/v$NODE_VERSION/lib/node_modules
ENV PATH $NVM_DIR/v$NODE_VERSION/bin:$PATH
RUN node -v
RUN npm -v

Building docker image log

Building Docker image for: nvm-docker-image
INFO[0000] Retrieving image manifest node:slim          
INFO[0000] Retrieving image node:slim from registry index.docker.io 
INFO[0002] Built cross stage deps: map[]                
INFO[0002] Retrieving image manifest node:slim          
INFO[0002] Returning cached image manifest              
INFO[0002] Executing 0 build triggers                   
INFO[0002] Unpacking rootfs as cmd RUN rm /bin/sh && ln -s /bin/bash /bin/sh requires it. 
INFO[0007] RUN rm /bin/sh && ln -s /bin/bash /bin/sh    
INFO[0007] Taking snapshot of full filesystem...        
INFO[0009] cmd: /bin/sh                                 
INFO[0009] args: [-c rm /bin/sh && ln -s /bin/bash /bin/sh] 
INFO[0009] Running: [/bin/sh -c rm /bin/sh && ln -s /bin/bash /bin/sh] 
INFO[0009] Taking snapshot of full filesystem...        
INFO[0009] RUN apt-get update >/dev/null     && apt-get install -y curl >/dev/null     && apt-get -y autoclean >/dev/null 
INFO[0009] cmd: /bin/sh                                 
INFO[0009] args: [-c apt-get update >/dev/null     && apt-get install -y curl >/dev/null     && apt-get -y autoclean >/dev/null] 
INFO[0009] Running: [/bin/sh -c apt-get update >/dev/null     && apt-get install -y curl >/dev/null     && apt-get -y autoclean >/dev/null] 
debconf: delaying package configuration, since apt-utils is not installed
INFO[0016] Taking snapshot of full filesystem...        
INFO[0017] ENV NVM_DIR /usr/local/nvm                   
INFO[0017] RUN mkdir -p /usr/local/nvm                  
INFO[0017] cmd: /bin/sh                                 
INFO[0017] args: [-c mkdir -p /usr/local/nvm]           
INFO[0017] Running: [/bin/sh -c mkdir -p /usr/local/nvm] 
INFO[0017] Taking snapshot of full filesystem...        
INFO[0018] COPY .nvmrc .                                
INFO[0018] Taking snapshot of files...                  
INFO[0018] COPY .testfile .                             
INFO[0018] Taking snapshot of files...                  
INFO[0018] RUN curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash 
INFO[0018] cmd: /bin/sh                                 
INFO[0018] args: [-c curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash] 
INFO[0018] Running: [/bin/sh -c curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash] 
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100 15037  100 15037    0     0   734k      0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:--  734k
=> Downloading nvm as script to '/usr/local/nvm'
=> Appending nvm source string to /root/.bashrc
=> Appending bash_completion source string to /root/.bashrc
npm WARN config global `--global`, `--local` are deprecated. Use `--location=global` instead.
=> You currently have modules installed globally with `npm`. These will no
=> longer be linked to the active version of Node when you install a new node
=> with `nvm`; and they may (depending on how you construct your `$PATH`)
=> override the binaries of modules installed with `nvm`:
/usr/local/lib
+-- corepack@0.10.0
=> If you wish to uninstall them at a later point (or re-install them under your
=> `nvm` Nodes), you can remove them from the system Node as follows:
     $ nvm use system
     $ npm uninstall -g a_module
=> Installing Node.js version 18.3.0
Downloading and installing node v18.3.0...
Downloading https://nodejs.org/dist/v18.3.0/node-v18.3.0-linux-x64.tar.gz...
######################################################################## 100.0%
Computing checksum with sha256sum
Checksums matched!
Now using node v18.3.0 (npm v8.11.0)
Creating default alias: default -> 18.3.0 (-> v18.3.0 *)
=> Node.js version 18.3.0 has been successfully installed
=> Close and reopen your terminal to start using nvm or run the following to use it now:
export NVM_DIR="/usr/local/nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"  # This loads nvm
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"  # This loads nvm bash_completion
INFO[00[24](https://gitlab.com/t8822/sandbox/docker-build/-/jobs/2598875120#L24)] Taking snapshot of full filesystem...        
INFO[0035] RUN source $NVM_DIR/nvm.sh             && nvm install             && nvm use 
INFO[0035] cmd: /bin/sh                                 
INFO[0035] args: [-c source $NVM_DIR/nvm.sh             && nvm install             && nvm use] 
INFO[0035] Running: [/bin/sh -c source $NVM_DIR/nvm.sh             && nvm install             && nvm use] 
Found '//.nvmrc' with version <16.14.1>
Downloading and installing node v16.14.1...
Downloading https://nodejs.org/dist/v16.14.1/node-v16.14.1-linux-x64.tar.gz...
######################################################################## 100.0%
Computing checksum with sha[25](https://gitlab.com/t8822/sandbox/docker-build/-/jobs/2598875120#L25)6sum
Checksums matched!
Now using node v16.14.1 (npm v8.5.0)
Found '//.nvmrc' with version <16.14.1>
Now using node v16.14.1 (npm v8.5.0)
INFO[0039] Taking snapshot of full filesystem...        
INFO[0053] RUN cat .testfile >> $HOME/.bashrc           
INFO[0053] cmd: /bin/sh                                 
INFO[0053] args: [-c cat .testfile >> $HOME/.bashrc]    
INFO[0053] Running: [/bin/sh -c cat .testfile >> $HOME/.bashrc] 
INFO[0053] Taking snapshot of full filesystem...        
INFO[0065] RUN source $HOME/.bashrc                     
INFO[0065] cmd: /bin/sh                                 
INFO[0065] args: [-c source $HOME/.bashrc]              
INFO[0065] Running: [/bin/sh -c source $HOME/.bashrc]   
Now using node v16.14.1 (npm v8.5.0)
INFO[0066] Taking snapshot of full filesystem...        
INFO[0076] RUN echo $NODE_VERSION                       
INFO[0076] cmd: /bin/sh                                 
INFO[0076] args: [-c echo $NODE_VERSION]                
INFO[0076] Running: [/bin/sh -c echo $NODE_VERSION]     
18.3.0
INFO[0076] Taking snapshot of full filesystem...        
INFO[0087] No files were changed, appending empty layer to config. No layer added to image. 
INFO[0087] ENV NODE_PATH $NVM_DIR/v$NODE_VERSION/lib/node_modules 
INFO[0087] ENV PATH $NVM_DIR/v$NODE_VERSION/bin:$PATH   
INFO[0087] RUN node -v                                  
INFO[0087] cmd: /bin/sh                                 
INFO[0087] args: [-c node -v]                           
INFO[0087] Running: [/bin/sh -c node -v]                
v18.3.0
INFO[0087] Taking snapshot of full filesystem...        
INFO[0097] No files were changed, appending empty layer to config. No layer added to image. 
INFO[0097] RUN npm -v                                   
INFO[0097] cmd: /bin/sh                                 
INFO[0097] args: [-c npm -v]                            
INFO[0097] Running: [/bin/sh -c npm -v]                 
8.11.0

There is apparently an offical docker container for NVM. Here is the docker file link

I have created a Dockerfile for nvm v0.39.1 (latest today) and Ubuntu 22.04 by copying and pasting commands from the official Dockerfile into my custom container's Dockerfile

FROM ubuntu:22.04
# removed docker command for my stuff


USER ${user}

# we need a .bashrc  for install.sh to work
RUN touch ~/.bashrc && chmod +x ~/.bashrc

RUN curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash ;

# this node version is old but I need it for my use case
ENV NODE_VERSION=12.16.1

# relevant code I pasted from above link
# nvm
RUN echo 'export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"'                                       >> "$HOME/.bashrc"
RUN echo '[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"  # This loads nvm' >> "$HOME/.bashrc"
RUN echo '[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && . "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" # This loads nvm bash_completion' >> "$HOME/.bashrc"


# nodejs and tools
RUN bash -c 'source $HOME/.nvm/nvm.sh   && \
    nvm install $NODE_VERSION && nvm use $NODE_VERSION && nvm alias default $NODE_VERSION       && \
    npm install -g doctoc urchin eclint dockerfile_lint && \
    npm install --prefix "$HOME/.nvm/" && \
    npm install --global gulp-cli';
 # I added gulp for my use case 

# then  the rest of the dockerfile
WORKDIR /home/${user}

# add your entrypoint
ENTRYPOINT ["path-to-my-shell-file"]

How to install nvm in Docker / devcontainer

FROM mcr.microsoft.com/vscode/devcontainers/cpp:ubuntu-20.04

RUN mkdir /usr/local/nvm
ENV NVM_DIR /usr/local/nvm
ENV NODE_VERSION 14.18.1
RUN curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash \
    && . $NVM_DIR/nvm.sh \
    && nvm install $NODE_VERSION \
    && nvm alias default $NODE_VERSION \
    && nvm use default

ENV NODE_PATH $NVM_DIR/v$NODE_VERSION/lib/node_modules
ENV PATH $NVM_DIR/versions/node/v$NODE_VERSION/bin:$PATH

it worked for me

grinsteindavid commented 7 days ago •
How to install nvm in Docker / devcontainer
FROM mcr.microsoft.com/vscode/devcontainers/cpp:ubuntu-20.04
RUN mkdir /usr/local/nvm
ENV NVM_DIR /usr/local/nvm
ENV NODE_VERSION 14.18.1
RUN curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash
&& . $NVM_DIR/nvm.sh
&& nvm install $NODE_VERSION
&& nvm alias default $NODE_VERSION
&& nvm use default
ENV NODE_PATH $NVM_DIR/v$NODE_VERSION/lib/node_modules
ENV PATH $NVM_DIR/versions/node/v$NODE_VERSION/bin:$PATH
it worked for me

+1 Thanks

How to install nvm in Docker / devcontainer

FROM mcr.microsoft.com/vscode/devcontainers/cpp:ubuntu-20.04

RUN mkdir /usr/local/nvm
ENV NVM_DIR /usr/local/nvm
ENV NODE_VERSION 14.18.1
RUN curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash \
    && . $NVM_DIR/nvm.sh \
    && nvm install $NODE_VERSION \
    && nvm alias default $NODE_VERSION \
    && nvm use default

ENV NODE_PATH $NVM_DIR/v$NODE_VERSION/lib/node_modules
ENV PATH $NVM_DIR/versions/node/v$NODE_VERSION/bin:$PATH

it worked for me

THANKS!!!! :)

If anyone still finding themselves wondering here, I made a working gist with the above + python2.7 for old-timer apps
https://gist.github.com/aviadhahami/910b7f51f9fd53b4a3624f888b2981c9

You can add the nvm to your docker-entrypoint.sh file. This will make nvm/npm work in any login, even /bin/sh. The exception is when using the image in a multi-stage build. See below.

. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"
exec "$@" # Last line

Include it like:

COPY docker-entrypoint.sh .
ENTRYPOINT [ "/docker-entrypoint.sh" ]

Images setup with NVM that are used in a multi-stage build require nvm to be setup manually.

FROM some_nvm_image

RUN \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" \
    && npm --version \
    && node --version

But don't put a lot of time on such problems. NVM is a localdev tool. If you're building for production, either use an official node docker image, or borrow their Dockerfile to build your own.