Warning: this is old, but it may still work.
You did not install node.js, but the node package (which contains some other unrelated software) for your linux distribution.
You can install node.js in three ways: using git, downloading the version file, or installing through the package manager, I recommend using the package manager for ease of use and the ability to easily upgrade.
Package manager
Check out Installing node.js through the package manager . It contains installation instructions using the package manager of your preferences.
Direct download
Go to the node.js download page and download the package for your OS. Remember that doing this this way does not automatically update node.js later!
Source Compilation / git
First you need git and a compiler, here is how you install them on debian / ubuntu (it depends on your package manager):
sudo apt-get install git-core build-essential
(If you do not want to use git, you can download the source code from the website. Your OS still needs the built-in or equivalent.)
Then go to the folder where the "node" repository will be placed, something like ~/projects or ~/src will be good enough, and do the following:
git clone https:
Then enter the node directory, configure it and create.
cd node && ./configure && make
Everything should go well. Before installing node, you can run tests to check for any problems:
make test
Finally, you can install node, this allows you to run the node command anywhere in the system and javascript library to install.
make install
... and you're done. You can check these lines of code using node-repl (node REPL , think of an "interactive interpreter"), just type node-repl , close Ctrl + D.