Node Version Switch Status Bar

A powerful VS Code extension that displays your current Node.js version in the status bar and allows easy switching between installed versions using popular version managers.

Screenshots

Main Feature

The extension displays your current Node.js version in the status bar

Version Picker

Click to open the version picker and switch between installed versions

Features

🚀 Version Switching: Click status bar to instantly switch between installed Node.js versions
🔄 Auto VS Code Reload: Automatically reloads VS Code after successful version switching
🧹 Automatic Terminal Cleanup: Terminals close automatically after operations complete
🛠️ Multi-Manager Support: Works with nvm, fnm, and volta version managers
📦 Install New Versions: Install new Node.js versions directly from VS Code
📋 One-Click Copy: Copy version to clipboard via command palette
🔄 Auto-Refresh: Optional automatic refresh at custom intervals
⚙️ Highly Customizable: Personalize display format and behavior
🛡️ Smart Error Handling: Clear indicators with actionable suggestions
🎯 Lightweight: Minimal performance impact on VS Code
🖥️ Enhanced Windows Support: Robust Windows NVM compatibility with multiple execution methods

Installation

From VS Code Marketplace

Open VS Code
Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X)
Search for "Node Version Switch Status Bar"
Click "Install"

Manual Installation

Download the .vsix file from the releases page
Open VS Code
Press Ctrl+Shift+P and run "Extensions: Install from VSIX..."
Select the downloaded file

Usage

Quick Start

View Current Version: The extension automatically displays your Node.js version in the status bar
Switch Versions: Click the status bar item to open version picker
Install New Versions: Use Command Palette → "Node Version: Install Node Version"

Supported Version Managers

The extension automatically detects and works with:

Manager	Support	Installation	Switching
nvm	✅ Full	`nvm install <version>`	`nvm use <version>`
fnm	✅ Full	`fnm install <version>`	`fnm use <version>`
volta	✅ Full	`volta install node@<version>`	`volta install node@<version>`

Quick Actions

Action	Description
Click status bar item	Open version picker to switch versions
Command Palette → "Switch Node Version"	Open version picker
Command Palette → "Install Node Version"	Install new Node.js version
Command Palette → "Copy Node Version"	Copy current version to clipboard
Command Palette → "Refresh Node Version"	Manually refresh displayed version

Configuration

Customize the extension through VS Code settings (Ctrl+,):

{
  "nodeVersion.showInStatusBar": true,
  "nodeVersion.statusBarText": "$(symbol-method) Node {version}",
  "nodeVersion.refreshInterval": 0,
  "nodeVersion.preferredManager": "auto",
  "nodeVersion.showSwitchButton": true
}

Available Settings

Setting	Type	Default	Description
`nodeVersion.showInStatusBar`	boolean	`true`	Show/hide the Node.js version in status bar
`nodeVersion.statusBarText`	string	`"$(symbol-method) Node {version}"`	Custom display format. Use `{version}` as placeholder
`nodeVersion.refreshInterval`	number	`0`	Auto-refresh interval in seconds (0 = disabled)
`nodeVersion.preferredManager`	string	`"auto"`	Preferred version manager: `auto`, `nvm`, `fnm`, `volta`
`nodeVersion.showSwitchButton`	boolean	`true`	Enable clicking status bar to switch versions

Custom Display Formats

You can customize how the version appears using these examples:

// Simple text
"nodeVersion.statusBarText": "Node {version}"

// With emoji
"nodeVersion.statusBarText": "⚡ {version}"

// With VS Code icons
"nodeVersion.statusBarText": "$(logo-github) Node.js {version}"
"nodeVersion.statusBarText": "$(gear) {version}"
"nodeVersion.statusBarText": "$(rocket) Node {version}"

// Minimal
"nodeVersion.statusBarText": "{version}"

Version Manager Preferences

Control which version manager to use when multiple are available:

// Auto-detect (default)
"nodeVersion.preferredManager": "auto"

// Force specific manager
"nodeVersion.preferredManager": "nvm"
"nodeVersion.preferredManager": "fnm" 
"nodeVersion.preferredManager": "volta"

Commands

The extension provides these commands (accessible via Ctrl+Shift+P):

Node Version: Switch Node Version - Open interactive version picker
Node Version: Install Node Version - Install new Node.js versions
Node Version: Refresh Node Version - Manually refresh the displayed version
Node Version: Copy Node Version - Copy the current Node.js version to clipboard

Version Management Workflow

Switching Between Versions

Click Status Bar: Click the Node.js version in the status bar
Select Version: Choose from the list of installed versions
Automatic Processing: Extension handles switching with multiple execution methods
Auto Reload: VS Code automatically reloads to apply changes

Progress Indicators:

"Executing switch command..." - Running version manager with fallback methods
"Verifying switch..." - Confirming the switch was successful
"Switch completed!" - Version verified and VS Code ready to reload

Windows NVM Enhancements:

Multiple Execution Methods: cmd.exe, PowerShell, and environment-specific execution
Automatic Fallback: If one method fails, tries alternative approaches
Enhanced Terminal: Detailed feedback with step-by-step verification

Installing New Versions

Open Command Palette: Press Ctrl+Shift+P
Run Install Command: Type "Node Version: Install Node Version"
Choose Manager: Select version manager if multiple are available
Enter Version: Type version number (e.g., 18.17.0, lts, latest)
Watch Terminal: Installation progress shown in integrated terminal

Version Formats Supported

Format	Example	Description
Specific	`18.17.0`	Exact version number
Latest	`latest`	Latest stable release
LTS	`lts`	Latest LTS version
Named LTS	`lts/hydrogen`	Specific LTS codename
Major	`18`	Latest in major version

Troubleshooting

Windows NVM Compatibility Issues

Problem: "NVM for Windows should be run from terminal such as CMD or Powershell"

Automatic Solutions (Extension handles these automatically):

Dynamic NVM Path Detection: Automatically locates nvm.exe using NVM_HOME, %APPDATA%\nvm, or system PATH.
Enhanced CMD Execution: Uses cmd.exe /K to maintain NVM environment during command execution.
Error Logging: Detailed console logs for debugging failed commands.
Fallback Terminal: Persistent terminal with extended timeouts to ensure command completion.
Verification: Confirms version switch success with robust checks.

Manual Verification:

# Test NVM installation
nvm version
nvm list
echo %NVM_HOME%
# Verify NVM path
where nvm.exe

### Windows NVM Issues

**Problem**: "NVM for Windows should be run from terminal such as CMD or Powershell"

**Solutions**:
1. **Automatic Fix**: Extension now handles this automatically by using proper CMD execution
2. **Manual Verification**: Check that NVM for Windows is properly installed:
   ```cmd
   nvm version
   nvm list

### Version Manager Not Detected

**Problem**: Status bar shows warning or no versions found

**Solutions**:
1. **Install a Version Manager**:
   ```bash
   # Install nvm (recommended)
   curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
   
   # Install fnm (fast alternative)
   curl -fsSL https://fnm.vercel.app/install | bash
   
   # Install volta (Rust-based)
   curl https://get.volta.sh | bash

Restart VS Code after installation
Check PATH: Ensure version manager is in your system PATH

Node.js Version Not Showing

Problem: Status bar shows "Node.js not found" or warning icon

Solutions:

Verify Installation:

node --version
nvm --version  # or fnm --version, volta --version

Install Node.js:

# Using nvm
nvm install node
nvm use node

# Using fnm  
fnm install --lts
fnm use lts-latest

# Using volta
volta install node

Manual Refresh: Use "Node Version: Refresh Node Version" command

Version Switching Not Working

Problem: Selected version doesn't become active

Solutions:

Reload VS Code: Some version managers require VS Code restart
Check Terminal: Look for error messages in the integrated terminal
Manual Terminal: Try switching manually in terminal first
Path Issues: Ensure version manager's PATH modifications are loaded

Permission Issues

Problem: Extension shows error during version operations

Solutions:

Check Permissions: Ensure write permissions to Node.js installation directories
Run as Admin: On Windows, try running VS Code as administrator
Terminal Permissions: Check if your terminal has proper permissions

Advanced Usage

Workspace-Specific Versions

The extension respects .nvmrc files and package.json engine specifications:

// package.json
{
  "engines": {
    "node": ">=18.0.0"
  }
}

# .nvmrc file
18.17.0

Integration with Build Scripts

Use the extension with your development workflow:

// package.json scripts
{
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "node --version && npm run start",
    "prebuild": "node --version"
  }
}

Multiple Project Management

When working with multiple projects requiring different Node.js versions:

Auto-Switch: Extension detects version requirements
Quick Switch: Use status bar for rapid version changes
Project-Specific: Each workspace can have different active versions

Development

Building from Source

Clone Repository:

git clone https://github.com/shababulalam/node-version-statusbar.git
cd node-version-statusbar

Install Dependencies:
```
npm install
```
Compile TypeScript:
```
npm run compile
```
Run in Development:
- Open project in VS Code
- Press F5 to launch Extension Development Host
- Test features in the new VS Code window

Available Scripts

npm run compile    # Compile TypeScript
npm run watch      # Watch for changes and compile  
npm run lint       # Run ESLint
npm run test       # Run tests

Architecture

The extension is built with a modular architecture:

NodeVersionProvider: Main class handling status bar and version management
VersionManager Interface: Abstraction for different version managers
Version Detection: Smart parsing of version manager outputs
Error Handling: Comprehensive error handling and user feedback

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Here's how to get started:

Development Guidelines

Code Style: Follow existing TypeScript conventions
Testing: Add tests for new features
Documentation: Update README and changelog
Compatibility: Ensure backward compatibility

Feature Requests

Popular requested features in development:

Automatic version switching based on project requirements
Integration with Docker and containers
Support for additional version managers
Custom installation paths
Team/workspace version synchronization

Bug Reports

When reporting bugs, please include:

VS Code version
Extension version
Operating system
Version manager and versions
Steps to reproduce
Error messages or logs

Changelog

[1.4.1] - Latest Release ✨

Dynamic NVM Path Detection: Automatically locates nvm.exe using NVM_HOME, %APPDATA%\nvm, or system PATH for reliable Windows NVM operations.
Enhanced Terminal Stability: Improved CMD execution with persistent /K flag and extended timeouts to ensure command completion.
Robust Error Handling: Added detailed console logs and user-friendly error messages to guide troubleshooting of NVM issues.

[1.4.0]

Automatic Terminal Cleanup: Terminals now close automatically after operations
Enhanced Resource Management: Better memory usage and cleaner VS Code interface
Smart Cleanup Timing: Intelligent delays ensure output visibility before cleanup

[1.3.1]

Enhanced Windows NVM Support: Terminal approach first functionality added

[1.3.0]

Automatic VS Code Reload: Seamless version switching with auto-reload functionality
Enhanced Windows NVM Support: Multiple execution methods for maximum compatibility
Robust Error Handling: Automatic fallback methods for reliable operation
Version Switch Verification: Ensures switches work before proceeding
Enhanced Progress Reporting: Detailed status updates during all operations
Terminal Integration: Improved terminal handling for complex environments

[1.2.0]

Automatic VS Code Reload: Seamless version switching with auto-reload
Windows NVM Compatibility: Fixed NVM for Windows terminal errors
Version Switch Verification: Ensures switches actually work before proceeding
Enhanced Progress Reporting: Detailed status updates during operations

[1.1.0]

Node.js Version Switching: Click status bar to switch between versions
Multi-Manager Support: nvm, fnm, and volta support
Install New Versions: Direct installation from VS Code
Enhanced UI: Beautiful version picker interface

[1.0.0] - Initial Release

Display Node.js version in status bar
Copy version to clipboard
Customizable display format
Auto-refresh capability

View Full Changelog

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Support & Community

Issues: Report bugs or request features
Discussions: Join community discussions
Email: sababul37@gmail.com
Twitter: Share your experience with #NodeVersionStatusBar

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the VS Code team for excellent extension APIs
Inspired by the Node.js community and version management tools
Special thanks to contributors and users providing feedback

Enjoy seamless Node.js version management! 🚀

If you find this extension useful, please consider:

⭐ Starring the repository on GitHub
📝 Writing a review on the VS Code Marketplace
🐦 Sharing with your developer community
💬 Contributing ideas and feedback

Node Version Switch Status Bar

Shababul Alam

Node Version Switch Status Bar

Screenshots

Features

Installation

From VS Code Marketplace

Manual Installation

Usage

Quick Start

Supported Version Managers

Quick Actions

Configuration

Available Settings

Custom Display Formats

Version Manager Preferences

Commands

Version Management Workflow

Switching Between Versions

Installing New Versions

Version Formats Supported

Troubleshooting

Windows NVM Compatibility Issues

Node.js Version Not Showing

Version Switching Not Working

Permission Issues

Advanced Usage

Workspace-Specific Versions

Integration with Build Scripts

Multiple Project Management

Development

Building from Source

Available Scripts

Architecture

Contributing

Development Guidelines

Feature Requests

Bug Reports

Changelog

[1.4.1] - Latest Release ✨

[1.4.0]

[1.3.1]

[1.3.0]

[1.2.0]

[1.1.0]

[1.0.0] - Initial Release

License

Support & Community

Acknowledgments