Install Node.js and Git

WPTom templates need Node.js 22.12 or newer (it includes npm and npx, which the guides use) and Git.

Check what you have

Open a terminal (how) and run:

node --version
git --version

If you see v22.12.0 or higher (e.g. v24.10.0) and a Git version, you’re done: go to your first site. If you see “command not found” or an older version, install them below.

macOS

1. Go to nodejs.org and download the LTS version (the one marked “Recommended for most users”).
2. Open the downloaded .pkg file and click through the installer.
3. For Git, run git --version in the terminal. If Git is missing, macOS offers to install the “command line developer tools”: click Install and wait.
4. Close the terminal, open a new one, and check again with node --version and git --version.

Windows

1. Go to nodejs.org, download the LTS Windows installer (.msi) and run it. Keep the default options.
2. Download Git from git-scm.com/download/win and install it with the default options.
3. Close every terminal window, open a new Terminal or PowerShell, and check with node --version and git --version.

Note

If PowerShell says running scripts is disabled when you use npm, run Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned once and answer Y.

Linux

Use your distribution’s package manager for Git (e.g. sudo apt install git). For Node.js, the packaged version is often too old: install the LTS from nodejs.org/download (it shows a copy-paste command for your system, e.g. with nvm), then open a new terminal and check the versions.

Several Node.js versions?

If other projects need an older Node.js, a version manager lets you switch per project: nvm on macOS and Linux, nvm-windows on Windows. With nvm: nvm install --lts then nvm use --lts.

Next

Create your first site.