Introduction

Volta is a hassle-free way to manage your JavaScript command-line tools.

With Volta, you can:

• Run any version of Node.js without having to manually switch versions
• Ensure your entire team uses the same version of tools, without having to rely on manual processes
• Seamlessly migrate between projects using different versions of tools
• Install and manage npm, yarn, pnpm, and other JavaScript tools

Features

• Seamless Switching: Automatically uses the right version of every tool based on your current project
• Project-Level Pinning: Specify which tools (and versions) your project needs in your package.json
• Fast Performance: Built in Rust for maximum speed and minimum overhead
• Cross-Platform: Works consistently across macOS, Linux, and Windows
• Easy Installation: One command to get started and no complex configuration

Why Volta?

JavaScript development involves various tools—Node.js, npm, yarn, package executables—all with potential version incompatibilities between projects. This creates friction in developer workflows:

• Remembering to switch to the right Node version before working on a specific project
• Setting up new developers with the right tool versions
• Ensuring CI/CD systems use the same versions as development environments
• Managing global packages across Node.js versions

Volta solves these problems by creating a seamless workflow where you never need to think about which versions to use. The correct tools are always available for each project, without any manual version switching or environment setup.

How does it work?

Volta uses an innovative "shim" architecture to automatically detect and use the right tool versions for each project:

1. When installed, Volta adds a small set of shims to your PATH
2. When you run a command like node, npm, or a package binary, the shim intercepts the command
3. Volta determines which version of the tool to use by checking:
   • Project-specific configuration (in package.json)
   • Your default tool selections
4. It then executes the right version of the tool, with zero lag

This approach means there's no need for shell integrations, manual environment switching, or remembering which versions to use. Volta handles it all automatically, becoming an invisible part of your workflow.

Ready to get started? Follow our installation guide to set up Volta on your system.