First you'll need to make sure your system has a c++ compiler. For OSX, XCode will work, for Ubuntu, the build-essential package works. You'll also need git if you want to track HEAD.
To install create a folder somewhere in your filesystem with the "nvm.sh" file inside it. I put mine in a folder called ".nvm".
Or if you have git installed, then just clone it:
git clone git://github.com/creationix/nvm.git ~/.nvm
Then add two lines to your bash profile:
NVM_DIR=$HOME/.nvm
. $NVM_DIR/nvm.sh
nvm use
The first line loads the nvm function into your bash shell so that it's available as a command. The second line sets your default node version to the latest released version.
To download, install, and use the v0.1.94 release of node do this:
nvm install v0.1.94
And then in any new shell just use the installed version:
nvm use v0.1.94
If you want to track HEAD then use the clone command:
nvm clone
Then in any new shell you can get this version with:
nvm use HEAD
When you want to grab the latest from the node repo do:
nvm update
If you want to see what versions you have installed issue:
nvm list
If you want to install nvm to somewhere other than $HOME/.nvm, then set the $NVM_DIR environment variable before sourcing the nvm.sh file.