volta

Volta is a tool for managing JavaScript development tools, specifically Node.js versions and npm packages that you install globally. If you work on multiple JavaScript projects that need different versions of Node.js, Volta handles switching between them automatically based on which project folder you are in.

The central idea is version pinning: you record a specific Node.js version in a project package.json file, and Volta reads that when you enter the directory. Everyone working on the project then uses the same version without having to switch manually. The same pinning applies to package managers like npm and yarn, and to other command-line tools.

Volta is written in Rust, which makes it fast to start and run. It installs via a single command and works on Windows, macOS, and Linux without changes to your day-to-day workflow. Unlike some version managers that require you to reinstall globally installed tools after every Node upgrade, Volta tracks them separately so they remain available regardless of which Node version is active.

The README notes that Volta is currently unmaintained. The project still functions and is used by notable open-source projects including Microsoft TypeScript and Sentry, but the maintainers are no longer actively addressing issues. The README warns that new operating system releases or ecosystem changes may eventually cause breakage, and recommends migrating to an alternative tool called mise.

If it already works in your environment, there is no immediate reason to switch. If you are starting fresh, the maintainers suggest choosing mise instead.