node-gyp

# `node-gyp` - Node.js native addon build tool

[![Build Status](https://github.com/nodejs/node-gyp/workflows/Tests/badge.svg?branch=main)](https://github.com/nodejs/node-gyp/actions?query=workflow%3ATests+branch%3Amain)
![npm](https://img.shields.io/npm/dm/node-gyp)

`node-gyp` is a cross-platform command-line tool written in Node.js for
compiling native addon modules for Node.js. It contains a vendored copy of the
[gyp-next](https://github.com/nodejs/gyp-next) project that was previously used
by the Chromium team and extended to support the development of Node.js native
addons.

Note that `node-gyp` is _not_ used to build Node.js itself.

All current and LTS target versions of Node.js are supported. Depending on what version of Node.js is actually installed on your system
`node-gyp` downloads the necessary development files or headers for the target version. List of stable Node.js versions can be found on [Node.js website](https://nodejs.org/en/about/previous-releases).

## Features

 * The same build commands work on any of the supported platforms
 * Supports the targeting of different versions of Node.js

## Installation

> [!Important]
> Python >= v3.12 requires `node-gyp` >= v10

You can install `node-gyp` using `npm`:

``` bash
npm install -g node-gyp
```

Depending on your operating system, you will need to install:

### On Unix

   * [A supported version of Python](https://devguide.python.org/versions/)
   * `make`
   * A proper C/C++ compiler toolchain, like [GCC](https://gcc.gnu.org)

### On macOS

   * [A supported version of Python](https://devguide.python.org/versions/)
   * `Xcode Command Line Tools` which will install `clang`, `clang++`, and `make`.
     * Install the `Xcode Command Line Tools` standalone by running `xcode-select --install`. -- OR --
     * Alternatively, if you already have the [full Xcode installed](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/download/), you can install the Command Line Tools under the menu `Xcode -> Open Developer Tool -> More Developer Tools...`.


### On Windows

Install tools with [Chocolatey](https://community.chocolatey.org/) using the
[visualstudio2026-workload-vctools](https://community.chocolatey.org/packages/visualstudio2026-workload-vctools) package:
``` bash
choco install python visualstudio2026-workload-vctools -y
```

Or install and configure Python and Visual Studio tools manually:

  * Follow the instructions in [Using Python on Windows](https://docs.python.org/3/using/windows.html) to install
    the current [version of Python](https://www.python.org/downloads/).

   * Install Visual C++ Build Environment: For Visual Studio 2019 or later, use the `Desktop development with C++` workload from [Visual Studio Community](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/thank-you-downloading-visual-studio/?sku=Community).  For a version older than Visual Studio 2019, install [Visual Studio Build Tools](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/thank-you-downloading-visual-studio/?sku=BuildTools) with the `Visual C+