Node.js Expands Horizons: Official Support for a New Platform

Node.js Officially Expands Support: A New Platform Joins the Ranks

The Node.js development team has announced a long-awaited update: with the release of version 22.6 (LTS), the platform gains official support for ARM64 chips for desktop computers on Windows. Previously, this architecture was only supported on Linux and macOS, leaving Windows users without a native build. Now, Node.js can run on devices like the Surface Pro X or laptops with Snapdragon without emulation, significantly improving performance and reducing memory consumption.

This is a step that developers using ARM devices have been waiting for. According to the official Node.js blog, the new build has undergone a full testing cycle and is ready for production use. It can be installed via the official website or the nvm-windows package manager (use the --arm64 flag).

Why is this important for the JavaScript ecosystem? Here are the key points:

• Performance — native ARM builds run up to 40% faster in I/O operations compared to x86 emulation.
• Energy efficiency — reduced CPU load extends battery life on ARM laptops.
• Compatibility — all popular packages, including Express, Fastify, and Prisma, have already been tested on the new architecture.
• IoT Development — ARM compatibility simplifies creating server-side solutions for Raspberry Pi and other single-board computers.

Additionally, the update has affected other platforms. The same Node.js version improves support for FreeBSD 13+ and adds experimental compatibility with RISC-V, an open architecture gaining popularity in academic and embedded systems. The developers emphasize that this is just the beginning: plans include full support for LoongArch (the Chinese equivalent of MIPS) and IBM Z.

For those working on Windows ARM, the transition will be seamless. All existing Node.js projects will continue to work without changes — simply replace the installed version. If you use the Chocolatey or Scoop package managers, the installation command remains the same, but the system will now automatically select the correct architecture.

What does this mean for education? At PythonLib, we are already preparing updated lessons where we will cover building projects for ARM, setting up CI/CD for cross-platform development, and comparing Node.js performance on different architectures. Subscribe for updates — a detailed guide will be released within the next week.

You can download the new version from the official Node.js website or via the terminal with the command nvm install 22.6.0. Try it out, test it, and share your results in the comments!

Updated: March 15, 2025. Node.js version 22.6.0 LTS.