Essential asdf version manager commands cheat sheet
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asdf plugin add nodejsAdd the Node.js pluginasdf plugin add pythonAdd the Python pluginasdf plugin add erlang https://github.com/asdf-vm/asdf-erlang.gitAdd a plugin from a custom URLasdf plugin listShow installed pluginsasdf plugin list --urlsShow plugins with URLsasdf plugin list allShow all available pluginsasdf plugin remove nodejsRemove the Node.js pluginasdf plugin remove pythonRemove the Python pluginasdf plugin update nodejsUpdate the Node.js pluginasdf plugin update pythonUpdate the Python pluginasdf plugin update --allUpdate all plugins at onceasdf install nodejs 20.11.0Install Node.js 20.11.0asdf install nodejs latestInstall the latest stable Node.jsasdf installInstall all versions from .tool-versionsasdf uninstall nodejs 18.0.0Uninstall Node.js 18.0.0asdf uninstall python 3.9.0Uninstall Python 3.9.0asdf list nodejsShow installed Node.js versionsasdf listShow all installed versionsasdf list all nodejsShow all available Node.js versionsasdf list all nodejs 20Show only Node.js 20.x versionsasdf latest nodejsShow latest stable Node.js versionasdf latest pythonShow latest stable Python versionasdf currentShow all current versionsasdf current nodejsShow current Node.js versionasdf global nodejs 20.11.0Set global Node.js versionasdf global python latestSet Python globally to the latest versionasdf global nodejs systemUse the system Node.js versionasdf reshim nodejsRegenerate Node.js shimsasdf reshim python 3.12.0Regenerate shims for Python 3.12.0asdf local nodejs 20.11.0Set local Node.js versionasdf local python 3.12.0Set local Python versionasdf local ruby latestSet Ruby locally to the latest versionasdf shell nodejs 18.0.0Use Node.js 18.0.0 in this shell sessionasdf shell python 3.11.0Use Python 3.11.0 in this shell sessionasdf shell nodejs --unsetUnset the shell versionasdf where nodejs 20.11.0Show Node.js 20.11.0 install pathasdf where pythonShow current Python install pathasdf which nodeShow the path of the node executableasdf which pythonShow the path of the python executableasdf infoShow asdf environment informationasdf updateUpdate asdf to the latest stable releaseasdf update --headUpdate asdf to the latest development versionasdf helpShow general helpasdf help installShow help for the install commandasdf Commands is a cheat sheet compiling essential asdf version manager commands. It comprehensively covers commands needed for development environment setup, from plugin management to version control and global/local configuration. Each command includes descriptions, common options, and practical examples that can be copied with one click.
asdf global writes to ~/.tool-versions and sets the default version used across all directories. asdf local writes to .tool-versions in the current directory and sets a version that only applies within that project.
asdf shell sets a temporary version that only applies to the current shell session. It's useful when you want to temporarily use a different version for testing or verification. The setting is lost when you close the shell.
asdf uses shims to route commands to the correct version. After installing global packages with npm install -g or similar, reshim is needed to recognize the new executables.
The .tool-versions file defines the runtime versions used in a project. By committing this file to your repository, you ensure that everyone on the team uses the same versions. Running asdf install with no arguments installs all versions listed in the file.
asdf where returns the installation directory of a version (e.g., ~/.asdf/installs/nodejs/20.11.0). asdf which returns the specific path to an executable (e.g., ~/.asdf/installs/nodejs/20.11.0/bin/node).