node.exe文件的作用是什么？

Question

I'm learning Node.js on a Windows environment. So far, I've been using the Node.js command prompt shortcut to run the commands.

But the Windows installer also creates a shortcut named simply Node.js that points to "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe" and I'm not sure what is it for.

How can I use that program?

Answer 1

node.exe is full Node.JS executable, containing everything you need to run Node.JS applications on Windows.

You used the default installer, so it got installed to C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe . But you can also download it separately ( Windows Binary option), and, for example, bundle it with your application package to simplify the installation on many machines.

There's no real need to use "Node.js command prompt" shortcut. You can launch Node.JS apps from regular Windows command line terminal, providing full path to node.exe executable (wherever it is actually located). An example:

C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe app.js