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actions/setup-node: Versions, Caching & Fixes

setup-node installs the Node version you ask for and can cache your package manager for you.

Prefer setup-node’s built-in caching over a manual actions/cache step - it is simpler and correct by default.

Usage

.github/workflows/ci.yml

- uses: actions/setup-node@v4
  with:
    node-version: 20
    cache: npm   # or yarn / pnpm

Notes

node-version-file: .nvmrc reads the version from your repo.
cache needs a lockfile present to work.
Version-not-found → check the version exists and the spec is valid.

Related guides

actions/cache: Keys, Restore Keys & Best PracticesReference for actions/cache - how cache keys and restore-keys work, what to cache per ecosystem, and how to a… GitHub Actions Workflow Template for Node.jsA ready-to-use GitHub Actions workflow for Node.js with caching and best practices - copy, commit, and run fa… How to Cache Dependencies in GitHub Actions (Every Ecosystem)Cache dependencies in GitHub Actions with actions/cache - correct keys and paths for npm, yarn, pnpm, pip, Ma…

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