gistfile1.txt

To install node.js and coffee-script inside a virtualenv and keep it self-contained:

1. Activate the virtualenv::

$ workon test

2. Move inside the virtualenv directory::

(test)$ cdvirtualenv

3. Export that directory as the prefix for the installation::

(test)$ export PREFIX=`pwd`

4. Get the latest version of node.js from http://nodejs.org/ and unpack it e.g.::

(test)$ wget http://nodejs.org/dist/v0.6.6/node-v0.6.6.tar.gz
(test)$ tar xvfz node-v0.6.6.tar.gz

5. Once inside the unpacked node directory::

(test)$ ./configure --prefix=$PREFIX
(test)$ make
(test)$ make install

6. Check that node.js was installed correctly::
(test)$ which node

7. Fortunately npm (node package manager) is installed with node.js as well, now we can proceed to install coffee-script::

(test)$ npm install -g coffee-script

It seems that npm uses the PREFIX environment variable to determine where to install the node packages, bear this in mind in case you plan to install any other node package.

8. Check that coffe-script was installed successfully::

(test)$ which coffee

9. Play with node.js or coffee-script :)