Install

v0.5.4released 2026-05-27

Supported platforms

OS	Architecture	Status
Linux	x86_64	✅ Supported
Linux	aarch64 (ARM64)	✅ Supported
macOS	any	🚧 Not yet — planned
Windows	any	🚧 Not yet — planned

Method 1 — npm (recommended)

npm install -g @jhl_labs/jvim
jvim --version

The package is scoped under @jhl_labs/ — npm’s typosquatting policy blocks short unscoped names like jvim. The installed CLI command is just jvim (no scope prefix) thanks to the bin field.

This installs:

• @jhl_labs/jvim — a tiny JS launcher (~1 KB) that dispatches to the platform binary.
• @jhl_labs/jvim-linux-x64 or @jhl_labs/jvim-linux-arm64 — selected automatically based on your os/cpu.

If optionalDependencies weren’t installed

Some npm configurations skip optional deps. If jvim reports a missing binary:

npm install -g @jhl_labs/jvim --include=optional

Upgrading

npm install -g @jhl_labs/jvim@latest --include=optional
jvim --version

The --include=optional flag is recommended on upgrade as well — npm sometimes elides optional deps from the upgrade plan and you’d be left with a launcher pointing at a no-longer-installed binary.

If you previously installed an early version under the unscoped name (jvim), uninstall it first:

npm uninstall -g jvim 2>/dev/null
npm install -g @jhl_labs/jvim@latest --include=optional

Uninstalling

npm uninstall -g @jhl_labs/jvim

Method 2 — GitHub Releases (standalone binary)

Best for airgapped environments, CI caches, or when npm is unavailable.

VERSION="<VERSION>"  # pick the desired release; see Releases page for the latest
ARCH="linux-x64"      # or linux-arm64
URL="https://github.com/jhl-labs/jvim-public/releases/download/v${VERSION}/jvim-${VERSION}-${ARCH}.tar.gz"

curl -LO "$URL"
curl -LO "${URL}.sha256"
sha256sum -c "jvim-${VERSION}-${ARCH}.tar.gz.sha256"

tar -xzf "jvim-${VERSION}-${ARCH}.tar.gz"
sudo mv jvim /usr/local/bin/
jvim --version

To upgrade, repeat the steps with the new VERSION. The binary is self-contained — overwriting /usr/local/bin/jvim is the entire upgrade.

Verifying authenticity

Every release asset has a matching .sha256 file. Always verify the checksum before executing the binary, especially on shared infrastructure.

Troubleshooting

jvim: command not found after npm install -g

Your npm global bin directory is not on PATH. Find it and add it:

npm prefix -g          # prints the npm prefix, e.g. /usr/local
# add "$(npm prefix -g)/bin" to PATH via your shell rc (.bashrc, .zshrc)

Unsupported platform: <os>-<arch>

You’re running on a platform without a precompiled binary. Check the table above; if your platform is marked supported, confirm os/cpu match:

node -p "[process.platform, process.arch]"

Open a bug report if you hit this on a supposedly supported platform.

Terminal swallows Ctrl+S, Ctrl+Q, or similar

jvim disables terminal flow control (IXON) automatically on startup, so Ctrl+S (save) should work out of the box. If it does not, your terminal may have a custom keybinding overriding it. Rebind or remap at the terminal emulator level.

jvim exits immediately with a blank screen

Likely cause: you’re inside screen, tmux, or a multiplexer that doesn’t support the alternate screen buffer. Try a plain terminal first to confirm, then check your multiplexer’s altscreen / terminal-overrides settings.

Next steps

• Press F1 in-app for the keymap.
• Read the FAQ for common workflow questions.