Using the wrong Node.js version can negatively impact app performance and compatibility with key tooling like Vite, Webpack, or Next.js.
The guide explains how to set a default Node.js version globally using NVM to avoid version mismatches and ensure consistency.
On macOS, you can check installed versions, install a specific version, and set it as default using commands like nvm ls and nvm alias default.
On Windows, using nvm-windows, you can list versions, install a specific version, and set it as default to avoid accidental upgrades or toolchain bugs.