# Running a recent Node version on DigitalOcean App platform

> Learn how to run a recent Node.js version on DigitalOcean App Platform by switching the buildpack to ubuntu-22 and setting the engines field in package.json.

Author: Flavio Copes | Published: 2023-11-17 | Canonical: https://flaviocopes.com/running-a-recent-node-version-on-digitalocean-app-platform/

DigitalOcean App Platform apps by default currently (end 2023) run on Node 16.x, which is way too old for modern apps deployment.

To set a newer Node version, you have to change the buildpack of the App in the [App Spec](https://docs.digitalocean.com/products/app-platform/how-to/update-app-spec/#update-an-apps-spec-from-the-control-panel) (you can do it in the app dashboard settings, after you deployed it for the first time):

```javascript
features:
    - buildpack-stack=ubuntu-22
```

Then you set the version in your `package.json`:

```json
{
  "engines": {
    "node": "21.x"
  }
}
```

(and for whatever reason, LTS versions are not supported, so I used 21.x)