Local deployment fails due to undocumented Node.js v18.20.6 requirement

[jnchman]

The error message only specifies "Node.js v18" without indicating that the system specifically requires v18.20.6, which is specified in the .nvmrc file.

Expected Behavior

The system should either:

1. Accept any Node.js v18.x or v18.20.x version, OR
2. Clearly communicate the specific version requirement in both documentation and error messages

Problem

• Current latest Node.js v18 LTS is v18.20.8
• The specified requirement for v18.20.6 creates unnecessary friction
• Documentation at https://docs.convex.dev/cli/local-deployments doesn't mention specific version requirements
• Error message doesn't specify the exact version needed

Proposed Solutions

Option 1: Update .nvmrc to contain only 18 or 18.20 to allow flexibility:

• This would enable nvm use to match any v18.* or v18.20.* version
• Reduces friction for developers using newer patch versions

Option 2: Update to latest LTS and improve messaging:

• Update .nvmrc to v18.20.8 (current LTS)
• Update error message to specify exact version requirement
• Update documentation to clearly state version requirements

Impact

This improvement would enhance developer experience by reducing setup friction and providing clearer environment configuration guidance.

[nipunn1313]

we're working on having multiple supported versions of node in the action runtime. Let's reevaluate this after that work is done.