Prerequisites

OS X

• install Xcode

Linux

• Kernel version 3.6 or above
• libbluetooth-dev

Ubuntu/Debian/Raspbian

sudo apt-get install bluetooth bluez libbluetooth-dev libudev-dev

Make sure node is on your path, if it's not, some options:

• symlink nodejs to node: sudo ln -s /usr/bin/nodejs /usr/bin/node
• install Node.js using the NodeSource package

Fedora / Other-RPM based

sudo yum install bluez bluez-libs bluez-libs-devel

Intel Edison

See Configure Intel Edison for Bluetooth LE (Smart) Development

FreeBSD

Make sure you have GNU Make:

sudo pkg install gmake

Disable automatic loading of the default Bluetooth stack by putting no-ubt.conf into /usr/local/etc/devd/no-ubt.conf and restarting devd (sudo service devd restart).

Unload ng_ubt kernel module if already loaded:

sudo kldunload ng_ubt

Make sure you have read and write permissions on the /dev/usb/* device that corresponds to your Bluetooth adapter.

Windows

node-gyp requirements for Windows

Install the required tools and configurations using Microsoft's windows-build-tools from an elevated PowerShell or cmd.exe (run as Administrator).

npm install --global --production windows-build-tools

node-bluetooth-hci-socket prerequisites

• Compatible Bluetooth 4.0 USB adapter
• WinUSB driver setup for Bluetooth 4.0 USB adapter, using Zadig tool

See @don's set up guide on Bluetooth LE with Node.js and Noble on Windows