diff --git a/Artifacts.toml b/Artifacts.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..18f7fc6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Artifacts.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+[[heta_app]]
+arch = "x86_64"
+git-tree-sha1 = "fe79a7d34e362a7038a8ee7b7b5653a0895eba22"
+libc = "glibc"
+os = "linux"
+
+    [[heta_app.download]]
+    sha256 = "4dde32c2ba534e51b25030ed409d926008ff4ce44023f80d983810625bd54abd"
+    url = "https://github.com/hetalang/heta-compiler/releases/download/v0.8.6/heta-compiler-linux.tar.gz"
+[[heta_app]]
+arch = "x86_64"
+git-tree-sha1 = "93c1330a1dce7f8aa62214c0cb5e612c02187956"
+os = "windows"
+
+    [[heta_app.download]]
+    sha256 = "a0611f5ca671bd67edda6fbb062322ca89dbe2f4f0852ea8db30788f43c789c7"
+    url = "https://github.com/hetalang/heta-compiler/releases/download/v0.8.6/heta-compiler-windows.tar.gz"
+[[heta_app]]
+arch = "x86_64"
+git-tree-sha1 = "367cd23e5cbfebcd8f0c175703fbe7da734e4039"
+os = "macos"
+
+    [[heta_app.download]]
+    sha256 = "f8d6b97cc06a9fc51e1c99f4383450c778f4067e7880fff3d709f2a510a3b230"
+    url = "https://github.com/hetalang/heta-compiler/releases/download/v0.8.6/heta-compiler-macos.tar.gz"
diff --git a/Project.toml b/Project.toml
index a1482b0..4598acf 100644
--- a/Project.toml
+++ b/Project.toml
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ LabelledArrays = "2ee39098-c373-598a-b85f-a56591580800"
 LinearAlgebra = "37e2e46d-f89d-539d-b4ee-838fcccc9c8e"
 NLopt = "76087f3c-5699-56af-9a33-bf431cd00edd"
 NaNMath = "77ba4419-2d1f-58cd-9bb1-8ffee604a2e3"
-NodeJS = "2bd173c7-0d6d-553b-b6af-13a54713934c"
 OrdinaryDiffEq = "1dea7af3-3e70-54e6-95c3-0bf5283fa5ed"
+Pkg = "44cfe95a-1eb2-52ea-b672-e2afdf69b78f"
 ProgressMeter = "92933f4c-e287-5a05-a399-4b506db050ca"
 RecipesBase = "3cdcf5f2-1ef4-517c-9805-6587b60abb01"
 Reexport = "189a3867-3050-52da-a836-e630ba90ab69"
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ Distributions = "0.25"
 LabelledArrays = "1.6.1"
 NLopt = "0.6"
 NaNMath = "1"
-NodeJS = "2"
 OrdinaryDiffEq = "6"
 ProgressMeter = "1"
 RecipesBase = "1"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9e20880..8e3d565 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,12 +33,7 @@ julia> ]
 (@v1.10) pkg> add HetaSimulator
 ```
 
-Internally HetaSimulator uses heta-compiler. 
-Sometimes it is required to update the compiler's version.
-```julia
-# update heta compiler for v0.8.4
-julia> heta_update("0.8.4") 
-```
+Internally HetaSimulator installs Heta compiler as an artifact. 
 
 ## Basic usage
 
diff --git a/artifacts_scripts/Project.toml b/artifacts_scripts/Project.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..26df56d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artifacts_scripts/Project.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[deps]
+ArtifactUtils = "8b73e784-e7d8-4ea5-973d-377fed4e3bce"
+Pkg = "44cfe95a-1eb2-52ea-b672-e2afdf69b78f"
diff --git a/artifacts_scripts/build_artifacts.jl b/artifacts_scripts/build_artifacts.jl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dc2f718
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artifacts_scripts/build_artifacts.jl
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+using ArtifactUtils
+using Pkg.Artifacts
+
+const HETA_COMPILER_RELEASE = "v0.8.6"
+
+const artifacts_toml = joinpath(@__DIR__, "..", "Artifacts.toml")
+
+for os in ("linux", "windows", "macos")
+
+  url = "https://github.com/hetalang/heta-compiler/releases/download/$HETA_COMPILER_RELEASE/heta-compiler-$os.tar.gz"
+  platform = Artifacts.Platform("x86_64", os)
+
+  add_artifact!(
+      artifacts_toml,
+      "heta_app",
+      url;
+      platform,
+      force = true,
+      lazy = false,
+  )
+end
diff --git a/build.log b/build.log
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79abf27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build.log
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+[info]	Namespace "nameless" was set as "concrete"
+[info]	Builder initialized in directory "C:\Julia\dev\HetaSimulator".
+[info]	Compilation of module "index.heta" of type "heta"...
+[info]	Reading module of type "heta" from file "C:\Julia\dev\HetaSimulator\index.heta"...
+[error]	ENOENT: no such file or directory, open 'C:\Julia\dev\HetaSimulator\index.heta'
+[info]	Setting references in elements, total length 77
+[info]	Checking for circular references in Records.
+[warn]	Units checking and export were skipped because of errors in compilation.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cases/story_0/run.jl b/cases/story_0/run.jl
index e34781c..a37b63f 100644
--- a/cases/story_0/run.jl
+++ b/cases/story_0/run.jl
@@ -1,7 +1,3 @@
-#=
-    Example from README.md file
-    use heta_update_dev()
-=#
 
 using HetaSimulator, Plots
 
diff --git a/cases/story_1/run.jl b/cases/story_1/run.jl
index bf2d2d7..ec95b44 100644
--- a/cases/story_1/run.jl
+++ b/cases/story_1/run.jl
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 using HetaSimulator, Plots
 
 ################################## Model Upload ###########################################
-# heta_update_dev("nan-math")
 
 platform = load_platform("$HetaSimulatorDir/cases/story_1", rm_out = false)
 #platform = load_jlplatform("$HetaSimulatorDir/cases/story_1/_julia/model.jl")
diff --git a/cases/story_2/run.jl b/cases/story_2/run.jl
index 2e58021..f9f27a5 100644
--- a/cases/story_2/run.jl
+++ b/cases/story_2/run.jl
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 using HetaSimulator, Plots
 
 ################################## Model Upload ###########################################
-# heta_update_dev()
 
 platform = load_platform("$HetaSimulatorDir/cases/story_2", rm_out=false);
 # platform.models
diff --git a/docs/src/index.md b/docs/src/index.md
index dcf64d4..8a813fe 100644
--- a/docs/src/index.md
+++ b/docs/src/index.md
@@ -27,15 +27,10 @@ To install or update HetaSimulator run the code below in Julia environment:
 
 ```julia
 julia> ]
-(@v1.9) pkg> add HetaSimulator
+(@v1.10) pkg> add HetaSimulator
 ```
 
-Internally HetaSimulator uses Heta compiler. 
-Sometimes it is required to update the compiler's version.
-```julia
-# update heta compiler for v0.6.14
-julia> heta_update("0.6.14") 
-```
+Internally HetaSimulator installs Heta compiler as an artifact. 
 
 ## Basic usage
 
diff --git a/docs/src/tutorial/intro.md b/docs/src/tutorial/intro.md
index 339053c..79e173c 100644
--- a/docs/src/tutorial/intro.md
+++ b/docs/src/tutorial/intro.md
@@ -34,15 +34,3 @@ They use the same standards of model notation and can be used in the same projec
 Furthermore currently `heta-compiler` JS code is used internally in HetaSimulator.
 
 When a user installs HetaSimulator in Julia the most appropriate version of __heta compiler__ is installed as well.
-
-If you need to reinstall `heta-compiler` it can be done with the following code.
-
-```julia
-heta_update()
-```
-
-To install a specific version of `heta-compiler` you can use 
-
-```julia
-heta_update("0.6.14") # for heta-compiler v0.6.14
-```
diff --git a/docs/src/tutorial/sim-files/sim-run.jl b/docs/src/tutorial/sim-files/sim-run.jl
index 349a4fc..b407736 100644
--- a/docs/src/tutorial/sim-files/sim-run.jl
+++ b/docs/src/tutorial/sim-files/sim-run.jl
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 using HetaSimulator, Plots, CSV
-# heta_update()
 
 ### creating platform
 
diff --git a/src/HetaSimulator.jl b/src/HetaSimulator.jl
index b35d550..a2f9e26 100644
--- a/src/HetaSimulator.jl
+++ b/src/HetaSimulator.jl
@@ -1,13 +1,26 @@
 module HetaSimulator
 
-  # heta-compiler supported version
-  const HETA_COMPILER_SUPPORTED = "0.8.4"
-  const SUPPORTED_VERSIONS = ["0.8.4"]
-
   using Reexport
   
   # heta compiler support
-  using NodeJS
+  using Pkg.Artifacts
+  import Base: SHA1
+
+  # heta-compiler supported version
+  const HETA_COMPILER_VERSION = "0.8.6"
+  #const SUPPORTED_VERSIONS = ["0.8.4", "0.8.5", "0.8.6"]
+
+  function heta_compiler_load()
+    artifact_info = artifact_meta("heta_app", joinpath(@__DIR__, "..", "Artifacts.toml"))
+  
+    artifact_info === nothing && return nothing # throw?
+  
+    return artifact_path(SHA1(artifact_info["git-tree-sha1"]))
+  end
+  
+  const heta_path = heta_compiler_load()
+  const heta_exe_name = Sys.iswindows() ? "heta-compiler.exe" : "heta-compiler" 
+  const heta_exe_path = heta_path === nothing ? heta_exe_name : joinpath(heta_path, heta_exe_name)
 
   # diffeq-related pkgs
   using SciMLBase
@@ -37,7 +50,7 @@ module HetaSimulator
   #plots
   using RecipesBase
 
-  const HetaSimulatorDir = dirname(Base.@__DIR__)
+  const HetaSimulatorDir = dirname(@__DIR__)
 
   include("types.jl")
   include("heta_cli/connect.jl")
@@ -61,11 +74,10 @@ module HetaSimulator
   include("gsa.jl")
   include("save_as_heta.jl")
   include("heta_funcs.jl")
-  
-  heta_update()
 
-  export heta, heta_help, heta_init, heta_update, heta_build
-  export heta_update_dev, load_platform, load_jlplatform, load_jlmodel
+
+  export heta, heta_version, heta_help, heta_init, heta_build
+  export load_platform, load_jlplatform, load_jlmodel
   export Platform, Model, Scenario
   export read_scenarios, add_scenarios!
   export read_measurements, add_measurements!, measurements_as_table
diff --git a/src/heta_cli/connect.jl b/src/heta_cli/connect.jl
index 7dcb3c9..ef2284e 100644
--- a/src/heta_cli/connect.jl
+++ b/src/heta_cli/connect.jl
@@ -2,17 +2,6 @@
 const MODEL_DIR = "_julia"
 const MODEL_NAME = "model.jl"
 
-"""
-    heta_update_dev(branch::String = "master")
-
-Installs heta-compiler from GitHub's repository <https://github.com/hetalang/heta-compiler>.
-
-Arguments:
-
-- `branch` : branch to install, default is "master".  
-"""
-heta_update_dev(branch::String = "master") = run(`$NPM_PATH i -g https://github.com/hetalang/heta-compiler.git\#$branch --prefix $NODE_DIR`)
-
 """
     load_platform(  
       target_dir::AbstractString;
diff --git a/src/heta_cli/heta.jl b/src/heta_cli/heta.jl
index 44b7b9f..751a5d9 100644
--- a/src/heta_cli/heta.jl
+++ b/src/heta_cli/heta.jl
@@ -1,7 +1,3 @@
-# paths to npm.cmd and nodejs.exe
-const NPM_PATH = npm_cmd()
-const NODE_DIR = dirname(nodejs_cmd().exec[1])
-const HETA_PATH = Sys.iswindows() ? "$NODE_DIR/node_modules/heta-compiler" : "$NODE_DIR/lib/node_modules/heta-compiler"
 
 """
     heta(;version::Bool=false, help::Bool=false)
@@ -20,10 +16,21 @@ function heta(;version::Bool=false, help::Bool=false)
     version != false && push!(options_array, "--version")
     help != false && push!(options_array, "--help")
     
-    run_build = run(ignorestatus(`$NODE_DIR/node $HETA_PATH/bin/heta.js $options_array`))
+    run_build = run(ignorestatus(`$heta_exe_path $options_array`))
     return run_build.exitcode
 end
 
+"""
+    heta_version()
+
+Display heta-compiler version
+
+"""
+function heta_version()
+  run_build = run(ignorestatus(`$heta_exe_path -v`))
+  return run_build.exitcode
+end
+
 """
     heta_help(command::String)
 
@@ -34,9 +41,8 @@ Arguments:
 - `command`: command to display
 
 """
-
 function heta_help(command::String)
-    run_build = run(ignorestatus(`$NODE_DIR/node $HETA_PATH/bin/heta.js help $command`))
+    run_build = run(ignorestatus(`$heta_exe_path help $command`))
     return run_build.exitcode
 end
 
@@ -49,7 +55,7 @@ Argument:
 
 - `dir`: platform directory
 - `force`: if `true` then replace files and directories
-- `silent`: if `true` create with default options without prompt
+- `silent`: if `true` use default options without prompt
 
 """
 function heta_init(dir::String; force::Bool=false, silent::Bool=false)
@@ -57,23 +63,7 @@ function heta_init(dir::String; force::Bool=false, silent::Bool=false)
     force != false && push!(options_array, "--force")
     silent != false && push!(options_array, "--silent")
 
-    run_build = run(ignorestatus(`$NODE_DIR/node $HETA_PATH/bin/heta-init.js $options_array $dir`))
-    return run_build.exitcode
-end
-
-"""
-    heta_update(version::String = HETA_COMPILER_SUPPORTED)
-
-To install or update heta-compiler from NPM.
-
-Arguments:
-
-- `version` : `heta compiler` version. If the value is not provided, `heta_update` installs
-   the latest version of `heta compiler` compartible with HetaSimulator.
-"""
-function heta_update(version::String=HETA_COMPILER_SUPPORTED)
-    # XXX: Do we need to check if version in SUPPORTED_VERSIONS
-    run_build = run(`$NPM_PATH i -g heta-compiler@$version --prefix $NODE_DIR`)
+    run_build = run(ignorestatus(`$heta_exe_path init $options_array $dir`))
     return run_build.exitcode
 end
 
@@ -125,8 +115,6 @@ function heta_build(
   type::String = "heta"
 )
 
-  !isdir(HETA_PATH) && throw("Heta compiler is not installed. Run `heta_update()` to install it.")
-
   # convert to absolute path
   _target_dir = abspath(target_dir)
 
@@ -150,16 +138,8 @@ function heta_build(
   type != "heta" && push!(options_array, "--type", type)
   push!(options_array, "--skip-updates")
 
-  # build the dist
-  #=
-  if  Sys.iswindows() 
-    heta_cmd = "heta.cmd"
-  else
-    heta_cmd = "heta" # not tested on unix
-  end
-  =#
 
-  run_build = run(ignorestatus(`$NODE_DIR/node $HETA_PATH/bin/heta-build.js $options_array $_target_dir`))
+  run_build = run(ignorestatus(`$heta_exe_path build $options_array $_target_dir`))
 
   return run_build.exitcode
 end
diff --git a/src/import_platform.jl b/src/import_platform.jl
index 1fde0b7..8177947 100644
--- a/src/import_platform.jl
+++ b/src/import_platform.jl
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ function Platform(
     version::String
 )
     # TODO: semver approach might be better
-    @assert version in SUPPORTED_VERSIONS "Heta compiler of the version \"$version\" is not supported."
+    @assert version == HETA_COMPILER_VERSION "The model was build with Heta compiler v$version, which is not supported.\n"*
+    "This HetaSimulator release includes Heta compiler v$HETA_COMPILER_VERSION. Please re-compile the model with HetaSimulator load_platform()."
 
     print("Loading platform... ")
     model_pairs = [pair[1] => Model(pair[2]...) for pair in pairs(models)]
diff --git a/test/heta_compiler_test.jl b/test/heta_compiler_test.jl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9af8405
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/heta_compiler_test.jl
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+
+@test chomp(read(`$(HetaSimulator.heta_exe_path) -v`, String)) == HetaSimulator.HETA_COMPILER_VERSION
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtests.jl b/test/runtests.jl
index 88e9abc..f8fe8ed 100644
--- a/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/test/runtests.jl
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ function test_show(t)
 end
 
 @testset "HetaSimulator" begin
+  @testset "Heta compiler tests" begin include("heta_compiler_test.jl") end
   @testset "Single-compartment model without events" begin include("single_comp_test.jl") end
   @testset "Single-compartment model with events" begin include("single_comp_events_test.jl") end
   @testset "Functions used in heta models" begin include("heta_funcs_test.jl") end