Bones Theme and LESS

I am also using Bones as a starter theme. I have a local environment set up and am using CodeKit to compile the LESS files. I really like this newer way of development.

But my main questions is this…

If I want to sell a theme that I developed using a LESS compiler, does that force whoever buys my theme and wants to edit the styles into having to use a LESS compiler as well? Or can they just start editing the style.css file if they choose?

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Dvieira, I’d like to chime in here. BTW, I was the one who started this thread 9 months ago…

You can sell a theme developed using LESS, by either just leaving the compiled CSS in the theme or including the uncompiled .less files. I would recommend leaving the LESS files as many people are now very used to using CSS pre-processors, and I would certainly no longer buy a theme that didn’t allow for at least LESS or SASS.

Thanks not1_name! Yeah…i wasn’t sure if i should bundle the LESS files with the theme, but it’s nice to know I can leave them there as an option for the end user, or they can just directly edit the CSS files if they’d like.

I really dig using LESS, but I’m not so hot on having to work locally to use it, do you know if you can use a CSS compiler on a live server?

Thanks again ??

This is getting a bit off topic but…

I’ve never done it, but I’m sure there is a way to compile on a live server. However, whether your using a pre-processor or not, I would strongly recommend you develop sites locally.

The local workflow with LESS is easier than SASS, as you don’t need to install Ruby or use Compass for your mixins. To get the hang of LESS and how all the files work together I really recommend you download and play with Twitter Bootstrap on your local machine. It is used on loads of sites and uses LESS for its pre-processor. As it is so widely used, there are loads of tutorials that will help you get going with it. It comes with a mixin.less file, so you don’t have to use compass. I compile with winLess on a PC. It watches your main LESS file and comiles the css every save you make. Very easy to use and no messing with the command line/prompt.

It’s all a bit hard to wrap your head round at first, but once it clicks, you’re life will be much easier!

Hello, I am using Bones for the first time, and am i ok to delete the SASS and LESS folders and just edit / use the normal styles.css file, as this is all you re-upload when using LESS (which i have tried first) anyway? Thanks!

@lucyryder: As per the Forum Welcome, please post your own topic. Posting in an existing topic prevents us from being able to track issues by topic. Added to which, your problem – despite any similarity in symptoms – is likely to be completely different.

Lucyrider, the answer is “yes”.