The express-less-middleware from dwaltz

express-less-middleware's Introduction

##Express LESS Middleware

This middleware is designed to compile LESS on the fly.

###Installing

npm install express-less-middleware --save

Should only be used for development. LESS should be compiled during a build process

###What this does (per request)

Determines if file requested is: (if conditions aren't met it runs next())
1. requested via GET method
2. a CSS file
Looks for CSS file requested
- if found it will let it go through the original flow via next
Looks for a LESS file with the same name as the CSS file requested
- if LESS file is found it will read that file and compile it to CSS and deliever the response
If no LESS or CSS file is found, it will give you a 404 like usual

###What this doesn't do

Look for changes on save (if you use it, you won't need a grunt watch on less files)

###Example

var http         = require( 'http' );
var express      = require( 'express' );
var app          = express();

// this assumes that the publicly available folder is on the same directory level
// as the file that starts your express server
var lessCompiler = require( 'express-less-middleware' )();

// if that's not the case, initialize it with the path to your public/client-side folder
// the path should be relative to the directory where the file that starts your express server is
// ex) var lessCompiler = require( 'express-less-middleware' )( '../path/to/public/folder' );


// ....everything else that has to do with configuring

// you should only use this when developing. Not meant for production
app.configure( 'dev', function() {
	// this must be "used" before express.use( express.static() ) or it will not work (no next())
	app.use( lessCompiler );
});

// ....other stuff relative to your express app

http.createServer( app ).listen( 8000 );