A quick comparison of Compass and LESS Pre-Processors

1. VS
CSS PRE-PROCESSORS

2. --Css Framework
--Uses SCSS (an improved version of the CSS3 syntax and is more
recent and used than SASS)
--Has a librery of cross-browsers mixins, functions,
layouts, resets, etc.
--Runs with Ruby on the computer
--When saving the SCSS file, automaticaly converts it in
a CSS file
--In case of errors, compass write where it is above your
webpage.
--If CSS is updated, Compass will compile in the new
CSS version.

3. --Variables: --Creating Mixins
Properties:
$font-stack: Helvetica, sans-serif;
$primary-color: #333;
body {
font: 100% $font-stack;
color: $primary-color;
}
@mixin border-radius($radius) {
-webkit-border-radius: $radius;
-moz-border-radius: $radius;
-ms-border-radius: $radius;
border-radius: $radius;
}
.box { @include border-radius(10px); }

4. --import files --Use the css of another class
// _reset.scss
html,
body,
ul,
ol {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
// base.scss
@import ‘reset’;
body {
font: 100% Helvetica, sans-serif;
background-color: #efefef;
}
.message {
border: 1px solid #ccc;
padding: 10px;
color: #333;
}
.success {
@extend .message;
border-color: green;
}
.error {
@extend .message;
border-color: red;
}
.warning {
@extend .message;
border-color: yellow;
}

5. --Nesting --Operators
nav {
ul {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
list-style: none;
}
li { display: inline-block; }
a {
display: block;
padding: 6px 12px;
text-decoration: none;
}
}
.container { width: 100%; }
article[role="main"] {
float: left;
width: 600px / 960px * 100%;
}
aside[role="complementary"] {
float: right;
width: 300px / 960px * 100%;
}

6. Install:
1. Install Ruby (http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/downloads/)
2. Set up the ruby environment in your terminal:
--gem update --system
3. Install compass in your terminal:
--gem install compass
--compass create <myproject>
4. Follow the instructions in the terminal
Website : http://compass-style.org/

7. --Css Framework
--Uses LESS
--Runs with Node.js on the computer
--When saving the LESS file, automaticaly converts it in
a CSS file
--In case of errors, the compiler will stop, you have to
find where the error comes from yourself.

8. --Variables:
--Creating Mixins
Properties:
@nice-blue: #5B83AD;
@light-blue: @nice-blue + #111;
#header {
color: @light-blue;
}
.bordered {
border-top: dotted 1px black;
border-bottom: solid 2px black;
}
#menu a {
color: #111;
.bordered;
}
.post a {
color: red;
.bordered;
}
--import files
@import "library"; // library.less
@import «typo.css»;

9. --Nesting --Use the css of another class
#header {
color: black;
.navigation {
font-size: 12px;
}
.logo {
width: 300px;
}
}
.animal {
background-color: black;
color: white;
}
.bear {
&:extend(.animal);
background-color: brown;
}

10. Install:
1. Install Node.js (https://nodejs.org/en/download/)
2. Install LESS in your terminal:
npm install -g less
3. To invoke the compiler and save the CSS in a file
of your choice:
lessc styles.less styles.css
Website : http://lesscss.org