Registry / devops / less-watch-compiler

less-watch-compiler

library1.17.5jsnpmunverified

A CLI tool that watches LESS file changes and automatically compiles them to CSS using the `lessc` compiler. Version 1.17.5 released intermittently; supports Node >=18. Key differentiator: it tracks dependency trees so changes to imported LESS files trigger recompilation of parent files. Filesystem watcher with options for source maps, plugins, and configuration files.

devops

npm install less-watch-compiler

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · LESS-WATCH-COMPILE

less-watch-compiler

devopsjavascriptv1.17.5

harness data pending

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

No compatibility data collected yet for this library.

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

CLI usage

✓ npx less-watch-compiler src dist

✗ Installing globally without lessc

The tool is a CLI, not a library. It requires the `less` package to be installed globally.

Basic usage of less-watch-compiler: global install, watching folders, specifying main file, config file, and run-once.

# Install LESS and less-watch-compiler globally npm install -g less less-watch-compiler # Watch src folder and output to dist less-watch-compiler src dist # With main file (recompile only main.less on any change) less-watch-compiler src dist main.less # Using configuration file less-watch-compiler --config less-watch-compiler.config.json # Run once and exit less-watch-compiler src dist --run-once

less-watch-compiler --version

Debug

Known issues

gotchaRequires global installation of `less` package to provide `lessc` binary.

fix

Run `npm install -g less` before using less-watch-compiler.

affects: all

breakingNode >=18 required as of v1.17.0.

fix

Upgrade Node.js to version 18 or later.

affects: >=1.17.0

deprecatedThe `lessc` binary may be deprecated in future LESS versions. The tool relies on `lessc` and may break if LESS changes its CLI.

fix

Monitor less-watch-compiler updates for compatibility changes.

affects: all

gotchaGlob patterns in source/destination may not work as expected; only directories are watched.

fix

Use directories, not globs, for source and destination parameters.

affects: all

Errors

Common errors & fixes

lessc: command not found

LESS is not installed globally.

fix

Run `npm install -g less` to install the lessc binary.

Upgrade

Version history

1.17.5latest on npm

Audit

Dependencies

lessrequiredThe `lessc` binary must be installed globally to compile LESS files.

Agent activity

2 hits · last 30 days

node

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/jonycheung/deadsimple-less-watch-compiler ↗

packagehttps://www.npmjs.com/package/less-watch-compiler ↗