compiling less on a fs theme

[djay]

User problem

It's very easy to use the global resources to create a theme in the filesystem and develop it live. Up until you want to compile less. Then suddenly you are told to install grunt and npm and whole lot of other crap.

For example following http://docs.plone.org/adapt-and-extend/theming/barceloneta.html#inheriting-a-new-theme-from-barceloneta requires compiling less.

Currently plone provide a less compiler but only for online themes.

Options

less compile for fs themes

if you see the warning

Warning This is a built-in theme, and cannot be edited.

The compile less button is enabled but breaks if you try to run it on a fs theme. Why is it an "built-in" theme? thats confusing. It should be a read-only theme or something that indicates its not editable online.

Instead we could make this work, create a new css file but not save it. Trying to save would create an error. Then the user can at least copy and paste to the fs.

mix fs and zodb resources

Allow some files to override or exist in the zodb for a fs theme.

save files in fs mode

At least allow the compile to work and save if the server is running in fg mode. A bonus is you get to use the theme editor if you want but still keep the files on disk.

[ebrehault]

Isn't it a duplicate of plone/Products.CMFPlone#1468 (which I have already fixed, so you can now use the theming editor to compile your FS-based less files)?