Powerful custom functions

[javiermarinros]

An interesting feature for improve the custom functions may be allow to return multiple values for the same property. As example, I can do:

class myless extends lessc {
    function lib_gradient($arg) {
        list($type, $value) = $arg;

        return array($type, array(
'url(...)',//Path for a background image generated from PHP 'on-the-fly' for old browsers
'-moz-linear-gradient(top, '.$value[0].' 0%,  '.$value[1].'100%)',
'-webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, '.$value[0].'), color-stop(100%,  '.$value[0].'))'
));
    }
}

And for this input:

selector {
 background: gradient(#fff, #000);
}

Will generate:

selector {
 background: url(path/to/gradient/image);
 background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #fff 0%, #000 100%);
 background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #fff), color-stop(100%,#000));
}

Thank you

[jamwaffles]

This is a very very good idea, especially the generated image for stuff like IE. If we could see this implemented, as well as other stuff like translucent backgrounds, for example, this would make life a lot easier. I'm assuming the generated image would be cached and stored in a directory so it doesn't have to be re-generated every page load. The only problem I can see here is where this directory could be, but I think the best idea would be a folder with a completely random name to stop overwrites in the same directory as less.php?

[javiermarinros]

I use less with a css and js cache system (http://www.digitalestudio.es/proyectos/tinyfier/), then the generated image will be saved in the same folder that the css and js cache, usually this folder is in the same directory than the original css.
I'm working in adding support to css sprites in less too, with some function like:

selector {
 background: sprite('image.png', 'group-name')
}

[kepten]

did you manage to integrate css sprite functionality somehow?

[javiermarinros]

yes, and gd-generated gradients too, but it's still experimental, if you want to try and look the code you can download it from: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2124047/tinyfier_beta.rar

[kepten]

wow, it looks great! can you put it to github so I (and others) can fork it?

[javiermarinros]

Sure, you have it in https://github.com/javiermarinros/Tinyfier