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2021.2
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  1. Language and framework-specific guidelines
  2. Style Sheets
  3. Sass, Less, and SCSS

Sass, Less, and SCSS

Last modified: 20 October 2021

Required plugins:

Less or Sass  -  The plugin is bundled with CLion and enabled by default.

File Watchers  -  Install the plugin on the Settings/Preferences | Plugins page, tab Marketplace.

CLion integrates with compilers that translate Sass, Less, and SCSS code into CSS. To use a compiler in CLion, you need to configure it as a File Watcher based on the relevant predefined template.

tip

You can also use the compiler from the command line or configure it as a third-party tool, see Configuring Third-Party Tools for details.

Before you start

Installing Sass/SCSS

You can also install the sass package on the Node.js and NPM page as described in npm, pnpm, and Yarn.

Installing Less

You can also install the less package on the Node.js and NPM page as described in npm, pnpm, and Yarn.

Compiling your code into CSS

To compile your code automatically, you need to configure a Sass, Less, or SCSS File Watcher which will track changes to your files and run the compiler.

When you open a file, CLion checks whether an applicable File Watcher is available in the current project. If such File Watcher is configured but disabled, CLion displays a popup that informs you about the configured File Watcher and suggests to enable it.

If an applicable File Watcher is configured and enabled in the current project, CLion starts the compiler automatically upon the event specified in the New Watcher dialog.

  • If the Auto-save edited files to trigger the watcher checkbox is selected, the File Watcher is invoked as soon as any changes are made to the source code.

  • If the Auto-save edited files to trigger the watcher checkbox is cleared, the File Watcher is started upon save (File | Save All, Ctrl+S) or when you move focus from CLion (upon frame deactivation).

Learn more from File Watchers.

CLion creates a separate file with the generated output. The file has the name of the source Sass, Less, or SCSS file and the extension .css. The location of the generated files is defined in the Output paths to refresh field of the New Watcher dialog. However, in the Project Tree, they are shown under the source file which is now displayed as a node.

Create a File Watcher

  1. In the Settings/Preferences dialog Ctrl+Alt+S, click File Watchers under Tools. The File Watchers page that opens shows the list of already configured File Watchers.

  2. Click Add button or press Alt+Insert. Depending on the tool you are going to use, choose the Less, Sass, or SCSS predefined template from the list.

  3. In the Program field, specify the path to the compiler archive depending on the chosen predefined template.

    • lessc for Less.

    • sass for Sass/SCSS.

    If you followed the standard installation procedure with npm, CLion locates the required files itself and fills in the field automatically. Otherwise, type the path manually or click the Browse button and choose the file location in the dialog that opens.

  4. Proceed as described in File Watchers.

Configuring syntax highlighting

You can configure Less/Sass/SCSS-aware syntax highlighting according to your preferences and habits.

See also

Procedures

Reference

External Links