# Tools

### Node.js

- For more information and installing Node.js please see its page at nodejs.org
- It's optional and you don't need to use it.
  I've used it for compiling LESS files into CSS and Mustache templates into static HTML

### Less.js

- Less is a CSS pre-processor which is useful for creating and maintating large amounts of CSS code
- You can find more info about it here lesscss.org
- Almost all Ace CSS files are generated from compiling LESS files
- First you need to install less compiler via npm: `npm install -g less`
- To compile LESS files, you can run the following commands:
  `lessc ace.less path/to/ace.css`
  `lessc skins/skins.less path/to/ace-skins.css`
  For options such as compressing output, etc, you can use its help by using the following command:
  `lessc --help`
- You can also use the in-browser CSS builder tool to build a custom CSS.

### Mustache Compilers

- Ace's demo pages are mustache templates compiled into HTML
- For more info about Mustache files please see Mustache files
- PHP Mustache is used during development.
  And Javascript Mustache compiler is used for final demo output
- For more info please see the following links:
  Mustache
  Mustache.js
  Hogan.js
  PHP Mustache

### UglifyJS

- UglifyJS is a popular tool for minifying Javascript files
- It can also be used inside browser like in the Javascript builder tool
- For more info please see lisperator.net/uglifyjs/