Prepros: an open-source file compiler for front-end development.

Hello, dear Habrazhiteli.

This article is dedicated to the fantastic, in my opinion, open-source Prepros application, which can facilitate the workflow to many front-end developers.
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Prepros can compile files LESS, Sass, SCSS, Stylus, Jade, Slim, Coffeescript, LiveScript, Haml and Markdown, minify and merge into one JavaScript-files and that's not all.

Under the cut - a more detailed overview of the application.

Prepros features

The features of the application are listed in the project information on GitHub :

• compiling files of less, sass, scss, compass, coffeescript, stylus, jade, slim, markdown, haml and livescript;
• the application does not depend on whether the corresponding programs and libraries are installed on the system (sass, compass, etc.);
• the ability to optimize images;
• real-time browser page refresh;
• minifying and merging JavaScript files;
• tracking import directives;
• flexible settings;
• system output errors and alerts (logs);
• built-in http-server.

The creation of an http server is performed in order to view the project from various devices at the set address; With this view, LiveReload is supported - the project is updated in the browsers of all devices in real time.

Currently, there are versions of the application for Windows and MacOS, there is also an extension for Google Chrome, providing the ability to LiveReload. The plans - a similar extension for FireFox.

Interface overview

The application is made in a modern flat-style; The application can be minimized to tray, which is convenient.

The application interface is, in fact, simple and intuitive. On the left, the sidebar displays a list of your projects, the central part is assigned to the file list, on the right is a menu for working with an individual file.

Top right - the global settings menu of the application.

In the left sidebar at the bottom there is a menu for working with a project that allows you to customize the project: folders into which files of the respective types are compiled by default, parameters for creating the http server, and also switching to the image optimization menu.



For each file, you can enable / disable auto-compilation, compile manually, as well as specify compilation options.

When the auto-compile option is activated, after each file save, the program displays information about the file processing performed:

Project development and future plans

The Prepros project is quite young: the first release is dated May 1, 2013, and, despite the fact that the application is now giving the impression of a finished product, the application is actively developing, you can see the list of planned features on the project's main page on GitHub .