Setting variable defaults

[guybedford]

The only previous references to this I can find is from #313.

I'm currently working on variable prepopulation as part of require-less. For example, to load an existing less stylesheet with some specific variables already set. By using variable CSS selector names and allowing the variables to be set as part of the loading, one can use the variables to allow the entire less file to act as a modular unit itself, just as a mixin is a modular unit.

In the process, it would be useful if one could define defaults for global variables in a less file, in case any expected variables are missed.

Is there something like this already?

Also, unlike in #313, it would be nice to assign the default to the variable itself so that this doesn't need to applied with each instance of use as given in the initial solution here.

I've considered some syntax examples here:

Using an operator:

  @mycolor: @mycolor || red;

Or using the guard expression system:

  @mycolor: red when not (@mycolor);

Or using a function:

  @mycolor: default(@mycolor, red);

Happy to discuss further.

[lukeapage]

Did you see #1104 ?

[guybedford]

No I didn't - this would sort it out perfectly.

[lukeapage]

well that is closed.. but if you look in the comments you'll see why it is closed and why...

[guybedford]

Thanks for following up. Ah, I think I get it - so one can define the variable again after the import and have the last defined value be the one used kind of like hoisting in JavaScript? That works just as well then if so. I've also tried to use mixins more for this sort of thing as well now anyway.