Crunch

The first and main thing you need to know about Crunch is that it is not meant for regular computer users. If you are a programmer or a developer though, then Crunch is sure to find a place in your arsenal of useful tools. What does Crunch do? Well, to put it bluntly, it allows you to edit your LESS markup, crunch it into a CSS file, and link the file in your HTML.

Crunch will run on your Windows-powered PC or on your Mac OS X-powered machine, but only if you already have Adobe AIR on it. To get started with Crunch you must download a small AIR application (close to 3MB in size), run it, and then follow the instructions presented by a simple setup wizard.

The main panel on the application’s interface invites you to create a new LESS file, create a new CSS file, or open an existing LESS file either by using the Open File dialog or by dragging and dropping a file on the interface. Here’s a nice tip: click the question mark in the lower left hand corner, click Keyboard Shortcuts, and you will be presented with a list of Windows and Mac OS X shortcuts. By using these shortcuts you will get things done faster, you will more easily access the functionality Crunch has to offer.

Crunch is a very useful LESS editor and compiler. It works with multiple platforms, it has a good looking interface, there are lots of keyboard shortcuts that you can use, it will help you come up with “some kick-ass CSS” as the developers puts it. Speaking of which, the ones who created Crunch are Matthew Dean and Matt Kump. The two don’t want you to pay for a license to use Crunch – but they do appreciate it if you could buy them a cup of coffee. So if you like Crunch, show your support and make a donation.

If you are developer, Crunch’s ease of use and wonderful functionality is sure to put a smile on your face.