sass-architecture

Sass 7-1 Architecture for Code Organization (Setup Guide)

Summary

Code organization within a software project makes it more manageable, readable, and maintainable. This GitHub repository provides the list of folders and subfiles you need to set up your Sass 7-1 architecture. In the subsequent part of this README, you'll find a guide on how to set up and compile Sass 7-1 architecture in your project.

If you prefer to watch a video demonstration instead, check out How to setup, and compile Sass 7-1 architecture to CSS in React.

Step by Step Guide

Step 1:

Install Node.js (if you already have Node installed, you can skip this step).

Step 2:

Creating your package.json. If you already have your React app setup, you do not need to create a package.json; you can simply SKIP to Step 4.

Step 3:

In your terminal, create your first file (package.json) using npm init.

You should get a message saying "you're about to install package.json", then press enter till you get back to your directory.

By now, your package.json should have already been showing in your explorer. Check to see a template like this:

{
    "name": "my-app", 
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "description": "",
    "main": "index.js",
    "scripts": {
      "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
    },
    "author": "",
    "license": "ISC"
}

Step 4:

Still in your terminal, install the dependencies with the following:

npm i node-sass concat autoprefixer npm-run-all postcss postcss-cli

Once the installation is done, check to see that your package.json has been updated to include the dependencies as shown below.

{
    "name": "recent-work", 
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "description": "",
    "main": "index.js",
    "scripts": {
      "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1",
    },
    "author": "",
    "license": "ISC",
    "dependencies": {
    "autoprefixer": "^10.4.15",
    "concat": "^1.0.3",
    "node-sass": "^9.0.0",
    "npm-run-all": "^4.1.5",
    "postcss": "^8.4.29",
    "postcss-cli": "^10.1.0"
   }
  }

Step 5:

The next step is to create some files/folders:

Step 5a:

Create a folder (SCSS), then create 1 main.scss file and the 7 folders (i.e., abstracts, base, components, layout, pages, themes, vendors). Use @import to link all your SCSS files in your 7 folders to your main.scss file.

Step 5b:

Create a folder (CSS) and create 5 CSS files in it named (main.css, additional.css, style.comp.css, style.concat.css, style.prefix.css).

Step 5c:

Link your main.css file as the stylesheet link in your index.html.

Step 6:

Back to your package.json file, customize the "scripts" by stating the path to find your "SCSS and CSS files" which we just created. The script should look similar to this:

{
    "name": "recent-work", 
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "description": "",
    "main": "index.js",
    "scripts": {
      "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1",
      "watch-sass": "node-sass scss/main.scss css/main.css --watch",
      "compile-sass": "node-sass scss/main.scss css/style.comp.css",
      "concat-css": "concat -o css/style.concat.css css/additional.css dist/style.comp.css",
      "prefix-css": "postcss --use autoprefixer -b 'last 5 versions' css/style.concat.css -o css/style.prefix.css",
      "compress-css": "node-sass css/style.prefix.css css/style.css --output-style compressed",
      "build-css": "npm-run-all compile-sass concat-css prefix-css compress-css"
    },
    "author": "",
    "license": "ISC",
    "dependencies": {
    "autoprefixer": "^10.4.15",
    "concat": "^1.0.3",
    "node-sass": "^9.0.0",
    "npm-run-all": "^4.1.5",
    "postcss": "^8.4.29",
    "postcss-cli": "^10.1.0"
   }
  }

NOTE: The pathing in each line was added according to how the SCSS and CSS Folders/files were named, so always work with what you name your folders/files.

Intermission:

If you have come this far WITHOUT encountering any errors, well done. 🎉

SETUP IS COMPLETE...

Step 7:

To test if your SCSS and CSS are working correctly/watching for changes, run the below command in your terminal:

npm run watch-sass

You should get a message indicating that the watch is active.

Step 8:

Now, once you make changes in any of your SCSS files, you would get a success message indicating the compilation.

Step 9:

When you check your main.css, you'd see all the styles you've written in your SCSS, or the ones you @imported to your main.scss compiled all-together!

CONGRATULATIONS!! 🎉

devcareer/sass-architecture