AliasCSS or in short acss, is a post css processor/compiler means it lets you first define classnames in your html element then get processed to corresponig css declaration.

What it is?

With aliascss you can style your webpages using class attribute with post-define classname, for example

<h1 class="color-red font-size12px display-inline-block"> Hello world</h1>

OR, using shorthand

<h1 class="c-red fs12px dib"> Hello world</h1>

Here we have defined the color, font size, display properties of h1 element first, then aliascss will compiles and defines the classname with the corresponing property and value/s in the styles tag or stylesheets. Generally every aliascss classname hold single propery and value for it.

Getting Started

Install

NPM

npm install aliascss

CDN

<script defer src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/aliascss/build/aliascss.js"></script>

Documentation

If you know CSS then your know already Aliascss. Aliascss let you to apply css directly in the html with the help of post define classname. Let's assume we need to style our h1 element

<h1>Hello World!</h1>

Normally , we will apply style as shown below

h1{
   color:gray;
   font-size: 18px;
   }

Now , if we want same result using aliascss, then

<h1 class="c-gray fs18px">Hello World!</h1>

Or by using full semantic classname

<h1 class="color-gray font-size18px">Hello World!</h1>

Here if you look carefully the classname is doing dual responsibilty. one is defining classname and second is also defining css declaration for itself. In AliasCSS ecosystem we first use classname, then the compiler will define classname and corresponding property and value in the stylesheet/style tag. you dont have to use aliascss compiler in production.

Here are few other examples of post define classnames:-

Aliascss classnames	Short-hand	Corresponding style aplied
`display-flex`	`df`	`display:flex`
`list-style-none`	`lsn`	`list-style:none`
`margin-left20px`	`ml20px`	`margin-left:20px`
`margin-top-20px`	`mt-20px`	`margin-top:-20px`
`border1px-solid-ccc`	`b1px-s-ccc`	`border:1px solid #ccc`
`backgound-color-10p20p30p`	`bgc-10p20p30p`	`background-color:rgb(10%, 20%, 30%)`
`opacity1`	`o1`	`opacity:1`
`opacity0d5`	`o0d5`	`opacity:0.5`

There are two ways to use class name, either using shorhand e.g c-red m20px df p20p30px l-30px OR full semantic class name color-red display-flex padding20px30px left-30px

Selector and Psedu [ hover: focus: active: ]

We can also target psedu selector / element in your class name by using flags(-- or for shorhand -) e.g --hover or -h. For an example:-

<div class="bgc-cccccc --hover-bgc-yellow> Hi! i will change background color on hover</div>

Here by using --hover flag ( can be used -h shorthand flag) we are telling to use it in :hover state

Flags:-

flags	short-flag	corresponding css declaration
--active	-a	:active
--after	-af	::after
--after-hover	-afh	::after:hover
--before	-bf	::before
--before-hover	-bfh	::before:hover
--checked	-ch	:checked
--default	-de	:default
--disabled	-di	:disabled
--empty	-em	:empty
--enabled	-en	:enabled
--first-child	-fc	:first-child
--first-letter	-fl	::first-letter
--first-line	-fln	::first-line
--first-of-type	-fot	:first-of-type
--focus	-fo	:focus
--hover	-h	:hover
--hover-after	-haf	:hover::after
--hover-before	-hbf	:hover::before
--hover-target	-htg	:hover:target
--in-range	-ir	:in-range
--indeterminate	-ind	:indeterminate
--invalid	-inv	:invalid
--last-child	-lc	:last-child
--last-of-type	-lot	:last-of-type
--link	-ln	:link
--not-	-n-	:not
--nth-child-	-nc-	:nth-child
--nth-last-child-	-nlc-	:nth-last-child
--nth-last-of-type-	-nlot-	:nth-last-of-type
--nth-of-type-	-not-	:nth-of-type
--only-of-type	-oot	:only-of-type
--only-child	-oc	:only-child
--optional	-op	:optional
--out-of-range	-oor	:out-of-range
--placeholder	-ph	::placeholder
--read-only	-ro	:read-only
--read-write	-rw	:read-write
--required	-rq	:required
--root	-rt	:root
--selection	-s	::selection
--scrollbar	-sb	::-webkit-scrollbar
--scrollbar-track	-st	::-webkit-scrollbar-track
--scrollbar-thumb	-stm	::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb
--target	-tg	:target
--valid	-v	:valid
--visited	-vi	:visited

Examples

classname	shorthand	css
`--hover-display-flex`	`-h-df`	`:hover{display: flex ;}`
`--focus-list-style-none`	`-fo-lsn`	`:focus{list-style:none;}`
`--nth-child-2n-margin-left20px`	`-nc-2n-ml20px`	`:nth-child(2n){margin-left:20px ;}`

Similary , we can also tell aliascss classname to use selector by using '_' at the begining class name . eg:-

<div class="_h3-c-white _p-fs14px"" >
   <h3>Hello World</h3>
   <p> Welcome to AliasCSS </p>
</div>\

AliasCSS will compile above classnames as below:-

....

._h3-c-white h3{
   color:white ;
}
._p-fs14px p{
   font-size:14px ;
}

Selector Guide Table

Aliascss Classsname	compiled
`_div-df`	`._div-df div{..}`
`__div-df`	`._div-df > div{..}`
`___div-df`	`._div-df + div{..}`
`____div-df`	`._div-df ~ div{..}`
`_all-c-red`	`._all-c-red *{..}`

Targeting Devices [ Making Responsive ]

To target Device , we can simply add device prefix at the very begening of classname. for eg:-

<p class="xs-dn">This will not show in smmaler device</p>

or using semantic classname

<p class="xs-display-none">This will not show in smaller devices</p>

Device Guide Table

AliasCSS Device Prefix	CSS Selector
print	@media print
xs	@media (max-width : 576px)
sm	@media (min-width : 576px)
md	@media (min-width : 768px)
lg	@media (min-width : 992px)
xl	@media (min-width : 1200px)
hd	@media (min-width : 1408px)
_sm	@media (max-width : 576px)
_md	@media (max-width : 768px)
_lg	@media (max-width : 992px)
_xl	@media (max-width : 1200px)
_hd	@media (max-width : 1408px)

Any of the above prefix can be used, these prefix must be the at the begining of the classnames. Few examples:-

Define

<div class="xs-flex-direction-column">...</div>
//using shorthand <div class="xs-fdc">...</div>

Compiled

@media (max-width : 768px) {
    .mob-flex-direction-column{
            flex-direction: column ;
        }
}

Define

<div class="xs_p-flex-direction-column">...</div>
//using shorthand <div class="xs_p-fdc">...</div>

Compiled

@media (max-width : 576px) { 
    .xs_p-flex-direction-column p{
        flex-direction: column ;
    }
}

Define

<div class="tab-width500px">...</div>
//using shorthand <div class="tab-w500p">...</div>

Compiled

@media (min-width : 768px){
    .tab-width500px{
         width:500px ;
    }
}

Classname Defination Guide

Rules for defining classnames

In general every aliasCSS classnames are derived from css property and value we want to apply.i.e display-flex, color-red, wigth100px, margin-left2rem etc, similary short-hand classnames are also derived for first letter of property follwed by every first letter after '-'followed by first letter of value and evry first letter after '-' if it has any. For Example

display:flex => df or display-flex
font-weight-bold=> fwb or font-weight-bold
animation-timing-function: ease-in-out => atfeio or animation-timing-function-ease-in-out
width:100px => w100px or width100px 
width:-100px => w-100px or width-100px

if there is '-' in classname before length or numeric unit it will treated as negative value. e.g w100px => width:100px , w-100px =>width:-100px , margin100px=> margin:100px, margin-100px => margin:-110px, fs-12px => font-size:-12px; fs12px=> font-size:12px; Becarefull when using '-' before numeric value.

Repace "." with d and "%" with p, note this only appicable to numeric and length unit . "d" must be between two numeric value. i.e d5 not != .5, use 0d5 => 0.5

Acss	shorthand	Css
`margin0d75rem`	`m0d75rem`	`margin:0.75rem`
`margin-0d75rem`	`m-0d75rem`	`margin:-0.75rem`
`width50p`	`w50p`	`width:50%`
`opacity0d5`	`o0d5`	`opacity:0.5`

Length [property whose value are in length ]

Syntax:- property[-]?[value]

classname	shorthand	css	Remarks
`margin100px`	`m100px`	`margin:100px`
`margin1em`	`m1em`	`margin:1em`
`margin50p`	`m50p`	`margin:50%`	Use 'p' for %
`margin0d5rem`	`m0d5rem`	`margin:0.5rem`	use 'd' for .
`margin20px30px20px40px`	`m20px30px20px40px`	`margin:20px 30px 20px 40px`
`margin-20px30px-20px40px`	`m-20px30px-20px40px`	`margin:-20px 30px -20px 40px`
`margin-left150px`	`ml150px`	`margin-left:150px`
`border-radius15px`	br15px`	`border-radius:15px`
`max-width500px`	`xw500pc`	`max-width:500px`
`min-width300px`	`mw300p`	`min-width:300px`

Color

Color by name and Hexadecimal value

Syntax:- [color|c] - [name| hexadecimal value without #]

classname	shorthand	css
`color-red`	`c-red`	`color:red`
`color-cccccc`	`c-cccccc`	`color:#cccccc`
`color-fff`	c-fff`	`color:#fff`
`border-color-yellow`	`bc-yellow`	`border-color:yellow`
`background-color-red`	`bgc-red`	`background-color:red`

Color by rgb/rgba

syntax:[color|c]-[000-255][000-255][000-255]

or,

syntax:[color|c]-[0-100]p[0-100]p[00-100]p

RGB is represented by 3 digit [000-255] for each R G and B value, Incase of percentage 'p' should be used to represent '%'. Alpha can be represent by either decimal or percentage value, 'd' should be used in palce of ' . '.

classname	shorthand	css
`color-000000000`	`c-000000000`	`color:rgb(000,000,000)`
`color-024245100`	`c-024245100`	`color:rgb(024,245,100)`
`color-1110230450d5`	`c-1110230450d5`	`color:rgba(111,023,045,0.4)`
`border-color-11122200050p`	`bc-11122200050p`	`border-color:rgba(111,222,000,50%)`
`background-color-30p40p60p`	`bgc-30p40p60p`	`background-color:rgb(30%,40%,60%)`

Color in HSL /HSLA

Syntax [colcor|c]-[000-359][0-100]p[0-100]p

In hsl() first three digit represent Hue or h followed by percentge of 'saturation ' followed by percentage of light, optionally followed by alpha in percentage of decimal

classname	shorthand	css
`color-25050p30p`	`c-25050p30p`	`color:hsl(250,50%,30%)`
`color-25050p30p50p`	`c-25050p30p50p`	`color:hsla(250,50%,30%,50%)`
`color-11150p0p0d5`	`c-1110230450d5`	`color:hsla(111,50%,0%,0.5)`

Border | Border-Radius| Box-Shadow

`border`

classname	shorthand	css
`border1px-solid-red`	`b1px-s-red`	`border:1px solid red`
`border1px-solid-30p40p50p`	`b2px-s-30p40p50p`	`border:1px solid rgb(30%,40%,50%)`
`border-bottom2px-dashed-cccccc`	`bb2px-ds-cccccc`	`border-bottom:2px dashed #cccccc`

`border-radius`

classname	shorthand	css
`border-radius5px`	`br5px`	`border-radius:5px`
`border-radius10px5px`	`br10px5px`	`border-radius:10px 5px`
`border-radius5px10px30px4px`	`br5px10px30px4px`	`border-radius:4px 10px 30px 4px`
`border-bottom-left-radius5px60px`	`bblr5px60px`	`border-bottom-left-radius:5px 60px ;`
`border-top-right-radius6p`	`btrr6p`	`border-top-right-radius:6% ;`

`box-shadow`

classname	shorthand	css	Remarks
`box-shadow1px2px3px4px-pink`	`bxs1px2px3px4px-pink`	`box-shadow:1px 2px 3px 4px pink`
`box-shadow0px2px-000000000`	`bxs0px2px-000000000`	`box-shadow:0px 2px rgb(000,000,000)`
`box-shadow-2px-2px-cccccc`	`bxs-2px-2px-cccccc`	`box-shadow:-2px -2px #cccccc`
`box-shadow0px2px-000000000--2px5px1px-red`	`bxs0px2px-000000000----2px5px1px-red`	`box-shadow:0px 2px rgb(000,000,000),2px 5px 1px red`	Multiple Box-shadow

Fonts

classname	shorthand	css	Remarks
`font-family-serif`	`ff-serif`	`font-family:serif`
`font-family-san-serif`	`ff-san-serif`	`font-family:san-serif`
`font-family-Times_New_Roman`	`ff-Times_New_Roman`	`font-family:"Times New Roman"`	Use'_' for space
`font-family-Times_New_Roman--Times--serif`	`ff-Times_New_Roman--Times--serif`	`font-family:"Times New Roman" , Times , serif`	Multiple Fonts

Transform

classname	shorthand	css	Remarks
`transform-rotate45deg`	`tf-r45deg`	`transform:rotate(45deg)`
`transform-scale2--rotate25deg`	`tf-s2--r25deg`	`transform:scale(2) rotate(25deg)`	Multiple value
`transform-rotate45deg`	`tf-r45deg`	`transform:rotate(45deg)`
`transform-rotate3d1_-1_1_45deg`	`tf-r3d1_-1_1_45deg`	`transform:rotate3d(1, -1, 1, 45deg)`
`transform-matrix0d8_0d7_-0d8_0.866_0_0`	`tf-m0d8_0d7_-0d8_0.866_0_0`	`transform:matrix(0.8, 0.7, -0.8, 0.866, 0, 0)`
`transform-rotateX45deg`	`tf-rx45deg`	`transform:rotateX(45deg)`
`transform-rotate45deg`	`tf-r45deg`	`transform:rotate(45deg)`
`transform:-scaleX2`	`tf-sx2`	`transform:scaleX(2)`
`transform-skew45deg_-45deg`	`tf-sk45deg`	`transform:skew(45deg, -45deg)`
`transform-translate20px_10px`	`tf-t20px_10px`	`transform:translate(20px, 10px)`
`transform-rotate45deg`	`tf-r45deg`	`transform:rotate(45deg)`
`transform-rotate45deg`	`tf-r45deg`	`transform:rotate(45deg)`

Transition

classname	shorthand	css	Remarks
`transition-all0d5s`	`tn-all0d5s`	`transition:all 0.5s`
`transition-width0d35s`	`tn-width0d35s`	`transition:width 0.5s`
`transition-width-0d35s`	`tn-width-0d35s`	`transition:width 0.5s`	'-' used before numeric time unit will not taken as negative value
`transition-transform0d35s`	`tn-transform0d35s`	`transition:transform 0.35s`

Filter

classname	shorthand	css
`filter-blur4px`	`fl-b4px`	`filter:blur(4px)`
`filter-unset`	`flu`	`fliter:unset`
`filter-brightness50p--blur4px--invert50p`	`fl-br50p--b4px--i50p`	`filter:brightness( 50% ) blur( 4px ) invert( 50% )`
`filter-drop-shadow8px8px10px-gray`	`fl-ds8px8px10px-gray`	`filter:drop-shadow( 8px 8px 10px gray )`
`filter-hue-rotate40deg`	`fl-hr40deg`	`filter:hue-rotate( 40deg )`

Gradient

classname	shorthand	css
`background-linear-gradient-red-blue`	`bg-lg-red-blue`	`background:linear-gradient( red, blue )`
`background-linear-gradient-red_10p-blue_90p`	`bg-lg-red_10p-blue_20p`	`background:linear-gradient( red 10%, blue 90% )`
`background-repeating-linear-gradient-red_10p-blue_90p`	`bg-rlg-red_10p-blue_20p`	`background:repeating-linear-gradient( red 10%, blue 90% )`
`background-linear-gradient-to-right-red_10p-blue_90p`	`bg-lg-tr-red_10p-blue_90p`	`background:linear-gradient(to right, red 10%, blue 90% )`
`background-linear-gradient45deg-red_10p-blue_90p`	`bg-lg45deg-red_10p-blue_90p`	`background:linear-gradient(45deg, red 10%, blue 90% )`
`background-radial-gradient-red_10p-blue_90p`	`bg-rg-red_10p-blue_90p`	`background:radial-gradient( red 10%, blue 90% )`
`background-repeating-radial-gradient-circle-blue_5p-skyblue_23p`	`bg-rrg-circle-blue_5p-skyblue_23p`	`background:repeating-radial-gradient( circle, blue 5%, skyblue 23% )`
`background-conic-gradient-red-blue`	`bg-cg-red-blue`	`background:conic-gradient( red, blue )`

CSS Variable

classname	shorthand	css	Remarks
`color--var--name`	`c--var--name`	`color: var(--name)`
`width--var--side-bar-width`	`w--var--side-bar-width`	`width: var(--side-bar-width)`

NPM Guide

With npm version there are lots of exrta front-end / workflow feature we can use out of the box.

npm intstall aliascss

To Compiler folder from command line

npx aliascss 'public/*.html' 'public/css/acss.ccc'

output css file must be there if not it should be created manully.

Guide-npx aliascsss 'glob-patterm' 'path/to/output/style.css'

Watch for files

npx aliascss 'public/*.html' 'public/css/acss.ccc' --watch

@package.json

....
 "scripts": {
    ...
    "aliascss-build": "aliascss 'public/*.html' 'public/css/aliascss.css'",
    "aliascss-watch": "aliascss-build --watch"
  }
  ...

.aliascss.config.js

.aliascss.config.js gives you more feature and power to the workflow.

@.aliascss.config.js

Basic structure of config file

export let config= {
    //input files in glob pattern to get compiled
    input:'public/*.html',

    //Output css file , must exist or should be created manully if not exist
    output:'./public/css/acss.css',

    //Truncate the css file , you should let it true unless you know what your are doing
    truncate:true,
    	

      
	custom:{
		color:{
			'main':"rgb(12,23,45)",// now you can use bgc-main
			'theme':'#c6c6c6'

		},
		length:{
			'1cv':'25%'
		}

	},
    // predine classname and
	extend:{
		'outline-color':'color: blue',
		//now you can use it with device or seduo --hover-outline-color
	},
    //if you want to add some css statement 
	statement:`
        :root{
            --bg-color: teal;
            --outline-color:blue;
            --col-1:8.33%;
            --col-2:calc(var(--col-1)*2);
            --col-3:calc(var(--col-1)*3);
            --col-4:calc(var(--col-1)*4);
            --col-5:calc(var(--col-1)*5);
            --col-6:50%
            --col-8:calc(var(--col-1)*8);
            --col-12:100%
        }

        body{
            font-family:BlinkMacSystemFont , -apple-system , "Segoe UI" , Roboto , Oxygen , Ubuntu , Cantarell , "Fira Sans" , "Droid Sans" , "Helvetica Neue" , Helvetica , Arial , sans-serif , "Apple Color Emoji" , "Segoe UI Emoji" , "Segoe UI Symbol" , "Noto Color Emoji";
        }

	`,

	// group classname in single classname
	group:{
		'container':'p15px border1px-solid-light',
		'row':'--hover-filter-blur1px '
	},
    //if some of the classname collide with other CSS framework like bootstrap and tailwindcss
    //You wanna  tell aliasccss to ignore it...
	ignore:['fs12px', 'c-red'],


}

Now you can do,

npx aliascss --config

Watch

npx aliascss --config --watch

@package.json

....
 "scripts": {
    ...
    "aliascss-build": "aliascss --config'",
    "aliascss-watch": "aliascss --config --watch"
  }
  ...

Keywords

FAQs

What is aliascss?

Is aliascss popular?

Is aliascss well maintained?

Last updated on 10 May 2023

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Install

aliascss

Introduction

What it is?

Getting Started

Install

NPM

CDN

Documentation

Here are few other examples of post define classnames:-

Selector and Psedu [ hover: focus: active: ]

Similary , we can also tell aliascss classname to use selector by using '_' at the begining class name . eg:-

Selector Guide Table

Targeting Devices [ Making Responsive ]

Device Guide Table

Classname Defination Guide

Rules for defining classnames

Length [property whose value are in length ]

Color

Color by name and Hexadecimal value

Color by rgb/rgba

Color in HSL /HSLA

Border | Border-Radius| Box-Shadow

border

border-radius

box-shadow

Fonts

Transform

Transition

Filter

Gradient

CSS Variable

NPM Guide

Watch for files

.aliascss.config.js

Watch

Keywords

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`border`

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`box-shadow`