Minimal setup to start a new BEM project

This repository contains the minimal configuration-files and folders you will need to create a BEM project from scratch.

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Installation Requirements:

• node.js

You may also consider installing bem-tools locally to your environment for ease of use, though it is not required

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Installation:

So, how easy is it to get started with BEM? Super easy.

It's as easy as...

1. ›git clone git://github.com/bem/project-stub.git
2. ›cd project-stub

3. npm install

4. ›./node_modules/bem/bin/bem server

(hint: execute the above commands in your terminal)

Now that bem server is running, check it out:

Navigate to: http://localhost:8080/desktop.bundles/index/index.html

(here, have a link: http://localhost:8080/desktop.bundles/index/index.html)

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That's it, it's that simple. Congratulations, your BEM project is already underway!

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Was that too easy?

Here's the replay... that bem server command will:

1. Install a local copy of all required dependencies from npm into the ./node_modules directory. (specifically: bem-tools)
2. Start a local bem server on port 8080.

Note:

What do we mean by "a local copy of all required dependencies"?

Well, when you run the bem make / bem server command for the first time, we install all of the required dependencies (bem-tools) to the ./node_modules directory within the local project directory. This is not the same thing as installing bem-tools locally to your environment - which, if you haven't done already, we strongly suggest that you do. This is by far the easiest, quickest way to use bem-tools in a more beautiful way.

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Usage:

Start the Server:

› ./node_modules/bem/bin/bem server

This is the ugly way to run the bem server command. If you think it's ugly too and wish for a better way keep reading...

An Easier, More Beautiful Way:

Once you have either (a) fixed your PATH environment variable, or (b) properly installed bem-tools to your local environment. You may now, more elegantly, start your bem server by running:

› bem server

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Stopping the Server:

Stopping the server is also easy:

[ctrl] + [c]

Pressing [ctrl] + [c] while the terminal is your active window will stop the server.

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Fix your PATH environment variable:

For a more permanent way to "easily" use the local-to-this-project's installation of bem-tools all you must do is ensure that the path to the bem executable (./node_modules/.bin) is included in your PATH environment variable.

> export PATH=./node_modules/.bin:$PATH

Optionally you may also add export PATH=PATH_TO_PROJECT_DIRECTORY/node_modules/.bin:$PATH to your .profile (obviously replacing PATH_TO_PROJECT_DIRECTORY with the actual path to your project)

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BEM is an abbreviation for Block-Element-Modifier. BEM is a way to write code which is easy to support and develop.

For more information about the BEM metodology check out http://bem.info.