URL for easy re-download of same custom options

[ljharb]

When I've gone through and clicked my custom set of checkboxes, and entered my custom set of CSS values, what happens when I want to update to Bootstrap 2.0.1, or if I want to redownload it because I lost the original?

What I'd like is a URL, ideally embedded in the downloaded zip as well as displayed on the webpage, that pre-selects and pre-enters the same values.

What I'm thinking for implementation is, use some reversible hashing algorithm on $('form').serialize() - maybe gzip with zip.js or something - and add that on the URL with a query param (not as part of the URL fragment, please). Then, even better, allow me to pass that query param directly to a download link so I can wget (as part of a build script or something) the updated zip file!

[ljharb]

I suppose the reversible hashing thing just makes the URLs shorter - I guess you could just make a super-long URL with all the options exposed as well, so then you could manually hack the URL.

[cstuder]

The jQuery UI Themeroller (http://jqueryui.com/themeroller/) could serve as an inspiration: It stores all settings as string parameters into the hash part of the URL and writes that URL into the generated CSS itself. This way, you can restore all the chosen settings with one click.

[ljharb]

For so many reasons, not the least of which is that you could curl without needing JS support, it would be preferable if this was a query param and NOT in the hash part of the URL.

[twentyfortysix]

or, another solution might be, what I wrote in here:
#3658 (comment)

"
...What I do is that I write the variables in to my own CSS as comment like this:
@textcolor #000
@linkColor #000
@linkColorHover #333
@sansFontFamily Nimbus, Tahoma
....

Without this memo I won't be able to go back and generate my customized bootstrap again.

My suggestion is to have a input box on the page http://twitter.github.com/bootstrap/download.html
where we can place this memo which will refill the variables.

I think the format can be simple as each variable per line, like the example above.
"
.. and even better the customizer could append these values in the bootstrap.css description (head) part in the desired format, so we can copy & paste them back to the customizer.

[ljharb]

I'm working on this - and I think a single URL would be the easiest, and would enable command-line updating as well. There's also more options than just the CSS variables.

[mckramer]

@ljharb, have you taken a look at how the customizations are currently being passed to the herokuapp for building? Line 122-148 in application.js. Seems like that would be a great place to import/export the vars.

For instance, I might be posting:

js:["bootstrap-transition.js","bootstrap-modal.js","bootstrap-dropdown.js","bootstrap-scrollspy.js","bootstrap-tab.js","bootstrap-tooltip.js"]
css:["reset.less","scaffolding.less","grid.less","layouts.less","type.less","code.less","labels-badges.less","tables.less","modals.less","dropdowns.less","accordion.less","carousel.less","wells.less","close.less","utilities.less","component-animations.less","responsive-utilities.less","responsive-767px-max.less","responsive-768px-979px.less","responsive-1200px-min.less","responsive-navbar.less"]
vars:{"@bodyBackground":"@white"}
img:["glyphicons-halflings.png","glyphicons-halflings-white.png"]

I like the idea of using the URL-based, for the purpose of command-line updates.

[apuravchauhan]

i have rolled out an app that takes care of the reload feature and provides a visual interface to see the customized theme in real time.
http://www.bootstrapthemeroller.com
It saves all the settings in the url just like jquery themeroller. Just use this url to reload all the styles whenever u want.

Let me know if i could help and contribute to the boostrap community in any other way.

[cstuder]

@apuravchauhan That's a great site. One feature request though: If I forget to bookmark the URL, I have to redo the whole theme. The jQuery themebuilder actually writes the URL into the CSS file it generates, so the settings are always kept with the custom theme.

[ljharb]

My plan is indeed to include the URL in the file, and work on it is in progress.

[apuravchauhan]

@ljharb Can you build this in an api way so that other clients could also use twitter's customization server for downloads.

Before sending out the zip file, this server would actually look for a variable in the request and if that is set it will write that url in the file.

For example:
Site XYZ is using herokuappserver to get its download by sending the request. Now your node server will look for a variable lets say "downloadUrl:'http://xyz.com/#@textColor=red'". Then it will write that else it will fall back to the usual twitter's download url.

Advantage: Other clients could use the advantage of this open source for building more apps over this server.

[jazbek]

@ljharb this is awesome, but is there some reason why all of the options aren't available? for example, right off the bat i see that the grid system options aren't on here anywhere (i.e. @gridColumns, @gridColumnWidth, etc). not sure if there are other options missing also.

[mdo]

I've closed all customizer issues here in favor of tracking in the #6342 pull request, but this one should be handled in the bootstrap-server repo as the references commits show.

[shuttj]

Was this ability ever added? If so, I can't seem to find the reference on how to do it.

[cvrebert]

@shuttj: #9951. However, when you click the "Compile and Download" button, the browser URL changes (to e.g. http://getbootstrap.com/customize/?id=7258922); visiting the URL again will reload the same settings.
Additionally, the settings & variables are now dumped to a config.json file that's included in the ZIP file.

[shuttj]

@cvrebert Thanks! Is there a way I can take it a step further and simulate clicking the "Compile and Download" button in a script to download the generated zip?

[cvrebert]

@shuttj If you're already using a build script, you might as well just build Bootstrap using Grunt.

[shuttj]

@cvrebert Grunt is nice and all, but that means I need to have Grunt (and everything required to run it) installed on all my development boxes and integration servers. It really would be nice to have an API to request a custom build from. Oh well, thanks for your help.