What is the Blender?

The Blender is a tool that lets you mix the modules you need and leave out the ones you don’t.

Why do I have to choose?

Having the ability to choose which modules are relevant to your project means less overhead for your users, less stress for you when it comes to performance testing and fewer things that could go wrong. The fewer modules you choose, the smaller the footprint on your network, and the faster the experience for your users.

What happens if I choose the wrong module(s) or if I’ve changed my mind?

Don’t worry, The Blender has got you covered. Each module you chose will be saved into the localStorage of your browser so that when you return the same selection will be waiting for you. However, because we know that you may want to change computers or might not have used the GUI site for a while, each download comes with a unique URL that saves all of your selected modules in their versions. Just have a look at the index page included in each download.
In the case that you delete this index page or don’t have it handy, look in your CSS or JS file. Both have the URL hardcoded in the very top of the file inside a comment. Following this URL will bring you to The Blender with the very same selection of modules. You can then make adjustments and assess the impact on your project.

What benefits do I get from using The Blender?

Apart from the smaller footprint to your network, you will also be less affected by changes to modules that are not relevant to you. In the previous version of the GUI you had to install the newest version of the theme even if the changes didn’t affect the modules that you had in use.
You now also have more control over what it is that you’re downloading. You have options to include LESS or unminified JS and tap right into the guts of it all.

What if I don’t know what to choose?

That’s OK, we all start from the beginning. Try to choose as few as possible to begin with, and grow your Blend over time. We often feel like choosing everything with the intention of removing unncessary modules later on. However, this puts us at risk of forgetting to delete such modules, forcing the user to download more than what they need.
Have a look at the example pages and decide with your Designer, UXer and Developer on what you are likely to need for your project and go from there.

What’s in the download?

The zip file that you download contains, at a minimum, the production ready asset files and an index.html page with all modules installed and explained. You can choose whether you want to include LESS and/or unminified JS files. This can be handy if you want to extend on the GUI.
Remember to stay upgradable, as we may fix certain bugs which are relevant to your project. This will ensure that you don’t double up on fixes. Additionally, make sure to always use and extend files rather than directly edit.