# Less

- **Canonical URI:** https://www.vioscale.ai/software/less
- **Category:** JavaScript Tooling
- **Homepage:** https://lesscss.org
- **Also known as:** less
- **Profile claimed by vendor:** no
- **Last updated:** 2026-08-26T19:33:40.202Z

## Vioscale score

**60.3 / 100**, confidence 21% (low). Computed 2026-09-01. _(updating — computed under an earlier model version or past its freshness window.)_

Composite of weighted, independently-sourced signals (no user reviews, no vendor payment).

| Signal | Score | Weight | Contribution | Evidence present |
|---|--:|--:|--:|:--:|
| capabilities | 0 | 0.07844444444444446 | 0 | - |
| repo_stars | 79.8 | 0.026 | 2.1 | ✓ |
| integrations | 0 | 0.07033333333333334 | 0 | - |
| dependent_projects | 99.6 | 0.063 | 6.3 | ✓ |
| dev_activity | 22 | 0.094 | 2.1 | ✓ |
| release_cadence | 77.2 | 0.052 | 4 | ✓ |
| security_posture | 0 | 0.073 | 0 | - |
| package_downloads | 0 | 0.136 | 0 | - |
| security_score | 54 | 0.042 | 2.3 | ✓ |
| community_qa_activity | 0 | 0.063 | 0 | - |

## Pricing

_As of 2026-08-22, [verify at source](https://lesscss.org). Independently observed._

Open source · Free tier

## About

Less is a dynamic stylesheet language that extends CSS with variables, mixins, functions, nesting, and mathematical operations, compiling to standard CSS for web projects.

_Independently observed._

## Platform & deployment

- **Platforms:** CLI, Web
- **Deployment:** Self-hosted

## Release history

| Version | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| [v5.0.0-alpha.1](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v5.0.0-alpha.1) | 2026-08-13 | prerelease |
| [v4.9.0](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.9.0) | 2026-08-13 | stable |
| [v4.8.1](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.8.1) | 2026-07-27 | stable |
| [v4.8.0](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.8.0) | 2026-07-22 | stable |
| [v4.7.0](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.7.0) | 2026-07-18 | stable |
| [v4.6.7](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.6.7) | 2026-06-22 | stable |
| [v4.6.6](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.6.6) | 2026-06-14 | stable |
| [v4.6.5](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.6.5) | 2026-06-13 | stable |
| [v4.6.3](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.6.3) | 2026-03-11 | stable |
| [v4.6.0](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.6.0) | 2026-03-10 | stable |
| [v4.5.1](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.5.1) | 2026-01-11 | stable |
| [v4.4.2](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.4.2) | 2025-10-06 | stable |
| [v4.4.1](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.4.1) | 2025-08-25 | stable |
| [v4.4.0](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.4.0) | 2025-07-16 | stable |
| [v4.3.0](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases/tag/v4.3.0) | 2025-04-08 | stable |

_… and 5 earlier release(s)._

## Security & compliance


Known vulnerabilities: 0 (0 in the last 12 months) ([source](https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=less&per_page=100)). A count reflects scale and disclosure, not quality.

## Facts

Every value below carries its source and our confidence. Facts are re-crawled on a freshness schedule.

### pricing

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pricing.free_tier | yes | [link](https://lesscss.org) | 2026-08-22 | 60% (medium) |
| pricing.model | open_source | [link](https://lesscss.org) | 2026-08-22 | 60% (medium) |
| pricing.price_level | free | [link](https://lesscss.org) | 2026-08-22 | 60% (medium) |

### activity

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| activity.commits_last_30d | 4 | [link](https://github.com/less/less.js/pulse) | 2026-08-26 | 65% (medium) |

### adoption

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adoption.github_stars | 17,029 | [link](https://github.com/less/less.js) | 2026-08-26 | 90% (high) |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 951,165 | [link](https://packages.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/packages/lookup?repository_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fless%2Fless.js) | 2026-08-26 | 85% (high) |

### language

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| language.primary | JavaScript | [link](https://github.com/less/less.js) | 2026-08-26 | 90% (high) |

### license

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| license.spdx | Apache-2.0 | [link](https://github.com/less/less.js) | 2026-08-26 | 95% (high) |

### release

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| release.cadence_days | 41 | [link](https://github.com/less/less.js/releases) | 2026-08-26 | 70% (medium) |

### security

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| security.scorecard | 5.4 | [link](https://api.securityscorecards.dev/projects/github.com/less/less.js) | 2026-08-26 | 90% (high) |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=less&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | [link](https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=less&per_page=100) | 2026-08-26 | 90% (high) |

---
*Source: Vioscale (https://www.vioscale.ai/software/less). Independent, evidence-based software intelligence. Cite the canonical URI.*