You've used PHP to augment styles (as have I), I've even used Twig, and have now been using LESS. Version control is no different, and you typically compile on

You've used PHP to augment styles (as have I), I've even used Twig, and have now been using LESS. Version control is no different, and you typically compile on the server before sending to the client. The LESS.js shim is for convenience, like when you're editing a site over FTP with no access to the server. CSS precompilers help DRY up your code and introduce structure. For example, no more repeating that hex value and forgetting which red is the error red vs the logo red, constantly retyping vendor prefixes, or maintaining a single gigantic stylesheet. As a PHP developer, I prefer to "refresh to see changes", which is why using Assetic is a must for compiling both CSS and JS resources.