Installing Node.js and Less and using Less to statically compile .less files

HEADS-UP for more information on how to install and/or upgrade node and npm, see Upgrade NodeJs on Ubuntu using NPM

install node.js

$ sudo apt-get install python-software-properties
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:chris-lea/node.js
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install nodejs npm

install less:

$ sudo npm install -g less

compile a less file into a css file: (statically so you can serve the .css file itself)

$ lessc styles.less > styles.css

N.B.: -x option passed to command lessc outputs the css in minified form