title: Why does Bootstrap include a bootstrap-theme file?
body: <p>The question is <em>similar</em> to this one: <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/18327543/how-to-use-bootstrap-theme-css-with-bootstrap-3">How to use bootstrap-theme.css with bootstrap 3?</a> but not a duplicate. I'm interacting with Bootstrap at .less level and recompiling it every time I make a change.</p>
  
  <p>As I say, I'm developing a Bootstrap theme with <code>less</code>. I'm editing bits here, changing variables there. Cutting out unused components. Putting most of my new CSS into <code>/less/theme.less</code>. At the end of it, I'm left with two css files: <code>/dist/css/bootstrap.css</code> and <code>/dist/css/bootstrap-theme</code> (Oh okay, yes... and their <code>.min.css</code> counterparts, you pedantic knowitall)</p>
  
  <p><strong>What is the point of splitting this output into two separate files?</strong> They've both deviated from the "stock" settings (just altering <code>less/variables.less</code> will do that) so isn't this a duplication of effort? Isn't this the extra request that we (developers who think they know best) are constantly telling juniors should be avoided at any cost?</p>
  
  <p>When developing custom Bootstrap themes, these are my options:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Ditch the included <code>theme.less</code> and include my alterations in the main Bootstrap build,</li>
  <li>Alter nothing in the core bootstrap build and override things in my <code>theme.less</code>,</li>
  <li>Continue what I'm doing, altering both and using two CSS files.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>What should I do and why?</p>
  
  <p>On a related note, should I not be building Bootstrap from the files that you get if you click Download Bootstrap? In hindsight these seem to be geared toward building out the Bootstrap documentation (there's a ton of Jekyll nonsense in there that I just ditch). Is there a "clean" version of Bootstrap that is for people wanting to customise Bootstrap without the documentation?</p>