Proposal: Use @function instead

[lsycxyj]

It would be less invasive like sass's @function instead of using a scope or a prefix to define the functions.

[seven-phases-max]

Well, this would be quite burdening since then the plugin would have to parse/evaluate everything after @function till { on it's own (and either loose all of these features or implement them on its own thus turning itself in almost full-featured compiler).

But even w/o above considerations, the answer still would be "just no, sorry". (Less did not use at-rules for its own features for 8 years and I don't see any reason it should suddenly start to do that now. It's already fed enough with @ of variables. Besides there're practical reasons to not abuse at-rules - so it's actually pretty questionable which way is more invasive). So yes, abusing mixins is a hack, but it has its reasons.

[seven-phases-max]

Closing as "out of the plugin scope" (The proposal is more suitable to discuss at less/less.js#538. And @function suggestion is already there, though all the con-args remain).