CSS frameworks
In the fast-paced world of web development, choosing a CSS framework can mean the difference between a smooth design and development experience or a bumpy road. Among the options available, Bulma has earned its place as a versatile and modern layout and design tool.
Let's explore what is Bulma, what are her advantages and disadvantages, Is Bulma better than Tailwind and Bootstrap? Let's see...
What is Bulma?
Bulma is an open source CSS framework designed to streamline the process of creating beautiful and responsive layouts. If you are looking for a modern and versatile CSS framework, the Bulma CSS Framework could be the solution ideal.
Its developers define it like this: "Bulma is a freeopen source** framework that provides ready-to-use frontend components that you can easily combine to create adaptable web interfaces (responsive)." (Bulma.io)
Bulma is based on the concept of column-based layout, which means we can easily create complex layouts using a flexible grid. Unlike other frameworks, Bulma focuses on a more modern and minimalist approach, using CSS flexbox for efficient content layouts and alignments.
Bulma Perks:
Let's discuss its advantages in terms of flexibility, responsiveness, and code readability.
✅ Flexibility and Personalization
Bulma offers a wide range of classes that allow her to customize every aspect of her design. This provides great flexibility without requiring excessive custom CSS writing.
✅ Integrated Responsiveness
Bulma's columnar structure and classes are designed to support responsive design from the start. You don't need to worry about adding additional classes to adapt your design to different devices.
✅ Readability and Cleanliness
The clear syntax and semantics of Bulma's classes make the code more readable and maintainable. This is especially beneficial in collaborative and long-term projects.
✅ Flexbox Support
Bulma takes advantage of the flexbox model to achieve complex designs and precise alignments, simplifying the process of creating complex designs.
Bulma's Disadvantages:
❌ Complexity in Large Projects
As projects grow in scale and complexity, using a large number of Bulma classes can increase code overhead and make maintenance more difficult.
❌ Limited Customization
Although Bulma allows for some customization, more advanced designers and developers may feel restricted in terms of creative design.
Let's compare Bulma with Tailwind and Bootstrap
Comparing Bulma with other popular CSS frameworks like Tailwind and Bootstrap can help us better understand their differences.
Bulma vs. Tailwind:
While Bulma offers a predefined CSS structure with semantic classes, Tailwind relies on generating utility classes for styling. Bulma might be better suited for those who prefer a more descriptive syntax, while Tailwind would appeal to those who value speed and extreme customization.
Bulma vs. Bootstrap:
Unlike Bootstrap, which comes with components and built-in JavaScript, Bulma focuses on offering a design system. This can make Bulma more lightweight and suitable for projects where more control over functionality is desired and custom components are preferred.
Conclusions
Bulma is an attractive option for those looking for a modern, flexbox-based CSS framework that makes it easy to create beautiful, responsive layouts. Its advantages include flexibility, readability, and flexbox support, although it could face challenges on larger projects and complexes. When compared to Tailwind and Bootstrap, it becomes apparent that Bulma falls somewhere in between, offering a balance between customization and structure.
The choice between Bulma, Tailwind and Bootstrap will depend on the specific needs and preferences of each project and development team.
Exploration and experimentation with these frameworks will allow designers and developers to make informed decisions to achieve exceptional results in their web projects.
Where to get it
You can download it from the official website bulma.io or install it using npm:
npm install bulma.