The 5 Most Popular Frontend Frameworks To Consider

Nowadays you can find several CSS front-end frameworks, picking the right framework among them is critical for the faster front end development. It can save up a lot of time digging in the styles and writing your own classes paying attention to breakpoints, compatibility and few more factors.

5. MaterializeCSS

According to the official website, “Materialize is a modern responsive front-end framework based on Material Design” inspired by Google Material Design

Materialize provides all CSS and JS components that are provided by bootstrap and foundation.

This framework similar to Bootstrap and highly useful for both small and large website projects. You can also use it to build HTML5 hybrid mobile apps with native look and feel.

Version: beta release v0.100.2

Build Tools:

• Install with npm: npm install materialize-css
• Install with Bower: bower install materialize
• Install with Atmosphere: meteor add materialize:materialize

CSS Size (Minified): 138 KB.

Pros:

• Published under the incredibly permissive MIT License
• Very opinionated about how UX elements behave and interact visually.
• Great in its slick material design that it offers out-of-the-box.
• Responsive
• Easy to use
• Great documentation.
• Packed with color palette.
• SASS Support

Cons:

• jQuery Dependent
• Doesn’t support old browsers
• Large/heavy

Website

4. Semantic UI

Semantic is a development framework that helps create beautiful, responsive layouts using human-friendly HTML.

It is loaded with tons of features and plenty of which are unique to it. It boasts support for modals, accordion elements, element dimmers, 3D transformations, and even ratings. Everything seems to run buttery smooth.

Version: 2.2.13

Build Tools:

• Install with npm: npm install semantic-ui
• Install with Bower: bower install semantic-ui
• Install with Meteor - LESS: meteor add semantic:ui

CSS Size (Minified): 553KB.

Pros

• Published under the incredibly permissive MIT License
• Very well documented
• Seems to be easier to learn/use
• A very nice implementation of buttons, modals, & progress bars
• Uses an Icon font for many of it’s features
• Has some very useful extras such as the inverted class

Cons

• No image slider
• No SASS (does have LESS)
• Framework size is heavy

Website

3. UIKIT

A lightweight and modular front-end framework for developing fast and powerful web interfaces.

UIkit 3 Beta features all the things its predecessor is loved for: Modular components, conflict-free class names, customizable LESS sources, interactive JavaScript components, an easy to use theming system and responsiveness from the ground up.

Version: 3.0.0-Beta.30

Build Tools:

• Install with npm: npm install uikit
• Install with Bower: bower install uikit

CSS Size (Minified): 250 KB

Pros

• Published under the incredibly permissive MIT License
• Very well documented
• Seems to be easier to learn/use
• Packed with Readymade Components
• Flexbox support

Cons

• No image slider

Website

2. Foundation

The most advanced responsive front-end framework in the world. Responsive design and Mobile First Approach are the two main features of foundation framework.

Version: 6

Build Tools:

• Install with npm: npm install foundation-cli
• foundation new
• Install with Bower: bower install foundation-sites
• Install with NPM: npm install foundation-sites

CSS Size (Minified): 118 KB

Pros:

• Published under the incredibly permissive MIT License
• Very well documented
• Flexbox support
• Better Grid System compared to all other frameworks

Cons:

• Not easy for novice developers
• Need heavy customization.

Website

1. Bootstrap

Bootstrap is an open source toolkit for developing with HTML, CSS, and JS. With Bootstrap you cab quickly prototype your ideas or build your entire app with their Sass variables and mixins, responsive grid system, extensive prebuilt components, and powerful plugins built on jQuery.

Version: 4.0.0 Beta

Build Tools:

• Install with npm: npm install bootstrap@4.0.0-beta
• Install with yarn: yarn add bootstrap@4.0.0-beta
• Install with Composer: composer require twbs/bootstrap:4.0.0-beta
• Install with NuGet: CSS: Install-Package bootstrap -Pre Sass: Install-Package bootstrap.sass -Pre (is only required until Bootstrap v4 has a stable release)

CSS Size (Minified): 120 KB

Pros:

• Published under the incredibly permissive MIT License
• Huge Community Base
• Very well documented
• Flexbox support
• Refactored Javascript Plugins

Cons:

• jQuery Dependent
• Need heavy customization.

Website

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