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Bootstrap vs Bulma

When it comes to building modern, responsive websites, CSS frameworks are invaluable tools that help web developers and designers streamline their workflow and ensure consistency across different browsers and devices. Among the myriad of frameworks available today, Bootstrap and Bulma have emerged as two popular choices for developers. Both frameworks offer a range of features to build responsive layouts, but they have distinct philosophies and implementations. In this article, we will dive deep into the differences and similarities between Bootstrap and Bulma, helping you decide which framework best suits your project needs.

What is Bootstrap?

Bootstrap is arguably the most popular CSS framework in the world. Originally developed by Twitter, it has evolved into a comprehensive suite of tools for web development. Bootstrap includes a wide array of pre-styled components, JavaScript plugins, and a grid system that enables developers to create responsive and mobile-first websites efficiently.

Key Features of Bootstrap

  • Responsive Grid System: Bootstrap’s grid system uses a series of containers, rows, and columns to layout and align content. It’s based on a 12-column design and has multiple tiers for different screen sizes.
  • Pre-styled Components: It offers a vast collection of pre-styled components such as buttons, forms, navigation bars, modals, and much more.
  • JavaScript Plugins: Bootstrap comes with several jQuery-based JavaScript plugins that add dynamic features like tooltips, carousels, and popovers.
  • Customization: Bootstrap can be customized through Sass variables and mixins, or by overriding the default styles.
  • Extensive Documentation: It has comprehensive and detailed documentation that makes it easy for new users to get started and for experienced developers to find the information they need.

Installation and Documentation

Popular Third-Party Addons or Libraries

  • BootstrapVue: Integration of Bootstrap with Vue.js.
  • React-Bootstrap: Bootstrap components built with React.
  • Bootswatch: A collection of free themes for Bootstrap.

What is Bulma?

Bulma is a modern CSS framework based on Flexbox, which is newer than Bootstrap and has a focus on simplicity and elegance. It is purely a CSS framework, meaning that it doesn’t include any JavaScript. However, this can be seen as an advantage for projects that prefer to use JavaScript frameworks like Vue.js, React, or Angular without worrying about conflicting with the framework’s JavaScript.

Key Features of Bulma

  • Flexbox-based Grid System: Bulma’s grid system is built with Flexbox, making it easy to create flexible and complex layouts.
  • Modular: Import only the components you need, which can help keep the CSS file size down.
  • Responsive Modifiers: Bulma includes responsive helper classes that enable quick style changes for different breakpoints.
  • Modern Interface: Bulma’s default styling is modern and clean, which can be appealing for contemporary website designs.
  • Customization: Similar to Bootstrap, Bulma can be customized using Sass variables.

Installation and Documentation

Popular Third-Party Addons or Libraries

  • Buefy: Lightweight UI components for Vue.js based on Bulma.
  • Bulmaswatch: Free Bulma templates and themes.

Code Samples

Bootstrap Code Sample

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Bootstrap Sample</title>
  <!-- Include Bootstrap CSS -->
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.5.2/css/bootstrap.min.css">
</head>
<body>
  <div class="container">
    <div class="row">
      <div class="col-md-4">.col-md-4</div>
      <div class="col-md-4 ml-auto">.col-md-4 .ml-auto</div>
    </div>
    <div class="row">
      <div class="col-md-4 ml-auto">.col-md-4 .ml-auto</div>
      <div class="col-md-4 mr-auto">.col-md-4 .mr-auto</div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <!-- Include Bootstrap JS and Popper.js -->
  <script src="https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.5.2/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.5.2/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Bulma Code Sample

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Bulma Sample</title>
  <!-- Include Bulma CSS -->
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/bulma/0.9.1/css/bulma.min.css">
</head>
<body>
  <div class="container">
    <div class="columns">
      <div class="column is-one-third">.is-one-third</div>
      <div class="column is-one-third is-offset-one-third">.is-one-third .is-offset-one-third</div>
    </div>
    <div class="columns">
      <div class="column is-one-third is-offset-one-third">.is-one-third .is-offset-one-third</div>
      <div class="column is-one-third">.is-one-third</div>
    </div>
  </div>
</body>
</html>

In the above code samples, you can see the basic structure of a responsive layout in both Bootstrap and Bulma. Bootstrap uses a combination of rows and columns with specified screen size prefixes (e.g., col-md-4), while Bulma uses a more straightforward columns and column class structure with modifiers to control the size and offset of the columns (e.g., is-one-third and is-offset-one-third).

Responsive Design and Customization

Both Bootstrap and Bulma are designed with responsive web design in mind, but they approach it in slightly different ways.

Bootstrap Responsive Design

Bootstrap uses a mobile-first approach, where styles are designed to scale up from smaller to larger screens. Its grid system includes predefined classes for different screen sizes, allowing developers to specify how elements should resize and stack on various devices. Bootstrap also includes responsive utility classes to show or hide elements based on the screen size.

Bulma Responsive Design

Bulma’s responsive design is also based on a mobile-first approach and utilizes Flexbox, which simplifies the process of creating flexible, responsive layouts. Bulma’s grid system is more straightforward than Bootstrap’s, as it doesn’t require the developer to define sizes for multiple screen sizes explicitly. Instead, columns will automatically be 100% width on mobile and adjust to a more traditional grid as the screen size increases.

Customizing Bootstrap

Bootstrap can be customized using Sass variables, mixins, and functions before compiling the CSS. You can also override Bootstrap’s styles with your own CSS after including Bootstrap’s stylesheet. The framework’s extensive use of classes means that customization can sometimes lead to bulky CSS if not managed carefully.

Customizing Bulma

Bulma is similarly customizable through Sass. You can override the default variables or import only the features you need, which can result in a smaller final CSS file size. Because Bulma is purely CSS, without any JavaScript, developers have the freedom to use any JavaScript library or framework without worrying about conflicts.

Community and Support

The community and support around a framework can be just as important as its technical features, especially when you run into issues or need to keep up with the latest best practices.

Bootstrap Community and Support

Bootstrap has a vast and active community. Its popularity means that there are numerous resources available for learning and troubleshooting, including forums, dedicated Stack Overflow tags, and third-party tutorials. The framework is well-maintained, with frequent updates and a clear roadmap for future releases.

Bulma Community and Support

Bulma, while not as widely adopted as Bootstrap, has a growing community and is well-documented. Its GitHub repository is active, with many contributors and an engaged community that helps with issues and feature requests. Bulma’s smaller community means you might find fewer third-party resources, but the available official documentation is thorough and well-maintained.

Conclusion

Choosing between Bootstrap and Bulma ultimately depends on your project requirements and personal preferences. Bootstrap offers a more comprehensive solution out of the box, including JavaScript components for developers who want a full suite of tools. On the other hand, Bulma is an excellent choice for those who prefer a CSS-only framework that is lightweight and easy to customize.

Both frameworks have their strengths and can be the right choice in different scenarios. If you prioritize a large community and extensive pre-built components, Bootstrap might be the way to go. However, if you prefer a more modern, CSS-only approach with Flexbox and don’t need the JavaScript components, Bulma could be the better fit.

Regardless of your choice, both Bootstrap and Bulma are powerful tools that can help you create beautiful, responsive websites more efficiently. As with any tool, the best way to determine which one is right for you is to try them out in your projects and see which one aligns with your workflow and preferences.

Remember to always consider the specific needs of your project and team when choosing a CSS framework, and don’t be afraid to experiment with both to gain firsthand experience. Whether you choose Bootstrap or Bulma, you’ll be equipped with a robust set of tools to build modern, responsive web designs.

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