BootStrap

Bootstrap is a free front-end framework for faster and easier web development that includes HTML and CSS based design templates for typography, forms, buttons, tables, navigation, modals, image carousels and many optional JavaScript plugins that give you the ability to easily create responsive designs*.

* Responsive Design caters for all types of computers and devices including mobile phones by beaing able to detect screen sizes and adjust accordingly.

BootStrap Themes

Bootstrap themes are packages of HTML, CSS and JavaScript code that provide styling, UI components and page layouts for you to use in a web project. In essence, they are pre-built website templates for you to adapt and build upon. They are built on top of Bootstrap and add to its feature set.

To utilize a Bootstrap theme, one needs to understand how HTML, CSS and JavaScript work together, and you should be able to edit and render HTML. Typically you will render HTML using a technology of your choosing such as ASP, PHP, Ruby, Perl, .NET, Angular, etc.

Advantages

  • Easy to use - Anybody with just basic knowledge of HTML and CSS can start using Bootstrap.
  • Responsive features - Bootstrap's responsive CSS adjusts to phones, tablets, and desktops.
  • Mobile-first style - In Bootstrap 3, mobile-first styles are part of the core framework.
  • Browser compatibility - Bootstrap is compatible with all modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge, Safari, and Opera).

Drawbacks

The drawback is that you will never be the only one to use a particular theme because there are many theme vendors selling hundreds or thousands of copies. Another drawback is that you are limited to the features that your chosen theme provides. If you find yourself in need of an uncommon component, you either need to add it yourself, or hire someone to do it for you. Some theme vendors offer customizations as an additional service.

Alternatives

If you like the concept of using a theme and templates, but lack experience with HTML, or if you just want to throw a website together quickly, then you can use a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress or Moodle, where you can get away without touching code at all. The most populat CMS are (in alphabetical order):

  • DNN - can be used on Windows servers running IIS and ASP.Net
  • Drupal - can be used with shared hosting on Linux servers running PHP and SQL.
  • Joomla - can be used with shared hosting on Linux servers running PHP and SQL.
  • Moodle - can be used with shared hosting on Linux servers running PHP and SQL.
  • WordPress - can be used with shared hosting on Linux servers running PHP and SQL.

Some web hosting services offer plans that include a CMS already installed. From there you may have a choice of theme to use.

Custom Design

While CMS are quick to install and easy to use, for some web projects they can include too many features that slow down page permformance. Also, because CMS are open source their attack surface is known to hackers and other malevolents, which is why anyone with webmaster skills custom designs their own content management system (CMS) from a basic Bootstrap bundle. This wiki is such an example, making it more secure and 3 times faster loading than any CMS.

 

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