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Bootstrap Vue vs Bulma: What are the differences?
Introduction
Both Bootstrap Vue and Bulma are popular CSS frameworks that can be used to quickly build responsive and visually appealing websites. They have several similarities, but key differences set them apart from each other.
Customization Options: Bootstrap Vue offers a wide range of customization options, allowing developers to easily modify the appearance and functionality of their website. It provides a variety of themes, color schemes, and predefined classes that can be customized as per the project requirements. On the other hand, Bulma focuses on simplicity and minimalism, providing a smaller set of predefined styles and classes.
JavaScript Dependencies: Bootstrap Vue heavily relies on JavaScript to provide additional functionality and interactivity. It includes jQuery and Popper.js as default dependencies, which may increase the file size and loading time of the website. In contrast, Bulma is a lightweight framework that does not rely on any JavaScript dependencies, resulting in faster loading times and improved performance.
Grid System: Bootstrap Vue utilizes a powerful grid system that allows developers to easily create complex layouts by dividing the page into rows and columns. The grid system offers more flexibility with its various utility classes, such as offsetting columns and creating responsive layouts. Bulma also provides a grid system, but it follows a more simplified approach with fewer utility classes and options.
Component Library: Bootstrap Vue provides a comprehensive set of UI components, such as buttons, forms, navigation bars, and modals, which can be easily integrated into a website. These components are pre-styled and come with built-in JavaScript functionality for enhanced interactivity. On the other hand, Bulma focuses on providing a clean and minimalistic styling for basic HTML elements and does not include a large collection of predefined components.
Community and Documentation: Bootstrap Vue has a larger community and a more robust documentation compared to Bulma. It has been around for a longer time and is widely adopted by developers worldwide. The extensive documentation of Bootstrap Vue provides detailed explanations and examples for utilizing its features and components, making it easier for developers to get started and find solutions to their queries. Bulma, although it has a growing community, may have less extensive documentation and fewer resources available.
Ease of Use: Bootstrap Vue, being a more mature framework, offers a smoother learning curve for developers who are already familiar with Bootstrap. It provides consistent naming conventions and a familiar structure, making it easier for developers to transition from Bootstrap. Bulma, on the other hand, has a simpler syntax and a more intuitive class naming system, which may be easier for beginners to grasp.
In summary, Bootstrap Vue provides extensive customization options and a wide range of components, but it comes with larger file sizes and JavaScript dependencies. Bulma, on the other hand, focuses on simplicity and lightweightness, with a smaller set of customizable options and a cleaner design. The choice between the two frameworks depends on the specific project requirements and the preferences of the development team.
I'm building, from scratch, a webapp. It's going to be a dashboard to check on our apps in New Relic and update the Apdex from the webapp. I have just chosen Next.js as our framework because we use React already, and after going through the tutorial, I just loved the latest changes they have implemented.
But we have to decide on a CSS framework for the UI. I'm partial to Bulma because I love that it's all about CSS (and you can use SCSS from the start), that it's rather lightweight and that it doesn't come with JavaScript clutter. One of the things I hate about Bootstrap is that you depend on jQuery to use the JavaScript part. My boss loves UIkIt, but when I've used it in the past, I didn't like it.
What do you think we should use? Maybe you have another suggestion?
I have used bulma in several projects. We could not customize with the websites very well. Also when we need "quick solutions" Bulma is not suitable (I mean basic animations, to-top buttons, transparent navbar solutions etc. For these solutions, you need extra js codes).
Everybody knows about Bootstrap (heavy but popular).
Now we start a new project with UI kit, I like it. Pros: It is fast and lightweight and imho it has very good UI. Cons: Small community. Documentation.
Check this link for kick-off. https://github.com/zzseba78/Kick-Off
Maybe it is helpful.
Been checking out Bulma, myself, and really dig it. I like that it's a great base level jumping off point. You can get a layout going with it, pretty quickly, and then customize as you want. It definitely sounds like it's the one you're leaning towards but a big factor would be who will be using it most? Your boss, yourself, others? Whichever you like best, you'll prob be most productive with but if in the end your boss says it has to be UIkit, then best to be open-minded and give it another shot. Sometimes you may not jive with new tools in your stack, at first, but then they can become tools you learn to love. Best to you in your decision! Take care & keep safe.
I've moved away from the concept of UI kits. Not that many support CSS grid. A lot of the icons are easier to use in SVG. I've had success in the concept of design framework and design tokens. I build my brand identity in Figma, and extract in Diez. Then Diez integrates into React and SASS. Much easier because design is decoupled from software in a central authority, and software updates automatically from design changes.
Honestly - pick whatever you are the most comfortable with. You can achieve almost the same effects with different tools, so why not use something I like using?
I used UIKit and Bootstrap many times. I love Bootstrap for fast, easy layouts to web apps. Clean code, easiest and fastest way to write layouts for front end if you learned something before about Bootstrap. Now in React I use React-Boostrap too. About UIKit I can say its nice idea. It's easier than Bootstrap. This is good option for trainee developer to learn how u should create layout of your website, but for me UIKit have not enough functions. If you need to create something complicated, u have an error in your mind. You must create amazing code combinations for UIKit where in Bootstrap in the same ideas you have easy solutions.
Actually it really depends on your needs, there are 3 types of UI frameworks you can use:
-
A complete set of UI components like: https://react-bulma.dev/en/getting-started.
Pros:
Having a lot of pre-built UI components saves a lot of time
Cons:
need to learn the react framework and the bulma styles, and it's harder to customize to your needs
-
A pure css framework, like Bulma, where you write all the components yourself.
Pros:
A lot of flexibility to build the components you need
Cons:
You are bound to Bulma classes and markup.
Takes more time since you need to build the components
A utility class framework like: https://tailwindcss.com/.
Pros:
Most flexible, mix and match classes as you like and build your own markup
Very easy to customize to your needs
Cons:
Might take time to get used to and takes more time since you need to build the components
If you choose options one, then it's just a matter of deciding what style you like (material,ant, bulma) and go with the library that implements it If you go with pure css and build your own components, I can't recommend tailwind enough, I've been finding myself building entire pages without writing a single line of css.
And if later on, the designer wants to make a change to some color, or size, I just need to change one value in the config file, and the entire app is updated.
Pros of Bootstrap Vue
- Vue9
- Open Source8
- ARIA Accessibility out of the box4
- Maintained4
- Not tied to jQuery3
- Easily themable3
- Customizable via SASS variables3
- Bootstrap v4.x3
- Nuxt.js Integration3
- Active development3
Pros of Bulma
- Easy setup12
- Easy-to-customize the sass build6
- Community-created themes6
- Responsive5
- Great docs5
- Easy to learn and use4
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Cons of Bootstrap Vue
Cons of Bulma
- Not yet supporting Vue 32