Back in college (which was just a few weeks ago), I was used to coding things from the bottom-up, usually taking endless sleepless nights stress getting things to work as soon as possible online.

Frameworks (whether CSS or something like a WordPress Theme framework) is basically a small set of files/ functions that have been created with general classes and functions to make development faster. How does it do this? By calling on the pre-made theme’s functions or classes there is no need for you to recode things again and again.

It’s only now that my financial future actually depends on the speed I get things online that I have actually started exploring frameworks, partially because my boss required I use a specific one which was SEO optimized. I’ve been using the 960 grid system for quite a while but I’ve never really used it’s css framework till recently as well. They have made my life so much easier/faster in terms of coding layouts and themes to a point that I don’t think I wanna code another wordpress template without a frame work!

The 960 grid system just one of the many css frameworks out there

Problems with using frameworks

Frameworks do have their problems however. Frameworks because they are general may contain classes and functions that you may not need however I don’t find this completely problematic. With the current trends of higher internet speeds and bigger and better hard ware, sizes are getting smaller/ faster.

Some designers and developers see frameworks as cheating or the lazy man’s way out but for me seriously, with all the deadlines you take whatever help you get. One of the best things I learned in college was learning how we filipinos call “dumiskarte” or simply finding ways because in the end time is money (or back in college time was was your college degree). There are so many ways to make your life easier so why not use it.