UI Frameworks: Balancing Efficiency with Learning
22 Feb 2024
The Attraction of UI Frameworks
UI frameworks such as Bootstrap 5 are like a Swiss army knife for web developers. They contain pre-designed components (such as buttons, navigation bars, and forms), CSS utilities for layout and styling, and JavaScript plug-ins to add interactivity.
Why Not Just Stick to Raw HTML and CSS?
The argument for sticking to just raw HTML and CSS revolves around control and learning opportunities. By building everything from scratch, students can gain insight into the basic elements of web development. This approach provides unparalleled control over the look and behaviour of a website, resulting in a unique design that stands out.
Personal Experience
My web development journey began with raw HTML and CSS, providing a solid foundation in web development principles. However, the transition to Bootstrap 5 marked an important turning point. The efficiency of the framework in creating responsive designs and the availability of pre-built components allowed me to focus more on functionality and less on complex layout design. I’ve found that each framework has its strengths. the highlight of Bootstrap 5 is its extensive documentation and community support, making it easier for newcomers to get started.
Comparisons
Consider a side-by-side comparison of web pages: one made with Bootstrap 5, the other with plain HTML and CSS. The Bootstrap pages feature responsive design, interactive elements, and professional layouts, demonstrating the framework’s ability to produce modern, complex web pages. In contrast, the original HTML/CSS page, while fully functional, lacked the finesse and adaptability offered by Bootstrap.
Conclusion
For college students, the choice between using the UI framework or native HTML and CSS depends on the needs of the project, learning goals, and time constraints.The UI framework can help you build professional, responsive websites quickly, giving you more time to focus on other aspects of your project. But if you want to learn from the ground up and understand every detail of web development, then going straight to HTML and CSS is also a good option.