What is Bulma?
Bulma is a free, open-source CSS framework based on Flexbox. It offers a clear and easy-to-use grid system, responsive modifiers, and a rich set of components and elements that can be fully customized.
Key Features of Bulma
- Flexbox-based: Bulma’s grid system is built with Flexbox, making it easy to create flexible and responsive layouts.
- Modular: Import only the components you need, keeping your CSS lightweight.
- Responsive: Bulma is mobile-first and provides a seamless experience across all devices.
- Rich Components: Comes with a wide range of UI components like buttons, forms, navbars, and more.
- Customizable: Variables can be customized using Sass, allowing for extensive theming and branding.
Bulma Documentation and Installation
For detailed documentation on Bulma, visit the Bulma Documentation page. Installation is straightforward and can be done via npm, yarn, or by including a CDN link in your HTML file.
npm install bulma
Or
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/bulma/0.9.3/css/bulma.min.css">
Popular Third-Party Addons for Bulma
- Bulma Extensions: A collection of extensions and components that integrate seamlessly with Bulma.
- Buefy: A library of Vue.js components based on Bulma.
What is Milligram?
Milligram is a minimalist CSS framework designed for better performance and higher productivity with fewer properties to reset. It provides a clean starting point for your web projects without any excess weight.
Key Features of Milligram
- Minimalist: Milligram is designed to be lean, with a gzipped size of only 2kb.
- Responsive: Built with a mobile-first approach, ensuring your projects are responsive out of the box.
- Grid System: Offers a simple and intuitive grid system using Flexbox.
- Typography: Focuses on typography to ensure that the content is readable on any device.
- Cross-Browser: Works consistently across different browsers.
Milligram Documentation and Installation
You can find the Milligram documentation on the Milligram Documentation page. Like Bulma, installation can be done via npm, yarn, or by adding a CDN link.
npm install milligram
Or
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/milligram/1.4.1/milligram.min.css">
Popular Third-Party Addons for Milligram
Milligram is designed to be minimal and doesn’t have as many third-party addons as Bulma. However, its simplicity allows developers to easily integrate it with other libraries or frameworks as needed.
Comparing Bulma and Milligram: Code Samples
Let’s take a look at how both frameworks handle some common web design elements. We’ll compare code samples for creating a simple layout, a navigation bar, and a button.
Grid Layout
Bulma
<div class="columns">
<div class="column is-one-third">One Third</div>
<div class="column is-two-thirds">Two Thirds</div>
</div>
Milligram
<div class="container">
<div class="row">
<div class="column column-33">One Third</div>
<div class="column column-67">Two Thirds</div>
</div>
</div>
Navigation Bar
Bulma
<nav class="navbar" role="navigation" aria-label="main navigation">
<div class="navbar-brand">
<a class="navbar-item" href="https://bulma.io">
<img src="https://bulma.io/images/bulma-logo.png" width="112" height="28">
</a>
</div>
<div class="navbar-menu">
<div class="navbar-start">
<a class="navbar-item">Home</a>
<a class="navbar-item">Documentation</a>
</div>
</div>
</nav>
Milligram
Milligram does not include predefined components like a navigation bar, so you would need to create it using the basic styles provided.
<nav>
<ul>
<li><a href="#">Home</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Documentation</a></li>
</ul>
</nav>
Button
Bulma
<button class="button is-primary">Click me</button>
Milligram
<button class="button-primary">Click me</button>
Both frameworks offer simple and intuitive syntax for creating common UI elements, but Bulma provides more out-of-the-box components, whereas Milligram keeps things minimal, leaving more room for customization.
Customization and Theming
Customization is an important aspect of choosing a CSS framework, as it allows developers to align the design with their brand’s identity.
Bulma Customization
Bulma is highly customizable thanks to its use of Sass variables. You can easily tweak the default styles by changing the values of these variables before importing Bulma into your project.
// Set your brand colors
$primary: #8e44ad;
$info: #3498db;
$success: #2ecc71;
$warning: #f1c40f;
$danger: #e74c3c;
// Import Bulma and its components
@import 'bulma';
Milligram Customization
Milligram’s minimalistic approach means there are fewer variables to customize, but you can still modify the default styles by overriding the CSS properties after you’ve included Milligram in your project.
/* Override default styles */
body {
--background: #fff;
--border: #d1d1d1;
--border-radius: 4px;
--primary-color: #9b4dca;
}
/* Import Milligram */
@import 'milligram';
Performance and Size
Performance can be a deciding factor when it comes to the user experience, especially on mobile devices or in areas with slow internet connections.
Bulma Performance
Bulma’s file size is larger compared to Milligram due to its extensive list of components and features. However, it’s still relatively lightweight and can be further reduced by importing only the necessary modules.
Milligram Performance
Milligram is one of the smallest frameworks available, with a gzipped size of just 2kb. This makes it an excellent choice for projects where performance is paramount, and minimal styling is needed.
Community and Support
A strong community and good support can be invaluable, especially when dealing with complex issues or looking for specific customizations.
Bulma Community
Bulma has a large and active community. There are many resources available, including:
- Bulma’s GitHub repository
- Bulma Extensions
- Community forums and chat rooms
Milligram Community
While smaller than Bulma’s, the Milligram community is still active and can be a helpful resource. You can connect with other users through:
- Milligram’s GitHub repository
- Community forums and discussions related to minimalistic frameworks
Conclusion
Both Bulma and Milligram have their strengths and cater to different needs. Bulma is feature-rich and offers a wide range of pre-designed components for rapid development, making it suitable for projects that require a comprehensive UI kit out of the box. On the other hand, Milligram’s minimalist nature is perfect for developers who prefer to start with a clean slate and build upon a lightweight foundation.
Ultimately, the choice between Bulma and Milligram will depend on your project’s requirements, your familiarity with the frameworks, and the level of customization you need. By considering the factors discussed in this article, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your development goals and user expectations.
Remember to explore the documentation and community resources for both frameworks to get a better understanding of what they offer and how they can fit into your workflow. Whether you choose Bulma’s rich feature set or Milligram’s minimalist approach, both frameworks are capable of producing modern, responsive, and attractive web applications.