So I’ve used both Bootstrap and Foundation on a regular basis. Both frameworks are easy to work with and offer both real assistance and flexibility when building websites. But I’ve been looking around for a lighter grid system and this weekend, I’ve enjoyed experimenting with the Responsive Grid System.
It’s a grid system as opposed to a full blown frameworks which are packed with all kinds of features to help you build your website. Although the newer versions of the big frameworks are smaller in size, and far removed from the bloated files of years gone by, it is nice to trust a grid system which can be used for apps and relatively simple landing pages. The Responsive Grid System offers the option of choosing how many columns you wish to use, it’s totally fluid, offers a range of inbuilt breakpoints and there is not a steep learning curve when learning the small number of classes which are employed. It doesn’t offer any custom HTML and CSS components or any jQuery plugins. There aren’t any code snippets and I doubt a team of developers working together on a project would consider using such a grid system.
The claim that using a grid layout stifles creativity is one which confuses me. I simply see the Responsive Grid System as an aid to streamline the building of sites and help to simplify the design process. I’m forever mindful of ensuring my sites have a well defined layout, making it easier for the reader to navigate through the links. With the use of an array of jQuery plugins which are available to use in conjunction with my grid, I aim to ensure the visitor to my site can quickly find a path to the information they are looking for.
I’m building a website now and will post the code on my github page next week.