Three WordPress Frameworks to the Rescue!
Most online publishers and entrepreneurs prefer WordPress because it’s free and easy to use.It is known, to some, as the best blogging platform and content management system (CMS) on the planet with at least 17.2% of all websites use it.
“WordPress is used by 54.7% of all the websites whose content management system we know. This is 17.2% of all websites,” said W3 Techs, Web Technology Survey.
If you are using the WordPress API, theme creation involves a fairly intuitive process whereby you need to create an HMTL template then add and edit codes in the CSS stylesheet to redesign it according to your preferences.
However, there may be better way to do it. WordPress Frameworks were created to make everything easy and speed up the process of modifying the design and code in a personal theme. Here are a few suggestions to get you moving in this direction.
- Genesis
- Thesis
- Thematic
The Genesis Framework is one of the most popular premium theme frameworks available and allows you to customize WordPress sites “quickly and easily,” without requiring an advanced developer to modify the framework. Genesis includes forty turn-key designs for building professional sites and offers plugins to extend your site’s functionality.
“State of the art code and smart design architecture mean search engines clearly see your content,” said StudioPress, the creator of Genesis. “And with automatic updates, you never have to think about it again.”
Genesis Framework costs $59.95. If you want to buy a child theme plus the framework, prepare to shell out $79.95. However, if you’re undecided which one of them you should buy, avail the Pro Plus Package for $349.95 and save more than $850.
Thesis Framework is widely used by more than 37,000 websites. This is not an ordinary theme framework; powering high-profile brands such as Outspoken Media and Print Magazine blog.
Thesis provides an array of options that allows you to customize your site with unique designs without touching any code. The “revolutionary” visual template editor allows you to test various layouts, which include 3 layout combinations and font controls.
“But what makes Thesis Skins so remarkable—other than the fact that they’re built on top of our search engine optimized, fast-loading theme framework—is that they integrate seamlessly with our revolutionary Visual Design Template Editor,” said DIY Themes, the creator of the Thesis framework.
When it comes to installation, Thesis requires an FTP client and cannot be installed using the WordPress Dashboard, unlike the Genesis framework.
Thesis Framework costs $87 (Basic Thesis 2.0), which includes 12 months of upgrades. However, if you want unlimited upgrades and forum support, you’ll need $197 for the Thesis Professional.
Thematic WP Framework is highly recommended if you’re an experienced developer. It is built upon 960.gs, which helps designer’s structure and design the layouts.
Although its backend might look complex at first glance, you will realize that it’s really worth using because of its organized structure and flexible customization options.
“Thematic is a free, open-source, highly extensible, search-engine optimized WordPress Theme Framework featuring 13 widget-ready areas, grid-based layout samples, styling for popular plugins, and a whole community behind it,” said ThemeShaper. “It’s perfect for beginner bloggers and WordPress development professionals,”
Thematic WP Framework is FREE. You can download it directly from the official WordPress theme directory.