WordPress frameworks and parent themes

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By now there is a considerable amount of WordPress code around that is meant to be re-used by other developers. Unfortunately there is little to none practical and solid information on it and generally you are stuck going through frameworks one by one until you find the first you like or think they all suck terribly (whichever comes first).

Let’s make community writeup on which frameworks and parent themes we really use and why.

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Please include:

  • purpose (parent theme, theme framework, helper code, etc)
  • strong features (which make it interesting and useful)
  • downsides (what it does inconveniently or different from usual)
  • licensing and pricing (if not free)
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11 comments

  1. Hybrid

    Theme Hybrid, developed by Justin Tadlock. Scope of code is primarily PHP internal functionality and front-end templates for themes.

    Interesting features:

    • code aims to minimize template edits, most of functionality can be controlled via hooks;
    • context-aware – extended body-class, dynamic context-aware hooks that allow to hook events that fire only in specific context;
    • tightly integrates with several generic and Hybrid-specific plugins from same developer;

    Issues:

    • backwards compatibility can be an issue, especially if trying to use older child theme releases with newer parent theme.

    Pricing:

    • all code is freely available, under GPLv2;
    • access to support and non-basic documentation $25/year.

    There is range of releases for different stages of development.

    Hybrid Core

    Standalone framework for developers making their own parent themes. Highly modular with most of the features loaded on demand by custom add_theme_support() calls.

    Hybrid parent theme

    Long established parent theme (earlier versions were from before standalone Core release). Includes considerable amount of ready-made templates with more available for download separately.

    Has multiple child themes available (both native and from other developers).

    Prototype parent theme

    Latest cutting edge release to show practical usage of Hybrid Core.

  2. Genesis

    Developed by StudioPress

    Purpose

    • Barebones parent theme providing mulitple sidebars; custom, configurable widgets; and a configurable multi-column display
    • Parent theme works as a highly extensible framework – the different variations in design that exist for Genesis seem endless

    Strong Features

    • Automatic updates
    • A new settings import/export feature is promised with the next version
    • Massive support community of professional designers and developers
    • Instant credibility if you’re re-distributing child themes elsewhere in the WordPress ecosystem

    Downsides

    • The theme’s expansive set of options are lumped together on one page. This makes it very difficult to find certain options and tweak your settings.

    Licensing and Pricing

    • GPL (Theme license statement does not specify a version. StudioPress FAQ links to v3).
    • framework itself costs $59.95
    • child themes run $20-$40 each on top of the framework cost
    • framework and all child themes (including future) in bulk $250

  3. Thematic

    Developed by ThemeShaper

    Purpose

    • Free, open-source, highly extensible, search-engine optimized WordPress Theme Framework

    Strong Features

    • 13 widget-ready areas
    • Grid-based layout sampels
    • Built-in styling for popular plug-ins
    • Massive support community of professional designers and developers

    Bonus Credibility

    • Third place in WPHonors 2010 for Theme Frameworks

    Licensing and Pricing

    • Free and open source

  4. Twenty Ten

    I have tried several frameworks and not liked any of them at all for heavier development. For quick stuff they are ok but all the extra stuff can make custom work a nightmare. Often the frameworks are so custom that it is like learning a new system.

    For that reason I often just use Twentyten or a similar blank slate or sandbox theme.

    Purpose

    • parent theme, bundled with WordPress

    Strong features

    • Uses the standard WordPress folder structure and template hierarchy, great for support and Codex.
    • Implements latest theme-related features.

    Downsides

    • No custom hooks or filters like you find in other frameworks

    licensing and pricing

    • Free and GPL

  5. scbFramework


    profile for scribu at WordPress, Q&A for WordPress developers and administrators

    Developed by scribu.

    Purpose

    Set of plugin development helper classes for creating forms, widgets, admin pages, database tables and more.

    Features

    • can be bundled with plugin or specified as plugin dependency
    • automatically loads latest version of itself, if multiple are present in different plugins

    Issues

    • poorly documented
    • tends to use code-generating methods for HTML, which can be inconvenient

    License GPL

  6. Canvas

    Purpose

    Advanced standalone/parent theme, uses WooFramework.

    For sketching out sites and concepts. Building a version 1 without having to do so from scratch.

    Strong features

    • I find the theme code very easy to hack for my purposes.

    • Canvas uses a lot of new HTML and CSS features in a smart way.

    Downsides

    • Not free (but free software)

    Licensing and pricing

    • Standard: $70
    • Developer (comes with PSD files): $150

  7. Headway Theme

    Developed by Headway Themes

    Purpose

    • Highly advanced parent theme with a built-in drag-and-drop visual developer (for non-coders)

    Strong Features

    • Visual layout designer
    • Built-in SEO features
    • Deep documentation and tutorial content
    • Massive support community of professional designers and developers

    Bonus Credibility

    • First place in WPHonors 2010 for Theme Frameworks

    Licensing and Pricing

    • $87 for personal sites
    • $164 for developers (use on multiple sites)
    • GPLv2 licensed

  8. Carrington

    ‘Carrington is a theme platform for WordPress from Crowd Favorite.’

    Carrington is a new (we think better) way of organizing a WordPress theme, coupled with a core framework engine that provides a bunch of exciting functionality for free, just by creating different named templates.
    — What is Carrington

    Purpose Development Framework

    Strong features Conditional based file/folder system. The idea behind the framework’s folder structure is to allow you to create templates that meet specific conditions. This way you can create smaller acute templates. For instance you could create a unique comment block for a specific user or all logged in users just by adding one new template file ( Framework Overview ).

    Carrington comes in a few different flavors, I personally like the trimmed down version Carrington JAM (Just Add Markup). Download

    Downsides In my use cases I have had no real trouble using Carrington. A possible downside maybe the requirement to stick to the framework’s required code conventions.

    As a program developer Carrington may be a little light and only offer a nice way to organize your templates. For designers, Carrington removes the need to dive into PHP and create template conditions. If you are neither programmer nor designer then you will need something like Carrington Build which allows you to create drag and drop layouts. Which I have not tried and is not free.

    Licensing and pricing Carrington is free, GPLv2

  9. Thesis Theme Framework

    The Thesis Theme framework is a premium template system for WordPress that is designed to serve as the rock-solid foundation beneath any kind of website.

    Features (And i quote):

    • Thesis option panels
    • Unique designs
    • revolutionary layout generator (with 1, 2, and 3-column layout combinations)
    • pinpoint font controls

    Additional Features

    • Built in SEO features like custom titles and custom META for pages and posts
    • Active online forum available to all registered users

    Pricing

    • Personal Option (single website) $87
    • Developer’s Option (unlimited for own websites, access to betas, additional deployment tools) $164

  10. SWIFT

    On my private blog i use : http://swiftthemes.com/

    purpose: standalone theme but child themes are supported with demo childtheme Kill Bill theme included

    strong features:

    • out of the box it includes a real handy template adjustable in the end user menu system
    • nice friendly creater and user community
    • its easy to understand and easy hackable which a lot of people do
    • it’s “different” than the rest in terms of setup and “commercial approach” thats why i like it
    • lots of updates

    not so strong:

    • there is probably still a lot to develop in it to align with all wp standards (but actually that is the nice thing)

    pricing:

    • Personal License $47
    • Developer License $84

  11. Starkers

    Starkers is a bare-bones WordPress theme created to act as a starting point for the theme designer.

    Purpose: A great starting point for any WP theme. It containings all the basic template tags you need to create a theme without any unnecessary markup / images / js. In my opinion one of the best themes to use when learning to develop for WP

    Features: All non-semantic, presentational class names (e.g: class=“center”, class=“alignleft”) have been removed; all non-semantic, presentational HTML elements (e.g: hr, br) have been removed.

    Browser defaults have also been reset in the stylesheet (based on the YUI Reset) to provide a true “clean slate”.

    Downsides: Essentially this is a theme to build on, therefore you need to be proficient enough in HTML/CSS to implement a design around the theme from scratch.

    Licensing and pricing: GPLv2 ( assumed, it being Twenty Ten derivative )