I fairly new to responsive stuff, if you were building a template for a cms would you integrate a framework or just create a custom stylesheet? I have integrated an entire responsive framework into a cms before, I do prefer it but I'm wondering in the long run is it worth it?

I would choose a framework. I've already fused a framework into a custom CMS theme and I'm not looking back. The code is already there so it's so much simpler for you to work with than make your own, plus if you get a good one that's always being updated you can just drop in the new .css file and you get all the shiny new features

yes that's exactly what I was thinking, plus you the layout responds to any screen width not just those specified with queries.

i would also use a framework, I often use twitter bootstrap which seems quite popular at the moment, but there are loads of them which I am sure you are aware

 

Take care,

 

Leon.

I enjoy frameworks like bootstrap, though don't you find, you can only play with their recommended layouts/structures...it's not hugely open to customisation? I may be wrong, but that's just what i'm finding when i'm developing with it.

Maybe it's because of these constraints why many websites are starting to look similar with their massive header...then segmented content, though this isn't necessarily a bad thing, just an observation.

I used skelton on my last project but I rather regretted it when I decided to design for larger screen sizes as an afterthought. I can't really blame the framework though as it was poor planning on my part.

In my opinion HTML frameworks are as flexible as you want them to be, they are only HTML/CSS after all and you can override any functionality you like. People do tend to get sites that look very similar because they don't do any extra work to re-style ect.

 

Leon.

 

I used to use skeleton, but it's fixed pixel layout started to become restrictive. Would personally say use a percentage based grid like bootstrap/foundation.

I agree. Its fairly difficult to modify as well. Unless you're a mathmatician.

 

I've since started using my own grid system based on this article http://css-tricks.com/dont-overthink-it-grids/ which has been working quite well for me thus far. The advantage of constructing one's own grid is that there isn't any un-needed CSS. I use ems rather than pixels for the padding which makes it a bit more fluid.