CSS frameworks are pre-prepared libraries that are meant to be used as a base for starting a project. They contain a set of CSS styles, components, and sometimes JavaScript functionality that can be used to create a website or web application quickly and efficiently. These frameworks provide a consistent design and layout, making it easier for developers to build responsive and visually appealing interfaces without having to write all the styles from scratch. Examples include Bootstrap, Foundation, and Tailwind CSS. daisyUI is a plugin for Tailwind CSS that adds a set of pre-designed components, making it easier to build user interfaces quickly. tailwindcss is a utility-first CSS framework that provides low-level utility classes to build custom designs without leaving your HTML. windicss is a next-generation utility-first CSS framework that focuses on performance and on-demand generation of styles, making it faster and more efficient than traditional frameworks.
Npm Package Weekly Downloads Trend
3 Years
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
tailwindcss
27,426,838
91,095
745 kB
64
11 days ago
MIT
daisyui
512,692
39,360
2.41 MB
16
2 days ago
MIT
windicss
34,143
6,540
2.29 MB
226
-
MIT
Feature Comparison: tailwindcss vs daisyui vs windicss
Design Approach
tailwindcss:
tailwindcss promotes a utility-first approach, encouraging developers to create designs directly in their markup using small, reusable classes.
daisyui:
daisyUI extends Tailwind CSS by providing a set of customizable components, allowing developers to maintain design consistency while saving time on UI development.
windicss:
windicss also follows a utility-first approach but optimizes it by generating only the styles that are used in your HTML, leading to smaller CSS files.
Customization
tailwindcss:
tailwindcss is designed for customization, allowing developers to configure the framework to fit their design system, including colors, spacing, and more.
daisyui:
daisyUI components are built on top of Tailwind CSS, making them highly customizable through Tailwind's configuration, while also allowing for theme customization.
windicss:
windicss offers extensive customization options, including the ability to define your own utilities, components, and themes, while also supporting dynamic class generation.
Performance
tailwindcss:
tailwindcss is performance-friendly, especially when used with PurgeCSS to remove unused styles, resulting in a small final CSS file.
daisyui:
daisyUI adds minimal overhead to your project since it is built on Tailwind CSS. However, the performance depends on how many components you use and how you configure them.
windicss:
windicss is designed for performance, with on-demand style generation that ensures only the necessary styles are included, reducing the CSS size significantly.
Community and Ecosystem
tailwindcss:
tailwindcss has a large and active community, with a rich ecosystem of plugins, themes, and resources that enhance its functionality and usability.
daisyui:
daisyUI has a growing community and ecosystem, benefiting from the popularity of Tailwind CSS and encouraging contributions and third-party integrations.
windicss:
windicss is gaining popularity for its innovative approach, and its community is rapidly growing, with increasing contributions and resources.
Ease of Use: Code Examples
tailwindcss:
tailwindcss requires more effort to build components from scratch using utility classes, but it offers unparalleled flexibility. Example:
Choose tailwindcss if you want complete control over your design and are willing to build your components using utility classes.
daisyui:
Choose daisyUI if you are already using Tailwind CSS and want to speed up your development with pre-designed components that are easy to customize.
windicss:
Choose windicss if you need a highly performant utility-first framework that generates styles on-demand, reducing the final CSS size.
Popular Comparisons
Similar Npm Packages to tailwindcss
tailwindcss is a utility-first CSS framework that allows developers to create custom designs without having to leave their HTML. Unlike traditional CSS frameworks that come with predefined components, Tailwind CSS provides low-level utility classes that can be composed to build any design directly in your markup. This approach promotes a more efficient workflow and encourages the creation of unique designs tailored to specific project needs. Tailwind CSS is particularly popular among developers who appreciate flexibility and customization in their styling process.
However, there are several alternatives to Tailwind CSS that also provide robust solutions for styling web applications:
bootstrap is one of the most popular front-end frameworks for developing responsive and mobile-first websites. It comes with a comprehensive set of pre-designed components and utilities, making it easy to create visually appealing layouts quickly. Bootstrap is ideal for developers who prefer a more structured approach to styling and want to leverage its extensive library of components for rapid development.
bulma is a modern CSS framework based on Flexbox. It offers a clean and minimalistic design with a set of responsive components. Bulma is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it a great choice for developers who want a straightforward framework without the overhead of JavaScript components. Its class-based structure allows for easy customization while maintaining a consistent design.
materialize-css is a front-end framework based on Material Design principles developed by Google. It provides a set of responsive components and styles that adhere to Material Design guidelines, making it suitable for developers looking to create applications with a modern and cohesive look. Materialize CSS is particularly useful for projects that aim to provide a user experience consistent with Google's design philosophy.
purecss is a minimalistic CSS framework that provides a set of small, responsive CSS modules. It is designed to be lightweight and easy to integrate into any project without adding unnecessary bloat. Pure CSS is ideal for developers who want a simple solution for styling without the overhead of a larger framework.
tachyons is another utility-first CSS framework that emphasizes speed and performance. It provides a set of small, composable classes that can be combined to create responsive layouts. Tachyons is similar to Tailwind CSS in its utility-first approach but is designed to be even more lightweight and focused on performance.
daisyui is a component library that extends Tailwind CSS by providing a set of pre-designed components that are easy to use and customize. It allows developers to quickly build user interfaces without having to design components from scratch. With daisyui, you can leverage the utility-first approach of Tailwind CSS while benefiting from a collection of ready-to-use components, making it an excellent choice for rapid development and prototyping.
While daisyui offers a convenient way to build UI components, there are other libraries that can serve as alternatives:
tailwindcss is a utility-first CSS framework that provides low-level utility classes to help developers build custom designs without having to leave their HTML. It encourages a different approach to styling by allowing developers to compose styles directly in their markup, promoting a more efficient workflow. Tailwind CSS is highly customizable, making it suitable for projects of all sizes. If you prefer to have complete control over your design and want to create a unique look for your application, Tailwind CSS is the go-to choice.
windicss is a utility-first CSS framework that is similar to Tailwind CSS but focuses on performance and speed. It offers on-demand utility generation, which means it only generates the CSS classes that are actually used in your project. This can lead to smaller file sizes and faster load times. Windicss is particularly beneficial for larger projects where performance is a key concern. If you are looking for a utility-first framework that prioritizes efficiency and speed, windicss is an excellent alternative.
windicss is a utility-first CSS framework designed for rapid UI development. It is inspired by Tailwind CSS but aims to provide a more optimized and faster approach to styling applications. Windicss generates styles on-demand, which means it only includes the CSS classes that are actually used in your project, leading to smaller bundle sizes and improved performance. This makes it an excellent choice for developers who want the benefits of utility-first styling without the overhead typically associated with larger CSS frameworks.
While Windicss has its unique advantages, there are alternatives in the utility-first CSS ecosystem that developers might consider:
tailwindcss is the most popular utility-first CSS framework and serves as the foundation for many modern web applications. It provides a comprehensive set of utility classes that can be composed to build custom designs without leaving your HTML. Tailwind CSS emphasizes a mobile-first approach and offers extensive customization options through its configuration file. If you're looking for a well-established framework with a large community and extensive documentation, Tailwind CSS is a solid choice.
twind is a smaller and more lightweight alternative to Tailwind CSS that also embraces the utility-first approach. Unlike Tailwind, Twind generates styles at runtime, which means it can be used in environments where CSS-in-JS is preferred. Twind is particularly useful for projects that require a minimal footprint and want to leverage the benefits of utility classes without the need for a build step. If you're looking for a flexible solution that can work seamlessly with various frameworks, Twind is worth considering.
