New template framework

Today we introduce our new framework called 'Warp'. So whats this all about? First of all since the beginning every YOOtheme template design is based on a framework. A framework provides a powerful layer you can develop a new template upon which uses all the features like CSS/JavaScript compression and JavaScript effects to create richer user experience. Overall using a framework makes it easier to create great templates which simply work in a cross-browser environment. Also our Warp template framework evolves over time because we constantly apply updates, add enhancements or introduce new features. Finally we think it's important for you guys to know that each YOOtheme template is more than just a design because there's also a lot of stuff happening inside. Further the template framework helps anyone who extends and customizes a YOOtheme template to create a individual website for a small or even large webproject.

Also with our framework we are pioneers on some trends for Joomla templates. For example: Tableless CSS design since January 07, the introduction of YOOtools in January 08, combining CSS and JavaScript in a single file with gzip compression also since January 08 and module templates since June 08.

This is a brief history of milestones of our template framework:

1. First version (starting January 07):

• Tableless design which validates to XHTML & CSS
• Flexible left column which can be left or right aligned
• Font- and a JavaScript-based width styleswitcher
• Complex menu system with split functionality, icons and active item detection
• JavaScript menus like accordion, slider, tab and fancy menu
• Morphing effects as well as lightboxes and reflections
• Display widgets like top panel, slider and carousel
• PNG fix for IE6

2. Second version (starting January 08):

• Removed hard-coded display widgets of the template to make them flexible and template independent: invention of the famous YOOtools (YOOaccordion, YOOslider, YOOcarousel, YOOdrawer, YOOscroller and many more)
• Delivering CSS and JavaScript files, each merged in one file with gzip compression
• Improved menu system to provide any kind of effects for the main menu
• Added a smooth animated drop down menu
• Optimized and cleaned up CSS & HTML framework

3. Third version (starting June 08):

• Usage of new Joomla 1.5 templating features
• New module system to provide optimized templates for each module type
• Usage of module class suffix to apply module and badge styles
• Development of many module templates which are independent of the background
• Different module proportions for each module position
• Ajax-based search results

4. Fourth version (starting January 09):

• Tableless template overrides for all Joomla core components
• Implementation of a new IE6 PNG fix
• Improved module templates (based on the new possibilities of the IE6 PNG fix)
• Optimized and cleaned up CSS & HTML framework

So many of you may think: What’s next? Yes, Warp5!

Warp5 Template Framework

All new YOOtheme template starting with July 09 will be based on the completely re-engineered Warp5 framework. We re-wrote the complete CSS/HTML and PHP. The bar is quite high, but we came up with a couple of things that'd be cool to implement in Joomla templates. Here are a few key features:

• Completely new CSS and HTML Framework
• Awesome new menu system
• Improved CSS and JS handling with gzip compression
• Enhanced module system
• and more...

Make sure to check out the new July 09 Phoenix template which is based on the new Warp5 framework. It has a lot of new features like a new awesome multi-column dropdown menu. To get some more inside informations about the new Warp5 framework take a look here. We will post some more detailed information about the new framework in the next week.