Smart, cross-browser CSS layout and typography
YAML stands for “Yet Another Multicolumn Layout.” The flexible CSS framework allows designers to easily build completely standards compliant, cross-browser layouts for simple to complex web sites.
Sure, we know that using CSS frameworks can be controversial, and we agree that designers who want to keep ahead of the crowd should probably just hand code. We do like one thing about the application, though. The jQuery-based YAML Builder allows a designer to quickly throw together the basic layout of a page and bypass much of the headache of hacking for Internet Explorer. You can copy and paste the HTML and CSS into your project to have effectively an insta-layout. You can choose from elastic, “flexible,” or fixed-width layouts.
If you need more than just layout, don’t worry. YAML has you covered from start to finish.
Another popular CSS framework is Blueprint. Though not as simple to get started quickly, Blueprint is well documented and has gained the support of some influential designers.
Finally, for the more advanced CSS coders, you’ll at least want to check out Tripoli. In the most basic terms, Tripoli levels the playing field browser-wise and allows you to start from a completely un-styled base with no browser style interference. It includes resets, like the one Eric Meyer has created, but it also separates typography from layout nicely giving you much easier control over typeface appearance.
Filed under: CSS
