Source is a lightweight CSS 'micro' framework for your RapidWeaver projects. In simple terms it allows you to set up the styling for your web pages (colours, fonts etc) and provides a range of layout, utility and content 'stacks' that will let you build out complete web pages using RapidWeaver and Stacks.
Why would you choose Source?
There are already some great frameworks available for RapidWeaver/Stacks but there are a number of compelling reasons / scenarios to to use Source:
It's FREE!
That's right, it costs you nothing to get access to a framework that you can use to build great sites. Now, on top of having to buy RapidWeaver and the awesome Stacks plugin, you no longer need to also buy a framework before being able to build beautiful free form sites. (A completely optional Addon pack is also available)
It's lightweight
Source uses only the bare minimum code to set up your sites - e.g. to set up your colours and your fonts etc. If you are using another framework - and use a lot of third-party (non-framework) stacks - then you are likely adding a lot of unnecessary code and bloat to your sites! A typical framework will load over 500kb of code to every page - and that's before you even add any content! Source on the other hand loads less than 20kb! Check out our comparison chart for more info.
It's fast
Because it is lightweight, it operates really fast in Edit, Preview and Publish modes. On the published page this is key if you are chasing top scores for your page speeds / core web vitals!
It's powerful
Source comes with its own small set of stacks which are enough on their own to build amazing sites. There is also a completely optional addon pack which lets you make even more amazing sites! See what stacks are included.
It doesn't try to be all things to all people
Source is all about forming a base for your sites. It doesn't (and never will) include a Slider stack or a Gallery stack or an Accordion stack or a Tabs stack or a Contact Form stack etc etc. Source is there to let you use all of the great (non-framework dependant!) stacks that you no doubt already have in your collections - or that you will find elsewhere in this marketplace! Why is this a good approach? 2 main reasons:
- Dedicated / specialist third-party stacks are better and more flexible than any of the generic ones that you get bundled within a full framework (think of all the amazing gallery and slider stacks etc that are available)
- A full framework will load all of the code for these elements onto every page of your project - even if you are not using these things on the page. When you use Source (and any third-party stacks) only the code that is actually needed is published.
It's easy to learn
We don't leave you to figure things out on your own (though Source is simple enough if that is what you want to do). We have a host of support options available to help you at every step of the way:
- There is a complete Knowledge Base that is packed full of documentation and tutorials.
- There is FREE ACCESS to a full video course on our Academy website (find out more).
- There are countless demo / starter Source projects that are crammed with 'developer notes' that detail how (and why) things have been put together.
- And in our most popular release to date we have an ever-evolving Workbook that takes you through every single setting in every single stack and that provides countless tutorials and tips and tricks on how to build web pages using Source, RapidWeaver and Stacks!\
So there you have it! Give it a try for FREE and see what you think!
