Hello Richard,

I am really sorry for the delay of this reply as it is a weekend for us here. Our extension should work with any Joomla template framework (Although, it's my preference that I don't really like any template frameworks at all. Just adds more complexity to what is already complex)

Thank you Mark,

I am heading in that direction as well to be honest, as Joomla 3.2 has enough solid features, Stackideas products more than compensate for not using K2 and I want a site that is light, fast to load and easy to adjust.

If I look at the components I will be using so far (EasyBlog, EasyDiscuss, Komento, EasySocial, AcyMailing, AkeebaSubs, Invitex, Social Ads, JGive, Mijoshop, Cometchat/unless in house Stackideas chat), not using a framework to reduce load/complexity and running with a template on Bootstrap 2.3.2 or 3 seems the way to go.

I thought it would be easy to identify a template suitable for a community driven website on Joomla 3 with adequate support but it is proving to be a nightmare (perhaps I am too fussy.....).

I will take a look at the non-framework templates and if anyone has suggestions, they will be appreciated!

Hey Richard,
I won't lie and I will be honest with you. Nowadays finding a template that is non-framework based is tough. I've used the Helix II framework for themes that we've gotten custom made and I must say JoomlaMan beats the competition flat out. Their templates are optimized and are using the latest framework technologies to keep everything running fast and efficient. I've honestly found the Helix II framework to help redue on server load times as all jQuery files can be loaded on their CDN instead of based off hosting it yourself.

Thank you Humza, I appreciate the advice and yes, searching for non-framework templates with good support is a difficult process, so Joomlaman has moved to the top of the 'alternative list' to Joomlart/T3v3.

I am using Siteground and Cloudflare for the Joomla upgrade of our old static site but will certainly look at their CDN as well.

If only quality of product and support were like Stackideas everywhere in Joomlaworld it would be much easier to pick a suitable template........

Hey Richard,
No problem! I'm glad I could help. we've used the T3 framework and looked at others but they all had issues. Unlike JoomlaMan, their si no other company out there that has provided Top of the line support with a team that's willing to help and with constant updates to their themes.

We're using the JM Consilium template for our site and I've already asked JM to look into it. It would be nice though if Mark can message the JoomlaMan Dev team to start working on their current templates and porting them over to EasySocial.

Humza, is JM Consilium widescreen on the whole site and ok for Joomla 3.2?

Heya Richard,
It's widescreen so it fills your whole web browser. And i think it should be considering the last update thye made to theme was November 12.

Perfect Humza, I will try it out later today.

One final question, I assume I can install Helix II, Consilium, JM modules on Joomla 3.2 with T3v3 framework still installed while I try Helix II out?

You can try it but I can't guarantee if their willl be a clean install :P Soemtimes you can end up with Framework conflicts and oh boyyyyy that becomes a big mess D:

Cheers Humza, thank you for your help and I will ask them to speed up plans for an EasySocial specific template and integration of their other designs.

Thanks for sharing Humza

An interesting alternative......................

I was going through the Joomlart/T3v3 site I used to test/update everything before switching to a final 'live' template and over time, by a process of elimination, I no longer actually use any of their modules/plugins (apart from the framework itself), only Stackideas components/modules/plugins and everything sits/works perfectly on all devices with ProtoStar in (fluid) widescreen and no additional template framework.

A bit of extra design coding for header, footer and the home page on a copy of Protostar should finish it.

It loads faster too, am I missing something? Humza, Mark?

Hey Richard,
The reason why ProtoStar is a faster template is because Joomla's initial coding theme was Protostar. It uses basic and minimal CSS and HTML rules which abide to current standards. However, the only thing about Protostar is that because it's minimal, you would have to spend a lot of time coding and reworking the theme yourself. Using a framework has one benefit, and that benefit is that it gives you the tools you need to create a more powerful theme using jQuery and other tools, which are already hard coded into the framework documentation

If I was to go with a template I would go with Joomlaman since they've done a lot of work to optimize and give a better image to their name unlike Joomlart (No offense guys but your themes at times do load quite slowly :/. I still love you though ) The JM themes have a better feature set and a strong reputation in the business with the idea of speed and usability at mind.

Regards,
Humza

Cheers Humza, understood, appreciate the help!

Thanks for sharing Humza By the way, I still think that template clubs should stop running their own template framework because it really is slowing down the site quite a bit especially with the caching / gzip mechanism. I have seen a couple of site that runs on a few templates (I don't want to name them here) but it's almost impossible to load the site as there are just too many stuffs running on the back end (PHP end) and it eventually slows the whole site out.

Ideally, a template should just be a template and load only pure css / js or if there is a need to cache the css / js a compressor. That should just be it Perhaps Joomla should figure out on the "framework" part because if Joomla includes a template framework of its own, none of this issue would happen

I agree 100% Mark, it doesn't matter how many wonderful features a site has if it is so slow to load nobody ever sees it...................

Yep, absolutely right

I decided to take a 2 way approach on the move away from Joomlart and T3v3 (stop messing about with non core activities and focus on prompt - not 48 hour min - support with solutions, modules up to date and fast loading practical templates guys.........) and run with JoomlaMan but also develop in house with Protostar and see which works out the best option.

I will post here with the result when everything is finished and there is a winner.

Thanks for updating

Hey Richard,
Are you a PHP developer by any chance? :P My company is looking for voluntary PHP developers.

Hi Humza,

Afraid not, self taught html/css with a bit of other coding to allow me to design/adjust 'in house'.

Hey Richard,
Thanks for your assistance. :P We need PHP Developers who can do voluntary work D: If anyone here reads this post can you email me at webmaster@sparksocial.me :/ It's kind of urgent and we've had no luck/

Mark said:

Ideally, a template should just be a template and load only pure css / js or if there is a need to cache the css / js a compressor. That should just be it Perhaps Joomla should figure out on the "framework" part because if Joomla includes a template framework of its own, none of this issue would happen

A thought for you to consider 'down the line' when you have all your products integrated on one platform (or possibly as a parallel project so it does not interfere with core business):

Stackideas is not a template provider but can add value to the core business and also expand brand awareness by producing 1 non-framework template (call it Stackideas) based on (for example) Protostar and optimised for SEO, load speed, layout and interaction of all your products.

It becomes your 'in house' showpiece template for all your products but the 'Stackideas template' (as it would be called) could also be sold as another product within your portfolio.

The mix of template/component/modules/plugins allows great flexibility in developing the business in whatever direction you wish to take it, but selling the Stackideas template allows you keep the brand name in view even if none of your other products are used by whoever purchases it.

You could also give the template away as a marketing cost/promotion to increase brand awareness because if people use your Stackideas template they are probably going to come back to you looking for some software to use on it.

If you base it on the Joomla core it also make it different (not another framework), faster and does not directly compete with other members of the Joomla template community.

Anyway, just something for you to consider for the future, obviously continue to do whatever you feel is the right path to take for what is already a top quality business.

Thanks for the heads up on this Richard