Websites using Tachyons

Okay, let s break down Tachyons, covering its core purpose, potential revenue (though it s tricky for a CSS framework), alternatives, pricing (mostly free!), and customer care (community-driven).

What is Tachyons?

Tachyons is a CSS framework (or, more accurately, a functional CSS or atomic CSS framework) that focuses on creating highly reusable and composable CSS classes. Instead of writing custom CSS rules for each element, you apply pre-defined classes directly in your HTML.

• Key Principles:

  • Atomic/Functional CSS: Each class does one small thing (e.g., ma0 for margin: 0;, f3 for font-size: 1.5rem;).
  • Immutability: Classes are not meant to be overridden. You compose them together to achieve the desired styling.
  • Utility-First: You prioritize using utility classes in your HTML over writing custom CSS.
  • Responsive Design: Tachyons includes responsive modifiers (e.g., md:ma3 for margin: 1rem; on medium-sized screens).
  • Design System: Tachyons encourages the creation and use of design systems.

• Benefits (According to proponents):

  • Speed and Performance: Smaller CSS files (potentially), due to high reusability.
  • Consistency: Enforces a consistent visual language across your project.
  • Maintainability: Changes are less likely to break other parts of the site.
  • Rapid Prototyping: Quickly build layouts and components using pre-defined classes.
  • Collaboration: Easier to understand the styling applied to an element just by looking at its classes.

• Drawbacks (According to critics):

  • HTML Bloat: HTML can become verbose and harder to read due to the many classes.
  • Learning Curve: Requires a shift in mindset and learning the Tachyons class names.
  • Separation of Concerns (Debate): Some argue it violates the separation of concerns principle by mixing styling into the HTML. (Proponents argue it s a different kind of separation.)
  • Not Always Suitable: May not be the best choice for very complex or highly customized designs where a more traditional CSS approach might be more efficient.

Revenue Model (or Lack Thereof):

Tachyons is open-source and free to use. It is primarily maintained by a community of contributors. There is no official company or organization selling Tachyons licenses or subscriptions.

• Potential Indirect Revenue (Unlikely): The creator or core contributors could theoretically generate revenue through:
  • Consulting: Offering Tachyons-specific consulting services to companies.
  • Training: Providing training courses or workshops on using Tachyons effectively.
  • Premium Themes/Components: Creating and selling pre-built themes or components based on Tachyons. (This is uncommon, as the point is often to build your own).
  • Donations/Sponsorship: Accepting donations or sponsorships to support the project s development.

However, it is important to note that the Tachyons project is not focused on generating revenue. It s a community-driven effort.

Alternatives to Tachyons:

Here are some popular alternatives, categorized by their approach:

• Similar Functional/Atomic CSS Frameworks:

  • Tailwind CSS: The most popular alternative. Offers a similar utility-first approach but with more customization options and a larger ecosystem. (It is technically utility-first, not strictly atomic.)
  • Basscss: Another atomic CSS framework, similar to Tachyons.
  • ACSS: Another atomic CSS framework.

• Traditional CSS Frameworks:

  • Bootstrap: A comprehensive framework with a wide range of components and utilities.
  • Foundation: Another popular framework with a focus on accessibility and mobile-first design.
  • Materialize: A framework based on Google s Material Design.

• CSS-in-JS Solutions:

  • Styled Components (React): Allows you to write CSS directly in your JavaScript components.
  • Emotion (React, Vue, etc.): Another CSS-in-JS library with similar features.
  • JSS: A more general-purpose CSS-in-JS library that can be used with various frameworks.

• CSS Modules: A technique for scoping CSS styles locally to components.

Pricing:

• Tachyons: Free and Open Source.
• Tailwind CSS: Free and Open Source. They offer Tailwind UI, which is a set of pre-built components that you can purchase.
• Bootstrap, Foundation, Materialize: Free and Open Source.
• CSS-in-JS Libraries: Generally free and open-source, but may have costs associated with certain integrations or tooling.

Customer Care / Support:

Since Tachyons is a community-driven open-source project, there is no formal customer care department. Support is primarily provided through:

• GitHub Repository: The main Tachyons repository on GitHub is where you can:
  • Report Bugs: Submit issues if you find problems with the framework.
  • Request Features: Suggest new features or improvements.
  • Contribute Code: Submit pull requests to contribute to the project.
• Community Forums/Discussions: Look for Tachyons-related discussions on:
  • Stack Overflow: Search for and ask questions tagged with tachyons .
  • Online Forums: Check for community forums or groups dedicated to functional CSS or Tachyons.
  • Social Media: Follow the Tachyons project on social media (if they have active accounts) to stay updated and engage with the community.
• Documentation: The official Tachyons documentation is the primary resource for learning how to use the framework.

In summary, Tachyons is a free, open-source functional CSS framework. Support is community-driven through GitHub, forums, and documentation.