Which template to base on, for a new template?

[EvanGR]

Hello,

We want to create a custom fresh, clean, modern template for our business.
It has to be minimal, framework-free, and utilize the latest VM3 features.

Is there a base template/code that we can start or borrow code from?
Is the default VM3 template (whichever it is, never looked at it) up to the task?

Thanks

[GJC Web Design]

https://extensions.virtuemart.net/english/manufacturer/virtuemarttemplates

fast, clean, easy to adapt, up to date, no frameworks

Is the default VM3 template (whichever it is, never looked at it) up to the task?

nope . it is just the core tmpl files on Beez

[Studio 42]

https://extensions.virtuemart.net/english/manufacturer/virtuemarttemplates

fast, clean, easy to adapt, up to date, no frameworks

HERA : Not full responsive, but when you are not en expert, can be right but not modern
ZEUS : Modern and full responsive but a little to many scripts and css(bad pagespeed)
HORNE3 pro : is not so modern, but not so many scripts.

If you have no time and money to do your own template, this can be a choice, but you need to like the design.

[Adwans]

Hello,
Horme 3 is a nice and popular free template.
but they have finished to maintain these 3 templates (Horme, Zeus, Hera) - according to this:

Dear visitors and customers, the template club has shutdown since January 2020.
We don't sell, update or support our Joomla! templates and extensions anymore.

(from olympianthemes)

And what now, dear Horme 3 users (to which i almost joined)? Is it possible still use Horme 3 and to make all updates on one's  own?

[Jörgen]

Of course it is.

But there are no free lunches

Jörgen @ Kreativ Fotografi

[Adwans]

Dear, I would have never cared less about free lunches  Any tips how to go from J2.5 template to J3.6 template would be appreciated, though.

[Studio 42]

Dear, I would have never cared less about free lunches  Any tips how to go from J2.5 template to J3.6 template would be appreciated, though.

Some template need quick adjustment and some other using frameworks can be a pain to adjust.

[Jörgen]

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All Olympianthemes are Joomla 3, no need for a 2.5 Joomla start...

Joomla.org has probably some tutorials

Jörgen @ Kreativ Fotografi

[jenkinhill]

they have finished to maintain these 3 templates (Horme, Zeus, Hera) - according to this:

Dear visitors and customers, the template club has shutdown since January 2020.
We don't sell, update or support our Joomla! templates and extensions anymore.

Those templates are available from VM Extensions, eg https://extensions.virtuemart.net/template/templates/hera-virtuemart-template-detail

[w360]

Why avoid template frameworks? We use Gantry Framework for all new websites and don't seem to have any issues with performance.

Is it different with VirtueMart or are we just talking about margins?

[pinochico]

don't seem to have any issues with performance.

Logically - each framework loads around 1.2 - 2.4MB JS and CSS compared to a template that uses only those parts that I allow or create.

Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not seen by clients, Google or others.

You also don't have to have the right sites (5,000 users at a time and 100 orders at a time) and that's why you think you're ok.

[AH]

Exactly as Pinochio states.

For your base template, load what you need in as few calls as possible - not what someone else puts in to make it fit a wider user base.

Bloatware is often present in these framework templates and can have a major impact on user experience and Google.

https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/

[Studio 42]

Why avoid template frameworks? We use Gantry Framework for all new websites and don't seem to have any issues with performance.

Is it different with VirtueMart or are we just talking about margins?

Frameworks is not the only problem, but most time it's used to simplify the designers task with plenty of options to check, system plugins, rendering ...
And the CSS use bootstrap + template extra style.css,layout.css, inline.css with !important inside, extra fonts, extra javascripts.
So Yes most time a template made with a framework is 2 time slower then a hand made template. But f course it's not always the case.

If you know that you need 8 template positions, know your customer needs, color and design. You can save many loading time.

[diri]

When you want to have a real perfect fast site and good user experience you do not only load what you need. You should check "above the fold" to fit into 14k whenever possible as well.

Explanation is very technical but worth to spend the time to learn some network technology.

[EvanGR]

Frameworks are not needed so much nowadays. You can do responsive layouts using CSS Grid and Flexbox. I plan to go that direction in the future.