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WordPress offers a huge space for creativity and flexibility when designing and developing new websites.

Any type of website can be built on top of it: from blogs to newspapers, corporate websites to landing pages and even social networks. All you need is a theme coded to handle that functionality.

Yes, WordPress theme development. That is an easy process for experienced hands who knows the capabilities of the application and familiar with its functions and "not too hard" for others.

To simplify developing new themes, there are awesome WordPress theme frameworks and starter themes that you can use as a base for skipping the repetitive steps and begin with an optimized playground.

Here are the 34 free and good-quality ones that will save your time from searching them. And, in the bottom, you can find a comparison table for these WordPress theme frameworks.

Roots

The main power of this framework is its extremely clean WordPress code output, clean head and URLs (even for the head, CSS and JS paths).

Upon its activation, it automatically applies many useful customizations (like creating a homepage, defining the permalink structure, etc.).

Roots has 2 widget areas and it includes Blueprint CSS, 960.gs, the 1140px Grid, Adapt.js, Less Framework 4, Foundation by Zurb, and Bootstrap by Twitter.

Skeleton

It is a theme aimed at helping you build simple, uncluttered, useable, and mobile-friendly websites.

Skeleton has styling for typography and form elements + includes simple tabs and accordions.

The theme is based on and inspired from Skeleton Responsive Boilerplate, Theme Options Framework, Thematic Framework, Formalize and TwentyTen Theme.

P.S. There are also optional styles for bbPress and Jigoshop.

Bones

Bones is a theme following the mobile first approach that has a detailed + organized CSS, in-depth documentation with tutorials and details on every level.

There are 3 versions:

• classic
• responsive
• HTML version for projects

Many useful features exist including page navi, breadcrumbs, related posts and HTML5 video with fallback.

It is based on 960.gs, 320 and Up Extension, HTML5 Boilerplate.

Gantry

Gantry has a detailed admin interface with 65 base widget positions and 38 layout combinations that provide a huge space for customization.

There are lots of built-in features including the CSS and JS compression, speed-optimized codebase, several widgets and gizmos such as font-sizer, Google Analytics, to-top smooth slider, IE6 warning message, etc.

Starkers

Starkers is a completely naked  WordPress theme built to be a starting point for theme designers.

It’s a stripped-back version of the ‘Twenty Ten’ theme that is bundled with each WordPress download.

The theme is based on YUI Reset and it is totally unstyled.

Wonderflux

Wonderflux is a solid, easy to update and flexible platform you can use for any WordPress project.

It has location-aware template parts that allow you to concentrate on the content, not the code.

The framework comes with a fully dynamic CSS grid system, simple administration controls and over 100 display hooks.

Reverie

Reverie is a HTML5 WordPress framework based on ZURB's Foundation and HTML5 Boilerplate.

It can almost be used out-of-the-box. There are 2 widget areas; sidebar and footer and 2 menus (top navigation menu and footer information menu). Also works with bbPress 2.0.

Thematic

Thematic is a good option for using as-is or as a blank WordPress theme for development.

There are built-in with styles for popular plugins and many theme filters + hooks are available.

The theme has 13 widget areas + multiple layout options and it is strongly advised to use a child theme for customization.

Whiteboard

Whiteboard focuses on simplicity and includes only the core WP functionality.

it supports WordPress features such as manageable menus, background, and header image besides featured images, several widget areas, and more.

The framework uses LESS for mobile support and responsive outputs. The code is lightweight + well-commented and there is support for child themes.

Presswork

The big thing that separates this PressWork from others is its unique front-end editor.

Google fonts selector is integrated to this front-end editor to easily select your fonts. A PSD file is included to customize the design and it has 2 widget + 2 menu areas.

Constellation Theme

The Constellation theme is a great base for any WordPress-powered website.

It has the styles for creating responsive pages, has a HTML5 code and comes with a flexible grid system.

The theme is based on the HTML5 Boilerplate.

TwentyTen Five

This theme is an HTML5-powered version of the default WordPress TwentyTen theme.

It is cleanly coded, using the theme and integrating new features on it is pretty easy.

Elastic

There are several important stuff behind Elastic: a visual theme editor, a theme engine, and a set of protocols that link these two.

It aims to bring a new approach to editing and creating themes which both developers and end-users will find easy to work with.

Flexible

Flexible is a carefully-coded child theme of the default Twenty Ten theme and built-with any browser size in mind.

It has a Facebook FanGate integration and packed with Themekit (which is a plugin for plain simple customization via WordPress editor).

WP Paintbrush

WP Paintbrush comes with a built in front-end editor that enables anyone willing to quickly create a unique design for their website.

The editor has a drag 'n' drop interface for placing theme sections, comes with fixed or fluid layouts and much more.

Html5 Shell

mimoYmima has implemented an improved body tag that includes many valuable information about the page loaded.

There are smart sidebar disabling methods which could come handy, several @font-face examples and dynamic sidebar + custom template examples packaged with the framework

The code is commented clearly for easing the production process and it uses Modernizr + HTML5 reset css

Gantry is based on 960.gs.

Hybrid

This framework has many custom widget areas, widgets, hooks, shortcodes, page templates and many options to easily customize your website.

It is being improved continuously and has a community growing around it.

HTML5 Reset

This blank theme focuses on making a solid HTML5 compatible starting point for WordPress theme development.

It also has some additional features such as built-in analytics and starter CSS declarations for basic WP elements.

HTML5 Reset is based on digwp.com's Blank WordPress Theme, Modernizr and HTML5 Reset.

The Buffet

The framework has many SEO features including breadcrumbs and jQuery improvements such as comments form validation, SuperSleight for IE6, superfish menus or jBreadcrumb.

It is also compatible with many plugins and fully localized, ready for translation.

The theme includes 960.gs and Blueprint CSS.

Simon

This framework includes useful options such as free icons, typography, breadcrumbs and form designs.

There are also multiple post formats to ease theme customizations.

It has support for widgets, child themes and comes with a clean code.

Handcrafted WP

This one may not count as a framework, but it is an almost-naked starter theme with many useful features such as cleaner head code, integrated analytics, support for menus, post formats and custom post types.

The theme also has a widget-ready sidebar and dashboard.

Handcrafted WP is based on Toolbox Starter theme and HTML5 Boilerplate.

ToolBox

If you want to make your own theme and want it to be ready for HTML5, ToolBox may satisfy your needs.

It is a blank theme in plain and semantic HTML5 markup with almost no CSS.

Thematic-html5boilerplate

This is a WordPress theme using HTML5 Boilerplate and based on Thematic ToolBox (and other Thematic themes).

H5 Theme Template

H5 includes a full pack of theme files and folders with each file having all the latest WordPress functionality.

It is built with easy customization and personalization in mind and serves as a solid starting point for your next HTML-5-based theme.

Brave New World

This theme has no layout and styling except the modified version of Eric Meyer’s reset CSS and a baseline typography.

Although it is such a plain theme, it is built with HTML5, WAI-ARIA in mind and supports hCard + hAtom microformats.

1140 Fluid Starkers

This theme is the combination of Starkers + the 1140 CSS Grid and great for anyone looking for a responsive naked theme.

Indeziner

Indeziner is a starting point for creating websites using WordPress with no hassle.

It has a fully customizable homepage, almost every section can be enabled/disabled and bundled with a slideshow, gallery page and Flickr integration.

Blank Themes

Blank Themes offer 1, 2, 3 column blank themes to start from with the variations of sidebar locations.

There is also a blank portfolio theme that can be easily customized and used for your own portfolio.

rtPanel

rtPanel has a developer centric framework which is useful for developers willing to tweak codes with hooks and functions.

The framework also provides control over content and design for anyone who is not so familiar with coding and web-development.

Sandbox

Sandbox and various other themes from plaintxt.org provide a strong and clean structure with rich semantic classes powered by dynamic functions and microformats.

The themes are minimal and can be good starting points for new themes.

Suffusion

Suffusion is a cross-browser theme with a bunch of options.

It has 19 widget areas, one/two/three column, fixed-width and flexible-width formats, 10 pre-defined templates, 18 pre-defined color schemes, 2 customizable multi-level drop-down menus, featured posts, a magazine layout, tabbed sidebars, widgets for Twitter, social networks, Google Translate and more.

Foundation

Foundation is a blank starter theme that has all the core features needed to creating a new theme.

It is a nice kit for developing responsive websites, uses Orbit as a content slider and based on ZURB's Foundation Framework + HTML5 Boilerplate.

StartBox

StartBox is a theme framework that makes rapid web development and WP theme creation simple for both designers and developers.

It comes pre-loaded with customizable theme options, several widget-ready areas and custom widgets, 6 pre-defined layouts and a comprehensive documentation.

Yoko

Yoko is a modern three-column blog theme and it comes with a custom social links widget and shortcodes for text columns, info boxes and highlighted text.

It also provides various post formats and uses Google Web Fonts.

Comparison Of WordPress Theme Frameworks

Themes	Capabilities
	HTML5	Responsive	Mobile	SEO	Admin Int.	Micro formats	IE Hacks	Basic Styles
Roots
Skeleton
Bones
Gantry
Starkers
Wonderflux
Reverie
Thematic
Whiteboard
Presswork
Constellation Theme
TwentyTen..
Elastic
Flexible
WP Paintbrush
Html5 Shell
Hybrid
HTML5 Reset
The Buffet
Simon
Handcrafted
ToolBox
Thematic-html5boil.
H5 Theme Template
Brave New World
1140 Fluid Starkers
Indeziner
Blank Themes
rtPanel
Sandbox
Suffusion
Foundation
StartBox
Yoko

 

Author: Devrim Vardar

Devrim Vardar is a talented web developer who also writes fiction and non-fiction besides code.

He can be found at Stild.com and via Twitter.

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WordPressThemeShock, a website that releases high-quality freebies from time-to-time, has just published a huge set of free PSD website templates.

The set consists of 99 templates with well-layered PSD files, each having a homepage and internal page designs.

Such a big resource is very handy not only for using them as templates but also making use of the layers we like on other projects.

P.S. They are free to be used in personal projects and commercial usage requires a license.

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When working on a new web project, displaying a "coming soon page" on its website is a common and good way of informing the visitors about "when it will be launched", contacts details and even the progress of the project.

Sooner or Later is an exclusive coming soon template for WebResourcesDepot readers that is designed by Viv Singh of VIVROCKS.com.

The template is simplistic, has an easy-to-update HTML code and displays a countdown timer for providing an exact launch date-time to visitors.

It makes use of the the Final Countdown plugin for jQuery and launch date can be defined very quickly.

There are also links for the most popular social networks: Facebook and Twitter, so the users can keep connected while the website is not ready.

License: Feel free to use it on any personal or commercial projects (no back links are required but please keep the attributes in the source). It is only not allowed to re-distribute template.

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Although listing the contents of a directory is not a good practice for most of the websites (considering the complete structure and files will be available to the public eyes), it is an easy way to show and share files.

The default Apache directory listing/index page is not the most handsome one and h5ai is a template built specifically to improve these pages.

Its is built with HTML5 Boilerplate, jQuery + Modernizr and can be implemented with few steps: "copy folder h5ai to the web-root directory of your server and update the .htaccess file".

There is a list of options provided inside a JavaScript file and, best of all, the output can be presented in multiple languages with the strings being defined inside that JS file.

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WordPressThemeShock has recently released a design bundle which includes many freebies.

It is totally free to download and not offered for a limited time.

The bundle consists of:

10 WordPress themes

The themes have many custom options like 3 different image sliders, dropdown-menus, image gallery, contact form with captcha, etc.

750 high-quality icons

The icons include the most important items to be used in web apps like actions, files, media and much more. They come in 5 different size and in .PNG + .PSD formats.

Many design elements

And, there are many other design freebies like site templates, buttons or vector elements.

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For creative professionals like designers and developers, rather than a printed CV, a personal website with the portfolio or an online CV is usually much more functional for displaying the skills in a snapshot.

Azuka is a well-designed and free HTML CV template which you can use as a starting point and update/modify as you wish to personalize it.

It has a fixed 960px layout with semantic HTML5 + CSS and doesn't use any images except the photo.

There is also a detailed documentation provided and the template is free to use for personal or commercial projects.

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You'll remember HTML5 Boilerplate, a great base HTML/CSS/JS template where you can build your HTML5 web project on top of.

Initializr is a generator based on HTML5 Boilerplate that helps you to customize this starter template.

It enables you to select options like:

• whether there will be sample content or not
• if JavaScript and jQuery used
• Modernizr or html5shiv will be used
• if any .htaccess, web.config or nginx.conf files will be used

P.S. The template has some functionalities removed from Boilerplate to focus on what most people use.

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Every web designer/developer, if building any web applications or not using a CMS package, requires an admin interface to manage the website/application.

Admin Templates is a professional and beautiful XHTML template that covers most of the scenarios a back-end may require.

It is built by the talented friends at SSLmatic and I'm already using it in several projects including Uptime Robot + can easily say that the template is so flexible.

First of all, it has no hacks or anything complicated, just easy-to-understand XHTML. It is integrated with jQuery + jQuery UI and comes with various widgets like:

• accordion
• tabs
• date-picker
• lightbox
• charts (that are created from tables)

And, if you don't use jQuery, just remove the include files and it is still very useful.

The template uses very few images and offers various navigation options where you can use any or all of them: a drop-down menu with 2-levels deep support at the top and "static and/or accordion side menus".

For displaying tabular data, a well-designed table is there with all the styles for paging, bulk actions, adding new records, etc.

One of the most used parts in and admin interface: forms are good-looking too. You can group radio or checkbox elements and every items has a spot for displaying warnings which are small but effective features.

There are much more features like a login form with a sliding "forgot password" form, message boxes for errors, warnings or successful actions, a design for displaying/managing images and more.

And, everything is styled to match a specific design which you simply can not go wrong.

The licensing is pretty straight-forward as well: get a single license and use it in any/many of your projects.

Huge Discount For WRD Readers

Admin Templates is offering a 33% special discount to WRD readers which makes the price $30 (rather than $45).

To get the discount, use the discount code: "wrd" in the pricing page (discount is valid for a limited time).

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We are pretty bored with the current limits of the HTML-CSS and it is clear that the HTML5-CSS3 is the cure to let the creativity flow.

And, browser compatibility is no more a big issue as there are various resources like Modernizr, ExplorerCanvas or IE7.js that empower incompatible browsers.

If you didn't already, it is a good idea to warm your hands on HTML5 and CSS3 as they offer so much.

Here are 10+ free HTML5-CSS3 website templates to help you get inspired and started:

HTML5 Starter Pack

HTML5 Starter Kit is an impressive template that doesn't force you to build a specific type of website but shape it how you want.

This free HTML5 template is cross-browser (including IE6), tablet/netbook ready, can instantly use Cufón and includes some structural/re-usable classes.

And, it includes the layout as a .PSD file.

Gotta’ love HTML5 & CSS3

An image gallery layout with HTML5-CSS3 which includes:

• animated transitions, like a hover animated description for the images, using only CSS
• a tabbed interface for different galleries using CSS3’s :target element

A Free HTML5 and CSS3 Theme

The template has a working sub-page and a contact form which has a server-side validation and send-mail code (PHP).

It uses 960.gs and has a custom font named Chunkfive that makes use of @font-face.

Coding A HTML 5 Layout From Scratch

The template is a showcase for most of the new elements header, footer, section and so.

hCard microfortmat is used as well to define the creator of the template.

In means of CSS3, there is the popular text-shadow and others like last-child or selection.

52framework

52framework is a complete tool to help you start building with HTML5 and CSS3 with the use of new tags, input fields, rounded-corner, text-shadows, etc.

It includes a grid system and CSS reset (that is modified for HTML5).

iPhone App. Website With HTML5

A very detailed tutorial on creating an iPhone application website using CSS3 and HTML5.

The template uses new tags like section, aside, header and footer.

Create An Elegant Website With HTML 5 And CSS3

This is a tutorial on creating a slick webpage with HTML5-CSS3 and shares the result as a free download.

Many new elements are used and Modernizr is integrated for IE compatibility.

Free HTML5 Template

A HTML layout that comes in 2-column and 3-column versions.

It also includes the .PSD file of the layout.

HTML5 & CSS3 One-Page Template

A one-page-template that uses jQuery for sliding the content for displaying the specified links.

There is also an optional HTML version provided.

OWMX 1 HTML5-CSS3 Template

A 2-column blog layout that uses many new HTML5 tags and CSS3 techniques.

It also uses the hCalendar microformat.

FlipThru HTML5 and CSS3 Template

The template is a pretty simple one using the HTML5-CSS3 features.

However, it has a pretty-slick accordion that only makes use of CSS3.

HTML5-CSS3 Starting Template

This starter template offers a complete structure for a HTML5 website that will be built with PHP.

It includes CSS styles for the layout, typography, print and reset.

There are already PHP includes for functions, header, footer, etc.

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For a designer, developer, photographer or anyone/any business creative, the website of their own is the best place to showcase their skills and services.

You may be "about to design your new portfolio website" and thinking whether you should start from scratch or get inspired from/use a template.

And, not sure to use a CMS or maybe considering to start designing it in Photoshop?

No worries. Here is a collection of 20+ free portfolio templates, WordPress themes and PSDs to help you get started or inspired for a beautiful website.

XHTML/CSS Portfolio Templates

WaterColored Web Portfolio (With PSD) (demo)

This XHTML portfolio template is the result of a series of 2 tutorials which also includes the PSD of the design.

It has an image slider that is built with jQuery to display the featured works and a sidebar to display any other updates (from the blog, Twitter, etc.).

Seven Seas (demo)

A single page portfolio template with a unique design that has a slider and tooltips integrated.

Your Inspiration Folio (With PSD) (demo)

Your Inspiration Folio is a one page template that has an integrated Lightbox to display images and an Ajaxed contact form.

There is also a tutorial provided on the design process of the template.

Cosmos (demo)

The template has a spot for Twitter integratiion to display the latest tweets (not integrated) and a slider that can also show any content besides the images.

YIW Minimal (With PSD) (demo)

A minimalistic template with a content slider in the homepage to display featured projects.

It has an about, portfolio and a contact page (and a contact form with validation). The template also has a Photoshop tutorial.

A Simple Folio (demo)

Just like the name says, it is a simple XHTML-CSS portfolio template with a huge slider.

The template only comes with the front-page and doesn't have any sub-pages inside the download.

Woody Portfolio (demo)

Woody Portfolio is a single page template with a slider to display the latest works and a contact form.

Sweet Dreams (demo)

A portfolio template with a beautiful background and a huge slider.

WordPress Portfolio Themes

FolioGrid (demo)

FolioGrid enables you to display your portfolio in a grid where users can sort them according to their categories and comment to each.

It comes with 3 different styles: dark, light and yellow.

Irresistable (demo)

A high quality theme with a multimedia focus that integrates some video options-widgets for Flickr and Twitter.

It has an integrated banner manager and a video player.

Cumulus (demo)

A very nice and clean portfolio theme with an image slider in the frontpage that displays the latest images from the portfolio.

It offers an easy navigation to browse any content created and the portfolio itself.

SimpleFolio (demo)

SimpleFolio is a beautiful WordPress portfolio theme which is widget-ready and has an image slider.

It has drop-down enabled navigation menus and threaded/paged comments.

FotoFolio (demo)

FotoFolio is a WordPress theme that is focused on displaying images which is great for designers, photographers, etc.

It has a jQuery-powered slideshow and zoom functionality.

Sharpfolio (demo)

The theme enables anyone to showcase any creative in a simple and clean way.

Infinity

Infinity is a creative theme which is suitable to showcase  portfolio.

It is integrated with Flick, Delicious and Twitter.

Portfolio-WPESP (demo)

This portfolio theme is simple-yet -functional with features like a slider and customized project showcase page with custom fields usage to present the client, company and so.

PSD Portfolio Website Layouts

Simple & Cloudy Portfolio Layout in Photoshop

This Photoshop portfolio template is a simple and clean one which presents the featured works, latest items from the blog and a contact form at the homepage.

Portfolio Website Template In PSD

A simplistic template to display featured items and short info about the content you prefer (about you, testimonials, etc.).

Free Portfolio PSD

It has a modern typeface, a slider for featured items and more modules to display information about you.

There is also sidebar to integrate the tweets.

Grunge Layout

This grunge PSD portfolio layout focuses on the showcase of the items and has icons/links to the social networks the site owner uses.

Clean Portfolio PSD

A portfolio layout uses a pleasant color scheme and a clean design to give designers a place to promote their work.

This PSD portfolio template also has a tutorial that shares the steps of how it was created.

Simple PSD Portfolio

This is a pretty simple and clean design of a portfolio website with a slider and display of projects.

Any suggestions of other good portfolio templates? Please share them and we'll be happy to include them to the list.

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