The battle of CSS methodologies: Utility classes vs Pre-built components.
"For years, Bootstrap ruled the web with its grid system and ready-made components. Then came Tailwind, challenging the status quo with a utility-first approach. Is it time to ditch the components?"
You can't beat Bootstrap for speed. I drop in a 'navbar' class and I have a fully responsive navigation. With Tailwind, you're typing 'flex w-full bg-blue-500 p-4...' it takes forever just to make a button!
But your sites all look the same! Bootstrap sites scream 'I used Bootstrap'. With Tailwind, I'm building a custom design system. I have total control over spacing, colors, and typography without writing a single line of custom CSS file.
Consistency is good! And Bootstrap 5 is highly customizable with Sass variables. Plus, we have built-in JavaScript components like Modals and Tooltips. Tailwind gives you nothing for interaction.
Tailwind scans my files and generates a CSS file containing ONLY the classes I used. My CSS bundle is tiny, often under 10kb. You're loading all of Bootstrap even if you only use the grid.
Classes clutter the HTML though. 'class="p-4 mb-4 text-sm text-blue-800 rounded-lg bg-blue-50 dark:bg-gray-800 dark:text-blue-400"'. It's unreadable!
Actually, it's easier to maintain. I know exactly what styles are applied just by looking at the HTML. I don't have to hunt down some '.btn-primary' in a 2000-line CSS file to see why it has 5px padding.
Bootstrap remains excellent for prototypes, MVPs, and developers who don't want to think about design details. Tailwind is superior for custom designs, long-term scalability, and performance, offering a modern developer experience that pays off once you learn the utility classes.