Tools for sophisticated and large form

December 28, 2016 1.2k views
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jasmineyuan2016
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jasmineyuan2016

I am currently using UserFrosting as my framework and created a large form (about 2000 html code lines) with it. It works OK for now. But it is hard to add in sophisticated feature without other tools (features like form widgets for user to dynamically changing forms). I am searching for some framework to add on to UF for the next phase of the form. I was recommended Angular/Ember as front end framework by UF community, which sounds a cool tool to use down the road. But i still like to hear from DO community if there is any other tool/framework out there that can meet my needs?

2 comments
  • ryanpq MOD December 28, 2016

    Can you clarify what you mean when you refer to "form widgets"? I think the selection of a framework or tool for this would depend on what you're trying to accomplish. In general, the main thing that front-end frameworks will do for you here is to save you work but as you have a form already built, what additions to it are blocking you?

  • jasmineyuan2016 December 28, 2016

    widgets meaning like hide table rows upon checkbox being checked/dropdown box selection, user can add/delete rows. Some of these functions I originally used jquery/localstorage code, which works fine on JSfiddle, but not working 100% in UserFrosting (sometimes works, sometimes not, or works in a different way). I spent a lot time figuring it out, no success. I might be the conflict with UF existing jquery code, but i don't know what went wrong. So i gave up, now i just have the form up without those dynamics. But i do want to get it up some time in the future, so thinking if adding in another front end framework will help or not.

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1 Answer
jtittle1 January 12, 2017

@jasmineyuan2016

Bundling a bunch of frameworks together is going to result in a complete mess, in my opinion. What I would suggest doing is finding something that you want to work with long-term and that has a proven history (i.e. it's not going to be abandoned a few months after you decide to use it).

We could recommend any number of frameworks to help you build applications, web forms, or other tools, but at the end of the day, it all boils down to what you're comfortable working with.

If you prefer working with JS/NodeJS more than you do PHP, Ember or Angular may be the perfect solution. If you definitely want PHP in the mix, Laravel may also be an option. There's a bit of learning curve to it, but it works, it's proven and it's here for the long-term.

There's also the option of building your own micro-framework to lighten the load a bit. It all depends on your knowledge of the programming language you prefer to use :-).

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