Theme frameworks are very useful tools when building WordPress sites. Frameworks can speed up site development reducing the volume of work needed in creating the backbone for your theme. Frameworks can be a solid base to use with Child Themes. Child Themes can change how the Framework functions and looks by overwriting parent files. 

There are many great frameworks to use. Some are a little more robust than others. Some of the frameworks work well with child themes, others work well in just modifying into a theme. Finding a good base for the framework can allow you to make many different variations of a theme while maintaining the same basic functionality.  A child theme can be a simple CSS file that just changes the look and layout. Or it can include more functions or overwrite some of the framework files to change how the theme functions. Frameworks also allow for easier upgrading, since the child theme may only be one CSS file, you only have to upgrade to the new version of the framework.

Here you will find a list of some of the frameworks I found. Check them out and give them a try.

• Whiteboard
• Starkers
• Naked
• Thematic
• Hybrid
• Carrington
• Starter Theme
• Sandbox
• Vanilla
• WP Framework