HeimdallFramework.Bootstrap 5.0.0

HeimdallFramework.Bootstrap

A strongly-typed, server-first Bootstrap helper library for building HTML with Heimdall and ASP.NET Core.

This library provides a typed abstraction over Bootstrap’s class system, eliminating stringly-typed CSS while preserving full control over markup and layout.

Why This Exists

Traditional Bootstrap usage relies heavily on raw string classes:

<div class="row mb-3 mt-3">

This works—but it is:

• error-prone (mb3 vs mb-3)
• hard to refactor
• not discoverable
• not composable in a strongly typed system

HeimdallFramework.Bootstrap solves this by providing:

• strongly typed helpers
• IDE autocomplete for Bootstrap classes
• composable UI primitives
• seamless integration with server-rendered HTML

Philosophy

This library follows the same principles as Heimdall:

• HTML-first – no abstraction over structure, only over classes
• Server-driven UI – works naturally with IHtmlContent
• Zero magic – everything maps directly to real Bootstrap classes
• Composable – small primitives, not giant components

This is not a component framework. It is a typed vocabulary for Bootstrap.

Installation

dotnet add package HeimdallFramework.Bootstrap

Usage

Basic Example

FluentHtml.Div(div =>
{
    div.Class(
        Bootstrap.Layout.Row,
        Bootstrap.Spacing.Mb(3),
        Bootstrap.Spacing.Mt(3)
    );

    div.Div(col =>
    {
        col.Class(Bootstrap.Layout.ColSpan(6, Bootstrap.Breakpoint.Md));

        col.P(p =>
        {
            p.Class(Bootstrap.Typography.Lead)
             .Text("Hello from Heimdall");
        });
    });
});

Buttons

button.Class(
    Bootstrap.Btn.Base,
    Bootstrap.Btn.Primary
);

Tables

table.Class(
    Bootstrap.Table.Base,
    Bootstrap.Table.Hover,
    Bootstrap.Table.Borderless
);

Forms

input.Class(Bootstrap.Form.Control);

Layout Helpers

Bootstrap.Layout.Row
Bootstrap.Layout.ColSpan(6, Bootstrap.Breakpoint.Md)

Spacing Helpers

Bootstrap.Spacing.Mb(3)
Bootstrap.Spacing.Mt(2)
Bootstrap.Spacing.P(4)

Utility Helpers

Bootstrap.Display.Flex
Bootstrap.Layout.JustifyContentBetween
Bootstrap.Layout.AlignItemsCenter

Design Goals

Strong Typing Without Abstraction Leakage

Every helper maps directly to a real Bootstrap class:

Bootstrap.Spacing.Mb(3) → "mb-3"

No hidden behavior. No transformation layers.

Discoverability

Instead of memorizing class names, use your IDE:

Bootstrap.Spacing.
Bootstrap.Btn.
Bootstrap.Table.

Composition Over Components

This library intentionally avoids large UI components.

Instead of:

• BootstrapCard.Create(...)

You build:

• Div + Class + Structure

This keeps you in control of markup and aligns with Heimdall’s philosophy.

Integration with Heimdall

This library is designed to work seamlessly with:

• FluentHtml
• HeimdallHtml
• Content Actions & Invocations
• SSE-driven UI updates

Example:

FluentHtml.Div(div =>
{
    div.Class(Bootstrap.Card.Base, Bootstrap.Spacing.Mb(3));

    div.Div(header =>
    {
        header.Class(Bootstrap.Card.Header)
              .Text("Live Data");
    });

    div.Div(body =>
    {
        body.Class(Bootstrap.Card.Body)
            .Heimdall()
            .Sse("metrics-stream", "metrics-body", HeimdallHtml.Swap.Inner);
    });
});

What This Library Is NOT

• Not a component framework
• Not a replacement for Bootstrap
• Not a CSS abstraction layer
• Not tied to any frontend framework

Versioning

This package follows semantic versioning:

• Major – breaking changes to class helpers or structure
• Minor – new helpers or Bootstrap coverage
• Patch – fixes and improvements

Roadmap

• Expand Bootstrap coverage
• Add more utility helpers
• Improve documentation examples
• Provide optional higher-level patterns (kept separate from core)

License

MIT