Show HN: Glean, a tiny bitmap font for programming

Post by cyphar » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 5:54 AM UTC

userbinator wrote: post #32

cyphar wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another bitmap, programming font I really like is Dina[1]. It's MIT licensed (though this isn't mentioned on the home page). [1]: https://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Jibz/Dina/

I can see the point of licenses on vector fonts containing nontrivial characters with many complex shapes etc., but at these small pixel sizes it seems like a bit of a fool's errand to talk about licensing/IP at all --- e.g. there's only so many ways to put pixels on a 6x13 grid and make it look recognisable as the letter 'M'. Hence all these small bitmapped fonts are extremely similar, with only slight variations in…

Post by arnarbi » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 6:32 AM UTC

benwr wrote: post #15

kbd wrote: post #12

I find this font pretty hard to read, judging by the screenshots. If you want bitmap fonts, I'd recommend taking a look at the Proggy set of fonts at http://upperbounds.net/index.php?menu=download

Yeah! I was actually using progsole before making this - I'm primarily interested in squeezing legible characters into pixels, and progsole is sliiiightly wider. Even the difference between 5 and 6 pixels can be substantial if you're trying to keep 6 files in your head at once.

Post by goatface » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 8:45 AM UTC

josephg wrote: post #25

fazzone wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that 5x10 is small and hard to read, but what use would a bitmapped font have for subpixel rendering?

Subpixel rendering would give the font 3x the horizontal resolution. Its just as useful for bitmap fonts as it is for vector fonts. Especially at that resolution, anything that makes the font more legible would be a boon.

Post by Semiapies » Tue, Oct 11, 2016, 3:31 PM UTC

StavrosK wrote: post #28

Semiapies wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, that's save up for eyeglasses or your next prescription territory. I'll cheerfully continue to use 16pt Inconsolata.

Why would exercising your eyes make them need glasses?

Post by apotheon » Sun, Oct 16, 2016, 6:27 PM UTC

cyphar wrote: post #41

userbinator wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can see the point of licenses on vector fonts containing nontrivial characters with many complex shapes etc., but at these small pixel sizes it seems like a bit of a fool's errand to talk about licensing/IP at all --- e.g. there's only so many ways to put pixels on a 6x13 grid and make it look recognisable as the letter 'M'. Hence all these small bitmapped fonts are extremely similar, with only slight variations in…

All works should have a free license. It's better to be safe (I'll just add a licence anyway) than sorry (I didn't add a license and now users are technically violating copyright). If a court decides otherwise, that's a separate issue. But until that court case, I will continue to license everything I make under free licenses.