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JetBrains Mono: A free and open-source typeface for developers

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Re: JetBrains Mono: A free and open-source typeface for developers

#161

Post by anthonybsd »

pkalinowski wrote: post #153
crazygringo wrote: post #38

I always applaud efforts at new typefaces, but unfortunately I feel this is a badly designed typeface that is worse for legibility, not better. Addressing their three main points in turn: > 1. Increased height for a better reading experience A high x-height is good for coding fonts, but this x-height is now too high. To my eye, this is now at the point where lowercase letters are getting harder to distinguish from up…

What would be the font you can recommend?

I would recommend trying this one first to see how you like it. In general coding fonts are sort of a very personal thing - everyone is different.

I started a new job 1.5 months ago which facilitated a jump from IntelliJ to Visual Studio. I've been trying to find a good editor font as the Consolas that was the default for VS 2019 just didn't agree with me. I'm ok with Consolas in bash terminal but somehow inside VS it bugs me. I tried a few of my Mac favorites like Monaco and Menlo. Was using Menlo and it was a decent experience. Tried this JetBrains one and so far so good. It just works for me. I think will keep it.

Re: JetBrains Mono: A free and open-source typeface for developers

#163

Post by indemnity »

vz8 wrote: post #86
d1egoaz wrote: post #19

nice font and oss, however I still prefer Iosevka SS04

Agreed. After Iosevka, other fonts have felt ... unwieldy. Link for reference: https://github.com/be5invis/Iosevka Re: "SS04" d1egoaz is referencing Stylistic Set 04, illustrated here: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/be5invis/Iosevka/master/im... In addition to the original version of the font above, there is a patched version with powerline icons (and much more) built in: https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/tr…

For me, it's the fact that I can create a custom build of Iosevka with preferred weights that look good in the different font rendering systems: Native macOS, Electron (VS Code), Java (IntelliJ).

All need different weights to end up looking about the same on the same system.

And then being able to turn on/off ligatures, tweak some glyphs.

It's hard to give that up.

Re: JetBrains Mono: A free and open-source typeface for developers

#164

Post by MikeTheGreat »

Serious question: Is it possible to turn ligatures on, but deactivate them for only some of the combinations?

Specifically, I want to see =, ==, and === 'as written', meaning 1, 2, or 3 separate characters. Pretty much the rest of them (like I'd love to know if this is possible at all, possible for some editors / fonts / OS's, etc, or just a non-starter of an idea.

Re: JetBrains Mono: A free and open-source typeface for developers

#165

Post by jagger27 »

pkalinowski wrote: post #153
crazygringo wrote: post #38

I always applaud efforts at new typefaces, but unfortunately I feel this is a badly designed typeface that is worse for legibility, not better. Addressing their three main points in turn: > 1. Increased height for a better reading experience A high x-height is good for coding fonts, but this x-height is now too high. To my eye, this is now at the point where lowercase letters are getting harder to distinguish from up…

What would be the font you can recommend?

I recommend Input. https://input.fontbureau.com/

Re: JetBrains Mono: A free and open-source typeface for developers

#166

Post by GordonS »

1kGarand wrote: post #88
crazygringo wrote: post #38

I always applaud efforts at new typefaces, but unfortunately I feel this is a badly designed typeface that is worse for legibility, not better. Addressing their three main points in turn: > 1. Increased height for a better reading experience A high x-height is good for coding fonts, but this x-height is now too high. To my eye, this is now at the point where lowercase letters are getting harder to distinguish from up…

Over the last 10-15 years or so, I’ve tried so many of these new fonts but always just end up back to DejaVu Sans Mono Bold. Now that my eyes are getting older, it works even better. On a Mac, Menlo looks nearly identical.

I'm the same, except I stick with Consolas, rather than DejaVu.

But it almost feels like trying out new fonts is busywork...

Re: JetBrains Mono: A free and open-source typeface for developers

#167

Post by GordonS »

crazygringo wrote: post #38

I always applaud efforts at new typefaces, but unfortunately I feel this is a badly designed typeface that is worse for legibility, not better. Addressing their three main points in turn: > 1. Increased height for a better reading experience A high x-height is good for coding fonts, but this x-height is now too high. To my eye, this is now at the point where lowercase letters are getting harder to distinguish from up…

I'm something of a JetBrains fanboi, but unfortunately I have to agree.

I pitted this font against my trusty Consolas, but Consolas wins outright - all the features that JetBrains claim are beneficial (narrow characters and so on) actually seem to make for a less legible font.

This is now a very crowded space, and JetBrains' font seems very similar (to my eye) to [Input](https://input.fontbureau.com) - honestly, I'm not sure what JetBrains think they are bringing new to the table here :-/

Re: JetBrains Mono: A free and open-source typeface for developers

#168

Post by GordonS »

drchickensalad wrote: post #28
nkrisc wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then shame on them for not focusing it by default.

I'll be honest I can imagine it's on risky legal ground. A stray y key hit when doing anything on the page accepts the agreement? For all their faults, all other implementations are much more explicit and resilient than this, as they require a targeted click.

> they require a targeted click

As opposed to a targeted key press?

Seriously, what's the difference? It's very common for GUIs, and even TUIs, to accept key presses for actions

Re: JetBrains Mono: A free and open-source typeface for developers

#169

Post by lostmyoldone »

RobertRoberts wrote: post #68
Ayesh wrote: post #14

We should take a lesson from the FAQ about license. It is the simplest yet most useful one I have seen! -- May I install JetBrains Mono on my system and use it in any code editor? -> YES. May I make and print a poster with JetBrains Mono? -> YES. May I use JetBrains Mono in my logotype? -> YES. May I use JetBrains Mono on my website? -> YES. May I use JetBrains Mono in my applications? -> YES. May I design my own fon…

IANAL - I am pretty certain you can do most of those things with all fonts regardless of license. Copyrights on fonts is almost non-existent. The only thing copyrightable is the actual "code" used in the font. (maybe delivering their files on a website is an issue?) This is based on research I did years ago when dealing with a copyright legal case where I worked. The summation is that you can't copyright the alphabet…

It would be nice if that were to be the case, but it is not.

Almost all well known, professionally made fonts are licensed, with different cost based on the intended use of the font.

The font licensing FAQ page for Microsoft Windows system fonts is rather enlightening, as a starting point as Microsoft font licences are violated all the time.

It informs, among other, that for certain software licenses (Home/Student) you might not even be allowed to sell a printout you've made. Yeah, that's how strict font licensing is in general.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/typography/fonts/font-faq

"This FAQ covers only the fonts Microsoft supplies with Windows as system wide resources"

Re: JetBrains Mono: A free and open-source typeface for developers

#170

Post by marcus_holmes »

NoGravitas wrote: post #115
marcus_holmes wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's interesting. Because most fonts are protected by a copyright-based license, that they don't seem to have any trouble enforcing. How extensive was your research?

The actual code of a font (ttf, otf, whatever) is copyrightable. The shape of a font isn't, and AFAIK it isn't protectable by any form of IP. This means that while you can't redistribute or embed the TTF you got from a type foundry except as specified by the license, you are free to use it to create a near-perfect knock-off that doesn't share any code. This is where the fonts on all of those "Free Fonts" websites com…

Thanks, that's useful information
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