Recursive, a free variable font for code and UI, now on Google Fonts

#1

Post by thundernixon » Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 4:35 PM UTC

Recursive, a free variable font for code and UI, now on Google Fonts
fonts.google.com

Re: Recursive, a free variable font for code and UI, now on Google Fonts

#2

Post by thundernixon » Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 4:35 PM UTC

You can also learn more about Recursive & configure advanced Google Fonts API calls on the Recursive minisite: https://www.recursive.design/

Re: Recursive, a free variable font for code and UI, now on Google Fonts

#3

Post by phaedryx » Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 5:20 PM UTC

There are several things I look for in a "code" font: distinct 0 vs O, distinct l vs 1, readability, etc.

I don't think I'd use this for code, but I might for UI.

Edit: it seems that the variations are more code-oriented when you shift the code more "MONO" (based on experimentation on its website)

Re: Recursive, a free variable font for code and UI, now on Google Fonts

#4

Post by brettermeier » Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 5:22 PM UTC

phaedryx wrote: post #3

There are several things I look for in a "code" font: distinct 0 vs O, distinct l vs 1, readability, etc. I don't think I'd use this for code, but I might for UI. Edit: it seems that the variations are more code-oriented when you shift the code more "MONO" (based on experimentation on its website)

With parameter mono set to min. 0.5, you have a distinct 0 and O. And also serifs, nice font.

Re: Recursive, a free variable font for code and UI, now on Google Fonts

#5

Post by dylan604 » Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 5:24 PM UTC

phaedryx wrote: post #3

There are several things I look for in a "code" font: distinct 0 vs O, distinct l vs 1, readability, etc. I don't think I'd use this for code, but I might for UI. Edit: it seems that the variations are more code-oriented when you shift the code more "MONO" (based on experimentation on its website)

Came to say the same thing. I placed an uppercase letter 'O' next to a zero in the preview text. They are very similar looking. I much prefer fonts with a dot or slash in the zero. If they go ahead and place a bar across the number seven and letter 'Z', I'm a bigger fan

Re: Recursive, a free variable font for code and UI, now on Google Fonts

#6

Post by ebg13 » Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 5:29 PM UTC

brettermeier wrote: post #4

phaedryx wrote: post #3

There are several things I look for in a "code" font: distinct 0 vs O, distinct l vs 1, readability, etc. I don't think I'd use this for code, but I might for UI. Edit: it seems that the variations are more code-oriented when you shift the code more "MONO" (based on experimentation on its website)

With parameter mono set to min. 0.5, you have a distinct 0 and O. And also serifs, nice font.

What is "parameter mono set to min. 0.5" and where do you find that?

[edit: Oh I see. It's not on the linked page but on the font's homepage.]

Re: Recursive, a free variable font for code and UI, now on Google Fonts

#7

Post by ape4 » Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 5:33 PM UTC

phaedryx wrote: post #3

There are several things I look for in a "code" font: distinct 0 vs O, distinct l vs 1, readability, etc. I don't think I'd use this for code, but I might for UI. Edit: it seems that the variations are more code-oriented when you shift the code more "MONO" (based on experimentation on its website)

In fact instead of "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" there should be a standard sentence for code fonts using those characters. Zero[0] = Oh[0]; One[1] = El[l]; or something ;)

Re: Recursive, a free variable font for code and UI, now on Google Fonts

#8

Post by phaedryx » Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 5:36 PM UTC

brettermeier wrote: post #4

phaedryx wrote: post #3

There are several things I look for in a "code" font: distinct 0 vs O, distinct l vs 1, readability, etc. I don't think I'd use this for code, but I might for UI. Edit: it seems that the variations are more code-oriented when you shift the code more "MONO" (based on experimentation on its website)

With parameter mono set to min. 0.5, you have a distinct 0 and O. And also serifs, nice font.

I like 0 vs O better, but 1 vs l worse: https://imgur.com/a/1tXx8aH

Re: Recursive, a free variable font for code and UI, now on Google Fonts

#9

Post by Twirrim » Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 5:39 PM UTC

ebg13 wrote: post #6

brettermeier wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With parameter mono set to min. 0.5, you have a distinct 0 and O. And also serifs, nice font.

What is "parameter mono set to min. 0.5" and where do you find that? [edit: Oh I see. It's not on the linked page but on the font's homepage.]

Yeah, there's a lot of detail that is missing by linking us to the Google Font website instead of the font's website, https://www.recursive.design/

Re: Recursive, a free variable font for code and UI, now on Google Fonts

#10

Post by chrisdalke » Thu, Jul 23, 2020, 5:41 PM UTC

The Google Fonts page doesn't really do justice to how dynamic this font is -- https://www.recursive.design/ has a live demo that shows more of the options, maybe the link should be changed to their demo.

There are four dimensions and a few other flags that the font can be adjusted by in CSS: natural-width to fixed-width, Linear to "Casual", Font weight, Font slant, and cursive variants.

By tweaking any of the variable font parameters it you can get anything in the range of a "serious" monospace font to a more casual font useful for UI mockups. I don't spend a huge amount of time in the font design world but this is one of the first variable fonts I've seen that feels less like a gimmicky demo and more like a seriously versatile tool, really great work!