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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

#41

Post by raihansaputra »

AlanYx wrote: post #26

It looks like this has the largest x-height of any typeface meant for developers (larger than even Fira Code). While there is research suggesting a large x-height increases readability, I'm wondering whether this doesn't push the x-height just a little too far. CamelCase words no longer stand out visually very easily -- I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Interesting point. Currently trying it out, and the x-height thing matters, similar to another feedback in this thread that says words become disjointed glyphs instead of a "shape". I'll keep this for the moment. Looks much cleaner than Fira Code, but will have to see on the readability side.

Another point: not only they have increased the x-height, they also reduced the descender-height (for j,q,p,y) by a lot. I have trouble with function definitions such as post/put/patch or even keywords as response/reject.

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

#42

Post by lemagedurage »

ar-nelson wrote: post #32

I like it, this might finally be the font that gets me to drop Fira Code. It's missing Powerline symbols, though, which is a strange omission for a developer font in 2020.

Ah yeah, that's a shame. I can't imagine it will take long before someone creates that though.

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

#44

Post by urbanjunkie »

nkrisc wrote: post #23
vishwajeetv wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It accepts keyboard input, but you have to click on the terminal first.

Then shame on them for not focusing it by default.

Get over yourself you hysterical little child.

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

#45

Post by jeltz »

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…

And they also have added details on their own in cases where it just seems to slightly harm readability, like the extreme narrowing in the "n" for example. I find their design choices strange.

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

#46

Post by Klathmon »

scoutt wrote: post #39
nkrisc wrote: post #2

I was disappointed that despite presenting the cookie banner as if it were a terminal, the options did not accept keyboard input [Y]es, I agree [N]o, thanks Ok on topic: I'm never sure what to think of these "developer" fonts that make use of ligatures for combinations like ==, >=, ->, =>, etc. On one hand they do look really nice, but I always can't help but feel it would actually make things just a little bit harde…

I've just installed this font and tested it with VS Code, and I must say that it is a very nice font. Code is clear and easy to read (C/C++ development). I think I'll keep it for a while. Regarding ligatures, I agree. I could live with the pointer arrow ligature, that's fine and looks nice, but not with the crossed '=' (that is "!=") or the symbol for >=. Call it ageing, but for the moment it stops my code reading fl…

This is why I love how configurable editors are now days.

I absolutely adore ligatures in my programming fonts. I've been using FiraCode for at least a year or 2 now, and while i'll be the first to admit that the reason I enabled ligatures was because they looked cool, now I really miss them when they aren't there.

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

#47

Post by Grumbledour »

nkrisc wrote: post #2

I was disappointed that despite presenting the cookie banner as if it were a terminal, the options did not accept keyboard input [Y]es, I agree [N]o, thanks Ok on topic: I'm never sure what to think of these "developer" fonts that make use of ligatures for combinations like ==, >=, ->, =>, etc. On one hand they do look really nice, but I always can't help but feel it would actually make things just a little bit harde…

I do love the ligatures in Fira Code. It always makes me happy to see the nice looking =, !=, !== or ->.

I am not so sure about these, though. Maybe a tad to much/to special in some cases? Somehow they don't pop for me the same way.

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

#48

Post by jfengel »

Is there a reason why the stroke narrows where a curve joins a line (the loops of the p and g, the top of the n and the bottom of the a, etc)? The Consolas font uses a consistent stroke weight; the Fira and Source Code Pro thin the line a bit but much less. It's so narrow I feel like it might render strangely at sufficiently low resolutions; it risks breaking the connection.

Presumably there's a readability reason, but I have no idea. I don't have an opinion one way or the other; I'm just curious.

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

#49

Post by theandrewbailey »

IAmEveryone wrote: post #15
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…

That’s just a summary of the license, which is Apache 2.0, a software license.

Usually, fonts are licensed under SIL.[0] Maybe Jetbrains feel that their target audience is more familiar with Apache licenses?

[0] https://scripts.sil.org/ofl

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

#50

Post by xixixao »

memco wrote: post #33

Nice font. I think it’s a bit sad that the only difference between zero and the letter O is the center dot: usually other fonts make the O slightly more round. This one is squarish. The site design is nice but I found it a bit odd that they didn’t include many of the similar character like O, 0, 1, l, I. That is one of the first things I look for and one of the primary reasons I would choose a new font.

They do include both sets (0, o and 1, l, I). That said I absolutely agree that this is far from the best approach to 0 and o.
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