Banal Minutiae

Let’s talk a little bit today about fonts. Specifically, I want to talk about programmer’s fonts. Like a lot of full time programmers, I fall into that group that is always looking to for the best editor and best font. Recently, I saw this website pop up on Digg, and decided I’d weigh in with my two cents.

For years, I’ve been a fan of Bitstream Vera Sans Mono for my main programming font. I don’t remember where I originally stumbled upon it, but I think it was probably an old AxeMe thread. It’s served me well, and I’ve been happy with it. It was a giant step up from the Courier New (shudder), or even Lucida Console.

About a year ago, I decided I’d complicate my life, and discovered Anonymous, another brilliant monospaced font. I’m torn between the two, and switch back and forth between them.

In general, I was well satisfied. I’ve got an editor that supports my custom language with color coded syntax, does code folding, and even italicies my comments. I’ve also got a couple of nice, easy to read monospace fonts. But, like all good things, I had a wrench thrown into my happy space. I was reading up on Vista, Microsoft’s new operating system, and it’s sweet Aero Glass visual style. One of the things mentioned was the new fonts, along with a link to a blog article detailing them. I clicked through, and ruined my happiness.

You see there were all the new Vista fonts, Consolas, Calibri, Candara, etc… in a single, tiny zip file to download. After glancing at the images of each one, I decided I needed to try them. In general, I keep my font list small (under a hundred total fonts), and if a font isn’t very useable, it’s gone. Well, these new fonts are most excellent. I’m particularly taken with two of them: Consolas and Calibri.

Calibri is a replacement for Verdana, a font I had been using as my main Windows XP font since I first discovered it. Calibri is slightly more pleasing to my eye, and very readable. I made it my default font on the spot.

Consolas is quite possibly the best monospaced font I have ever used, narrowly edging out both Anonymous and Bitstream Vera Sans Mono, both of which are excellent fonts in their own right.

I have no idea why I prefer it, I just do.

Look’s like a beautiful day here today. Enjoy!