6 ms·

> However using google fonts in your web projects is always a good idea as their cdn's are lightning fast (and they are free). No, it is not always a good idea

by anc84 8y ago

> However using google fonts in your web projects is always a good idea as their cdn's are lightning fast (and they are free). No, it is not always a good idea. If you care about your user's privacy a single bit, you should self-host. Easily done thanks to https://google-webfonts-helper.herokuapp.com/fonts https://google-webfonts-helper.herokuapp.com/fonts

dmitriid 8y ago
In addition to privacy, web fonts are often huge. In a project, we reduced our page size by a few megabytes by sticking just to one font with just three font weights. Most people will load several fonts with all weights enabled.
fabricexpert 8y ago
Also SEO scores are impacted by external requests and page speed.
basch 8y ago
Or use the fonts installed on their computer. Let me, as the client have some say in rendering things. In many cases, where absolute placement of words doesnt matter, font families are just fine.
- detritus 8y ago
  Or let me, as the content provider decide how I'd like to display my content, that you're not paying for, thanks. You're more than welcome to make your on effort stripping that out after the event, of course.
  - stan_rogers 8y ago
    Using the bandwidth and batteries you didn't pay for.
    - detritus 8y ago
      haha, ok? That's a bit of an ambitious stretch towards a counterpoint, but I'll bite — You pay for the bandwidth you choose to consume (assuming you're on a metred connection), I pay for the bandwidth on the content I choose to deliver (assuming I run a server), but ultimately you choose what to consume — you have every right not to not even bother with my content and its gorgeous choice of font. Heck, if I've done my job properly, you can nix all my styling and read my content as you wish, but that's your palava. As for your battery - I'll plant a tree and say a small prayer for its sacrifice.
      - basch 8y ago
        By default, unless you NEED web fonts, why not just be respectful and use system fonts. Using web fonts us unnecessary for the bulk of websites. Every system has a helvetica/arial and georgia/baskerville family. Build a strong font family, and use webfonts sparingly when spacing and consistency are actually important. Why bloat bandwidth and page speeds for little gain.
        detritus 8y ago
        'Respectful' to what exactly? And what if I want to use Garamond? Your stance makes no sense beyond your own peculiar prejudice. - ed Again, if YOU don't like MY content the way YOU want it - then YOU make the effort to change it as to how YOU want. Anything else is simply, well - disrespectful - as you choose to imply.
        basch 8y ago
        Why cant you use system fonts by default, unless you need to use a web font? Youre making web fonts the first, go to choice, in call cases.
        detritus 8y ago
        Evidently you have your own thoughts on this, so it's pointless me bantering away - but why can't and why shouldn't I make my choice my default? If I set up the stylesheet to have an order of preference, with a fallback to default system fonts that mangle my considered layout, then you're perfectly free to do what you will - but again (and we're going around in circles here) - it's my content, I'd rather like to display it as I wish. Look, I'll be honest - there are times and situations where I wish there were still properly text based browsers that could read web content (assuming it's been marked up well enough in the first place) and display it in green-glowing monospaced terminal text - but there aren't. The world's moved on - I'm sorry you don't like it.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]

by anc84 8y ago

dmitriid 8y ago

In addition to privacy, web fonts are often huge. In a project, we reduced our page size by a few megabytes by sticking just to one font with just three font weights. Most people will load several fonts with all weights enabled.

fabricexpert 8y ago

Also SEO scores are impacted by external requests and page speed.

basch 8y ago

Or use the fonts installed on their computer. Let me, as the client have some say in rendering things. In many cases, where absolute placement of words doesnt matter, font families are just fine.

detritus 8y ago
Or let me, as the content provider decide how I'd like to display my content, that you're not paying for, thanks. You're more than welcome to make your on effort stripping that out after the event, of course.
- stan_rogers 8y ago
  Using the bandwidth and batteries you didn't pay for.
  - detritus 8y ago
    haha, ok? That's a bit of an ambitious stretch towards a counterpoint, but I'll bite — You pay for the bandwidth you choose to consume (assuming you're on a metred connection), I pay for the bandwidth on the content I choose to deliver (assuming I run a server), but ultimately you choose what to consume — you have every right not to not even bother with my content and its gorgeous choice of font. Heck, if I've done my job properly, you can nix all my styling and read my content as you wish, but that's your palava. As for your battery - I'll plant a tree and say a small prayer for its sacrifice.
    - basch 8y ago
      By default, unless you NEED web fonts, why not just be respectful and use system fonts. Using web fonts us unnecessary for the bulk of websites. Every system has a helvetica/arial and georgia/baskerville family. Build a strong font family, and use webfonts sparingly when spacing and consistency are actually important. Why bloat bandwidth and page speeds for little gain.
      - detritus 8y ago
        'Respectful' to what exactly? And what if I want to use Garamond? Your stance makes no sense beyond your own peculiar prejudice. - ed Again, if YOU don't like MY content the way YOU want it - then YOU make the effort to change it as to how YOU want. Anything else is simply, well - disrespectful - as you choose to imply.
        basch 8y ago
        Why cant you use system fonts by default, unless you need to use a web font? Youre making web fonts the first, go to choice, in call cases.
        detritus 8y ago
        Evidently you have your own thoughts on this, so it's pointless me bantering away - but why can't and why shouldn't I make my choice my default? If I set up the stylesheet to have an order of preference, with a fallback to default system fonts that mangle my considered layout, then you're perfectly free to do what you will - but again (and we're going around in circles here) - it's my content, I'd rather like to display it as I wish. Look, I'll be honest - there are times and situations where I wish there were still properly text based browsers that could read web content (assuming it's been marked up well enough in the first place) and display it in green-glowing monospaced terminal text - but there aren't. The world's moved on - I'm sorry you don't like it.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]