4 ms·

Verdana used to be my go to proportional font when I was doing Java. Helped with long variable names and long horizontal lines. My buddies thought I was nuts, b

Verdana used to be my go to proportional font when I was doing Java. Helped with long variable names and long horizontal lines. My buddies thought I was nuts, but I found it very legible. These days my eyes are dimming, so I dislike skinny fonts. Now I use DejaVu Sans Mono in _bold_ exclusively. Every now and then when HN does a programming font post, I try out different ones, but I always end up going back to DejaVu Sans Mono Bold.

Stratoscope 8y ago
Like you, I'm not as young as I used to be. So I'm with you on the skinny fonts! One of my biggest pet peeves is web designers who think font-weight: 300; is a good idea. You might take a look at Trebuchet MS. One thing I like about it is that the strokes are nice and fat. At least on my high-DPI displays; haven't checked on a low or medium DPI display.
hmottestad 8y ago
+1 for Verdana. Been using it for 3 years now. Couldn't be happier.
- int_19h 8y ago
  For those who like Verdana, check this out. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/verdana-pro/9n8d67vhhdc2 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/verdana-pro/9n8d67vhhdc2 Coincidentally, I wonder if the license allows it to be downloaded and installed on other OSes, like the old "Microsoft core fonts" package that included Verdana.
  - duckerude 8y ago
    >Coincidentally, I wonder if the license allows it to be downloaded and installed on other OSes, like the old "Microsoft core fonts" package that included Verdana. It doesn't look like it. The Microsoft core fonts EULA (https://web.archive.org/web/20091208063245/http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fontpack/eula.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20091208063245/http://www.micros...) says things like: > You may install and use an unlimited number of copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT. > You may reproduce and distribute an unlimited number of copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT; provided that [they're verbatim, include the EULA, aren't distributed for profit] > You may not rename, edit or create any derivative works from the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, other than subsetting when embedding them in documents. > You may permanently transfer all of your rights under this EULA, provided the recipient agrees to the terms of this EULA. So you can distribute and install them. You have to take some care, but you don't need to involve Microsoft, and you're not bound to the systems they were originally intended for. The Verdana Pro license (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement/#STANDARDAPPLICATIONLICENSETERMS https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement/#STANDARDA...) says things like: > You may install and use the application on Windows devices or Xbox consoles [...] > [You may not:] Work around any technical limitations in the application. So it's very limited.
- toyg 8y ago
  Man, Verdana gives me flashbacks of late-'90s messing with html. If it hits the typical 20-years fashion rota and gets cool again, I'll feel really old. It's the flannel shirt of fonts.
int_19h 8y ago
If you like bold fonts, try Terminus bold at around 16pt. Also, the old VGA font is surprisingly nice and legible. Can be had here: https://int10h.org/oldschool-pc-fonts/fontlist/ https://int10h.org/oldschool-pc-fonts/fontlist/

Stratoscope 8y ago

Like you, I'm not as young as I used to be. So I'm with you on the skinny fonts! One of my biggest pet peeves is web designers who think font-weight: 300; is a good idea. You might take a look at Trebuchet MS. One thing I like about it is that the strokes are nice and fat. At least on my high-DPI displays; haven't checked on a low or medium DPI display.

hmottestad 8y ago

+1 for Verdana. Been using it for 3 years now. Couldn't be happier.

int_19h 8y ago
For those who like Verdana, check this out. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/verdana-pro/9n8d67vhhdc2 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/verdana-pro/9n8d67vhhdc2 Coincidentally, I wonder if the license allows it to be downloaded and installed on other OSes, like the old "Microsoft core fonts" package that included Verdana.
- duckerude 8y ago
  >Coincidentally, I wonder if the license allows it to be downloaded and installed on other OSes, like the old "Microsoft core fonts" package that included Verdana. It doesn't look like it. The Microsoft core fonts EULA (https://web.archive.org/web/20091208063245/http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fontpack/eula.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20091208063245/http://www.micros...) says things like: > You may install and use an unlimited number of copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT. > You may reproduce and distribute an unlimited number of copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT; provided that [they're verbatim, include the EULA, aren't distributed for profit] > You may not rename, edit or create any derivative works from the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, other than subsetting when embedding them in documents. > You may permanently transfer all of your rights under this EULA, provided the recipient agrees to the terms of this EULA. So you can distribute and install them. You have to take some care, but you don't need to involve Microsoft, and you're not bound to the systems they were originally intended for. The Verdana Pro license (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement/#STANDARDAPPLICATIONLICENSETERMS https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement/#STANDARDA...) says things like: > You may install and use the application on Windows devices or Xbox consoles [...] > [You may not:] Work around any technical limitations in the application. So it's very limited.
toyg 8y ago
Man, Verdana gives me flashbacks of late-'90s messing with html. If it hits the typical 20-years fashion rota and gets cool again, I'll feel really old. It's the flannel shirt of fonts.

int_19h 8y ago

If you like bold fonts, try Terminus bold at around 16pt. Also, the old VGA font is surprisingly nice and legible. Can be had here: https://int10h.org/oldschool-pc-fonts/fontlist/ https://int10h.org/oldschool-pc-fonts/fontlist/