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Font: Courier New Size: 9 is flawed for programming and other serious documents
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skybuck2000
Dec 8, 2020, 2:20:59 AM12/8/20
to
I just ran into the stranges code:
var
Lan1 : SomeType;
begin
Lanl.SomeFunction();
The compiler nagged it couldn't find the variable.
So I copied the code into textpad which uses slightly bigger font.
Thanks to the bigger font I noticed the difference between 1 and l.
Otherwise it was hard to catch and I might have believed it may have been some strange unicode symbol.
Turns out the courier new font at size 9 is simply flawed for programming, the 1 and l is exactly the same. Even at higher sizes the difference is minor, 1 pixel or so. Perhaps not use this font anymore for programming or make a slight change to it so the 1 and l remains different at hopefully all font sizes !
(My current Delphi 10.2 development environment uses it ! Not sure if this is the default or if I set it like that ! ;))
Euhm my recommendation is to write all C/C++ code for confuscating contests with 1 and l symbols only for futher complexifieing analysis of code ! LOL.
I also took the courtesy of adding this warning to the wikipedia about courier new, feel free to start a wiki war with me and others ! LOL =D
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courier_(typeface)#In_computer_programming
My soon to be famous text added is:
"
Warning
This font is not suited for programming or any other serious documentation. The numeric one and small letter L look to similiar example: 1 vs l
On some development environments it's exactly the same depending on font size, for example at size 9 the one pixel difference is gone.
"
Bye,
Skybuck.
P.S.: When I discovered this bug I went like: "HOOOOLLYYYSHIIIT"
Then later: "PPPPPPFFFFFFffffff"
Also I am not the first to have found this, there are a few other mentions found by google !
P.S.2: For fun let me know if your current newsgroup/mail reader has this problem too, or your development environment, or document editor would be funny to know ! =D
P.S.3: I wonder if a NASA or ESA space lander will someday crash because of a wrong l vs 1 ! LOL. Perhaps by uploading a wrong script or wrong math formulas ;) :)
P.S.4: I recommend writing a computer program that does a visual inspection of all symbols vs all symbols (for all font sizes) (and even all fonts !) and do a pixel by pixel comparision to detect any other similiar problems or perhaps too few pixel
differences !
var
Lan1 : SomeType;
begin
Lanl.SomeFunction();
The compiler nagged it couldn't find the variable.
So I copied the code into textpad which uses slightly bigger font.
Thanks to the bigger font I noticed the difference between 1 and l.
Otherwise it was hard to catch and I might have believed it may have been some strange unicode symbol.
Turns out the courier new font at size 9 is simply flawed for programming, the 1 and l is exactly the same. Even at higher sizes the difference is minor, 1 pixel or so. Perhaps not use this font anymore for programming or make a slight change to it so the 1 and l remains different at hopefully all font sizes !
(My current Delphi 10.2 development environment uses it ! Not sure if this is the default or if I set it like that ! ;))
Euhm my recommendation is to write all C/C++ code for confuscating contests with 1 and l symbols only for futher complexifieing analysis of code ! LOL.
I also took the courtesy of adding this warning to the wikipedia about courier new, feel free to start a wiki war with me and others ! LOL =D
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courier_(typeface)#In_computer_programming
My soon to be famous text added is:
"
Warning
This font is not suited for programming or any other serious documentation. The numeric one and small letter L look to similiar example: 1 vs l
On some development environments it's exactly the same depending on font size, for example at size 9 the one pixel difference is gone.
"
Bye,
Skybuck.
P.S.: When I discovered this bug I went like: "HOOOOLLYYYSHIIIT"
Then later: "PPPPPPFFFFFFffffff"
Also I am not the first to have found this, there are a few other mentions found by google !
P.S.2: For fun let me know if your current newsgroup/mail reader has this problem too, or your development environment, or document editor would be funny to know ! =D
P.S.3: I wonder if a NASA or ESA space lander will someday crash because of a wrong l vs 1 ! LOL. Perhaps by uploading a wrong script or wrong math formulas ;) :)
P.S.4: I recommend writing a computer program that does a visual inspection of all symbols vs all symbols (for all font sizes) (and even all fonts !) and do a pixel by pixel comparision to detect any other similiar problems or perhaps too few pixel
differences !
wolfgang kern
Dec 8, 2020, 10:27:30 PM12/8/20
to
On 08.12.2020 08:20, skybuck2000 wrote:
[about courier new ...]
programming hints:
1.) always use fix size fonts
2.) chose fonts where zeros aren't Ohs and B wont look like 8
3.) don't use any fix size font smaller than 12 pixel [best: 8*12 char]
4.) never try to correct interprete down zoomed source lines.
recommended: Courier New or Lucinda Console.
> I also took the courtesy of adding this warning to the wikipedia ..
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courier_(typeface)#In_computer_programming
I'd feel much better if you'd never touch wikipedia.
folks like you want to do something good but mess it all up, as usual.
__
wolfgang
[about courier new ...]
programming hints:
1.) always use fix size fonts
2.) chose fonts where zeros aren't Ohs and B wont look like 8
3.) don't use any fix size font smaller than 12 pixel [best: 8*12 char]
4.) never try to correct interprete down zoomed source lines.
recommended: Courier New or Lucinda Console.
> I also took the courtesy of adding this warning to the wikipedia ..
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courier_(typeface)#In_computer_programming
I'd feel much better if you'd never touch wikipedia.
folks like you want to do something good but mess it all up, as usual.
__
wolfgang
Bernhard Schornak
Dec 9, 2020, 2:43:17 AM12/9/20
to
wolfgang kern wrote:
> recommended: Courier New or Lucinda Console.
I prefer Consolas in 11 pt. size for source code. Definitely the
> recommended: Courier New or Lucinda Console.
best and easiest to read font on Windoze systems with sufficient
lines printed on the screen (10 pt is too small)... ;)
Screenshot: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C5D965wgWFSOAv9lEdvs0vb3Mp92rvhw/view?usp=sharing
Pfüat'Di!
Bernhard
Robert Riebisch
Dec 9, 2020, 9:42:24 AM12/9/20
to
Bernhard Schornak wrote:
>> recommended: Courier New or Lucinda Console.
>
>
> I prefer Consolas in 11 pt. size for source code. Definitely the
> best and easiest to read font on Windoze systems with sufficient
> lines printed on the screen (10 pt is too small)... ;)
Other recommended fonts:
>> recommended: Courier New or Lucinda Console.
>
>
> I prefer Consolas in 11 pt. size for source code. Definitely the
> best and easiest to read font on Windoze systems with sufficient
> lines printed on the screen (10 pt is too small)... ;)
- DejaVu Sans Mono (Dotted 0)
- Droid Sans Mono Dotted 0
- Droid Sans Mono Slashed 0
- Dina (Slashed 0)
But it's also a matter of taste.
More:
- https://developer-tech.com/news/2018/may/16/10-best-fonts-programming/
- https://www.fossmint.com/best-programming-fonts/
- https://www.google.com/search?q=windows+best+programming+font
--
Robert Riebisch
skybuck2000
Dec 25, 2020, 12:53:02 AM12/25/20
to
I am not sure if you are serious or not.
Hmmm now that I type this message groups.google.com seems to have quite a nice font, not sure what it is, probably not suited for programming though.
The worst font so far I have seen in use on the internet is some kind of "robot" font, that one should be banned... forum.worldofwarships.eu uses it, it's horribly rendered in opera and chrome.
I tried consolas in 11 pt in textpad
It kinda looks a big rough around the ages it doesn't smooth/alias nicely... the 1 vs l isn't really that much better.
Also this will take a lot more space vertically. I can't recommend it on smaller monitors.
Maybe it's ok if you have 2k or 4K monitor.
It looks a bit funky but I do not recommend you use it for pro-longed peroids of time it will surely fatigue your eyes.
Plus the reduction in vertical lines will make it harder to see what code does.
Bye for now,
Skybuck.
skybuck2000
Dec 25, 2020, 1:07:53 AM12/25/20
to
Bye bye,
Skybuck :P*****
Bernhard Schornak
Dec 25, 2020, 2:49:14 AM12/25/20
to
skybuck2000 wrote:
> Maybe it's ok if you have 2k or 4K monitor.
I have a Philips BDM4350 (43 inch, 3840 * 2160). My post was a
> Maybe it's ok if you have 2k or 4K monitor.
suggestion, and you *never* have seen the picture I linked nor
tried it if you argue "there's no difference between 1 and l".
If 112 lines of text still aren't enough, you should turn your
monitor 90 degrees like the old Apple monitors.
https://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/BDM4350UC_00/brilliance-4k-ultra-hd-lcd-display
Winter Solstice is over, so no merry whatever...
Bernhard Schornak
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