Best font for source code editing

[alex]

There are several reasons to use monospaced font for source code editing.

First reason: only with monospaced font, indented text would be placed on same horizontal level. Even if indented block starts not from line start.
Second reason: block/column selection works well only with monospaced font.

Here are some monospaced fonts that fit best for code editing:

Courier New - most standard, installed on every Windows system, has rather big Unicode char set (on XP and higher)
Microsoft Consolas – visually better then Courier New, installed by default on Vista and higher, has very big Unicode char set.
Inconsolata – perfect font for source editing, small, distributed with Open Font License, but bold style, for my taste is too thick. Also, has only European char set.
Dina - another free programmers font. User comment: In my HE it looks like that - cool and solid by Arthur.

In the HippoEDIT, font can be adjusted for every syntax, but by default all fonts' settings are inherited from Default syntax schema (only Plain Text overrides it by Lucida Console, to be similar to Notepad).
You can find font settings in main menu: Tools->Options->Syntax Settings->Default (or any interested syntax) ->Fonts & Colors. If Show only monospaced fonts flag is not set, then on all monospaced fonts in list would be highlighted with a color. If you want to use font from parent syntax, just select inherit from Parent Syntax Name in the list. This is first entry.

If you can suggest something better, just post here, I would update list with recommendations.

Just have found perfect article with monospaced font comparison on CodeProject.com from Hans Dietrich. Article contains big set of monospace font examples with preview and description.

[allen]

My personal favorite font is MonteCarlo.  It is a smooth sans serif font--sort of a fixed width verdana.  It's tiny, but remarkably readable at its fixed 8pt size. 

[alex]

One more good monspaced programers font (from programmer to programmers):
http://damieng.com/blog/2008/05/26/envy-code-r-preview-7-coding-font-released

[knn]

Bitstream Vera Sans Mono

[kryten]

My favourites are:-

Monaco
Bitstream Vera Sans Mono
Envy Code R
Consolas
Corbel ( Surprisingly readable and pleasant to look at )

Cheers,
Stuart

[vi.]

I tried almost every monospaced font available on internet.
My favorite list;
- Monaco
- Envy Code R
- Bitstream Vera Sans Mono

[Ramon]

My requirements for fonts based on monotype and most complete Unicode support.

[alex]

Yes, full Unicode support is also valid argument. Most MS fonts have full Unicode set, but Envy Code R for example is only English (for rest I do not remember).

[Anonymous]

DejaVu Sans Mono - it designed for ClearType, and have Cyrillic characters.
Microsoft Consolas is good, but on XP its only intended for licensed users of Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 or 2008.

[alex]

• Input font family - free for personal use
• Source Code Pro - Adobe free font
• Hasklig

[SolarAxix]

I am currently using DejaVu Sans Mono, which was already mentioned, and I like it quite a bit.

I would like to know how I can make it the default font in HippoEDIT where I wouldn't need to go inside each Syntax type to change it.

[alex]

In HippoEDIT all syntax schemes inheriting from Default schema. Than from Default Source and Default Text.
And on every inheritance layer (you see inheritance chain in any Fonts and Colors in breadcrumb above) you can overwrite the font properties.

So, in default configuration, it is enough to changed Font Name for Default Source and that is all. XML inherits from Default Text, if you need it, you can also overwrite it for XML or for Default Text.

P.S: At least so it is designed :/. If you see in any Font and Colors section "Consolas" - it is a bug, I will fix in next build... But overwriting in "Default Source" still works, even it shown wrong.

[SolarAxix]

Thanks Alex! It was easy to change the Default font using the method you desrcibed.

[jaka]

Sorry for replying old thread, but I think there is not that much traffic here, so I like to suggest a font I use always when monotype font needed: Hack. I think it is not mentioned yet here.
You can download it on the official web site.

For my taste, Hack is a clear and fresh font.

[alex]

Hello jaka,

thanks for pointing it out. I have updated your post and added the link to the official website of the font.

BR, Alex.