Alternate fonts for console windows? [closed]

Question

I like to find some new/interesting fixed width fonts for console.

We all know Lucida/Courier, what else?

Update

So, the winner is Consolas (which indeed is built in in new Windows 7)

Jeff had good topic (and a later revisit of the topic) that about that:

Other interesting fonts are:

• Inconsolata
• Proggy Clean
• Terminus
• 6x13 (if you need small font )

Answer 1

Consolas.

I found Consolas from Jeff's blog. It is by far my favorite monospaced font.

Answer 2

6x13 - the classic xterm font. Its claim to fame is that it is 6 pixels wide, where the smallest useful size of Lucida Console is 7 pixels wide. Using 6x13 an 80 column terminal or editor window is 480 pixels wide plus scrollbars and window borders. This means that a 1024 pixel screen is wide enough for two editor or shell windows side by side and a 1600 pixel screen is wide enough for three.

While 1024 pixel screens are a bit outmoded on PC's these days they are widely found on netbooks. 1600x1200 screens were widely used on PC's and many laptops have 1600x900 screens, so this font has a couple of sweet spots depending on what type of screen you have.

A windows version can be downloaded here. There are also several 6-pixel wide X11 fonts that are less than 13 pixels high (often named 'clear'), so you can get more lines on the screen. However, I've never seen windows .FON conversions of them. Note that these are bitmap fonts and while fairly frugal with screen real-estate they are not scalable and do not support antialiasing.

P.S. having said that, I'm using Lucida Console on Windows at work, although I have two 1280x1024 screens which are wide enough for it. Lucida console is not quite as tall as 6x13 so it gives more lines for a given number of pixels vertically. At home I have two 1600x1200 displays and use 6x13 on Linux and Lucida Console on Windows for Visual Studio.

Answer 3

There is a nice list of monospaced fonts here, which might provide some inspiration.

update: broken link

I have updated the link above, from @jleedev's comment, but, as he points out, the links to the images appear to be broken. Appologies.

old link was: http://www.lowing.org/fonts/

Answer 4

Proggy or Terminus (ter-112n 9pt), both are excellent for coding too.

Answer 5

FixedSys, Consolas, Sans Serif.

Answer 6

You could try e.g. Consolas. However, other fonts must be configured in the Registry (see http://blog.wolffmyren.com/2008/09/15/consolas-as-cmdexe-windows-console-font/)

Answer 7

Andale Mono is another option I've played with (although I didn't settle on it).

Answer 8

This programmer's font is great if you find coding too easy and want something else to think about while you're working, or you're mounting some kind of offensive campaign against your eyes for some reason.

Answer 9

I was a Consolas freak for quite a while but I have just converted to Monaco -- it's an Apple font available for windows too. Very easy on the eye .. but maybe I just like curvy things ;)

Answer 10

Droid Sans Mono is the one and only.

Answer 11

something monospace and sans serif, don't care otherwise

Answer 12

Consolas 10pt

Answer 13

So, the winner is Consolas

Jeff had good topic about that:

Other interesting fonts are:

• Inconsolata
• Proggy Clean
• Terminus
• 6x13 (if you need small font http://www.hassings.dk/lars/fonts.html)

Answer 14

Consolas if you are a Windows only dude (it looked like garbage when I tried it elsewhere). Inconsolata if you are on other platforms.

Answer 15

ProFont is a great alternative to Monaco (slashed zeroes, more distinct punctuation marks, can tell the difference between I, l and 1.)

Answer 16

Fixed 18 Medium. Very clear, supports many characters, and it comes with X.

The only issue I've had with it is that gnome-terminal will do some adjustments on the font size. That is, I have yet to see the real fixed-18 in gnome-terminal(xterm ftw). And, if you don't get the real fixed-18 it just looks like garbage, IMO.

Answer 17

I think white rabbit (font used in the matix movie) is one of the best geeky font.

Answer 18

I'm using Vera Monospace Roman, both in my shell and in my editor. :)