Please add support for Open Type Bitmap fonts

[DanPartelly]

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Describe the feature

Please consider adding support for open type bitmap fonts in Zed. Currently I cannot use them, Zed complains for example that Terminus is not a valid font selection.

Currently, true type font rendering is subjectively bad on Linux (and prolly other OSes) on any normal DPI monitors. The blurriness is pretty high, which makes it very uncomfortable for many eyes, especially for older persons. Until the vast majority of used monitors are 180+ DPI I believe support for bitmaps is crucial to support long programming sessions in any editor. The difference in crispiness of the text is enormous, and it is very easy on the eyes of the user.

If applicable, add mockups / screenshots to help present your vision of the feature

No response

[AlexDaniel]

Hm. In VS Code, I'm using a TTF version of terminus that is very crisp. However, in Zed, it's very blurry. I think an alternative to this is to have better TTF support.

[AlexDaniel]

See also: #7992 (comment)

[JackNWhite]

Hm. In VS Code, I'm using a TTF version of terminus that is very crisp. However, in Zed, it's very blurry. I think an alternative to this is to have better TTF support.

I use real Terminus in Sublime Text and my terminal and the TTF facsimile cannot compete. Better vector font rendering is a good thing, but it is not an alternative to bitmap font rendering. Lack of OTB support is a big reason why I don't use VS Code - it is that big of a deal.

[AlexDaniel]

@JackNWhite TTF version of terminus ends up being pixel perfect (same as the bitmap font) in VS Code. Personally, I think that it is an alternative. I mean, why not, if the pixels end up being the same?

[JackNWhite]

@AlexDaniel It's never been my experience in any software that Terminus TTF is rendered pixel perfect, which is why I am so keen on OTB font support.

[JackNWhite]

For the record @AlexDaniel perhaps this apparent difference in DPI is a reason why it doesn't work for you. I tried out Fira Code in both Zed and Sublime Text at size 15, but they are very different.