JDK-6723443 : Monospace font should use Consolas under Windows Vista
  • Type: Enhancement
  • Component: client-libs
  • Sub-Component: 2d
  • Affected Version: 6u10
  • Priority: P5
  • Status: Closed
  • Resolution: Won't Fix
  • OS: windows_vista
  • CPU: x86
  • Submitted: 2008-07-08
  • Updated: 2011-02-16
  • Resolved: 2008-07-08
Description
A DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUEST :
Windows Vista introduces the Consolas to replace the Courier font. The new font is a lot easier to read.

The JDK should default to using Consolas instead of Courier under Windows Vista.

JUSTIFICATION :
Consolas is easier to read than Courier. Users will expect Java to look like other native applications which will switch over to Consolas over time.
Comments
EVALUATION This was considered in the JDK 6 development time frame. It isn't just monospaced, there's also serif and sansserif which arguably should map to Cambria and Segoe UI. There are several reasons why it wasn't done. 1) Compatibility - Applications expect the JDK logical fonts to remain completely unchanged. 2) Quality - These ClearType fonts do not render particularly well except in "ClearType" mode. Many JDK applications expect the logical fonts to be ones that render well in all modes. 3) Fidelity with native apps is the role of the Windows Look and Feel. - Using Consolas isn't remotely sufficient to make the app look like a native app. The Swing Windows Look and Feel picks up this work, and it is hooked into the fonts used by native apps, and will use the appropriate fonts. #1 and #2 are definite concerns. For #1 and we'd need to be comfortable with the potential for breaking some apps expectations, and for #2 we'd have to at least make cleartype mode the default for these fonts, whereas the long standing default is B&W. That change could also break some apps. So for at least for now there are no plans to implement this.
08-07-2008