BlackBox Framework Center

When user first time download and install BlackBox the size of the default font is extremely small for new displays.

This line in HostFonts should be changed to

I agree that the default is too small.
I don't agree that this depends on the display resolution.
The visual appearance is scaled according to the display's DPIs (dots per inch).

The default font is used for the log window and for new text documents, mainly.
Most of our source code is in 9pt. So why not use 9 as the default?

- Josef

Josef Templ wrote:I agree that the default is too small.
I don't agree that this depends on the display resolution.
The visual appearance is scaled according to the display's DPIs (dots per inch).

The default font is used for the log window and for new text documents, mainly.
Most of our source code is in 9pt. So why not use 9 as the default?

- Josef

9pt is still too small, in my opinion.

For my own work I use 12pt
(but then 72 year old eyes don't see as well as 20 year old eyes).

Josef Templ wrote:I agree that the default is too small.
I don't agree that this depends on the display resolution.
The visual appearance is scaled according to the display's DPIs (dots per inch).

The default font is used for the log window and for new text documents, mainly.
Most of our source code is in 9pt. So why not use 9 as the default?

I am also use 9pt and DejaVu Sans Mono, but it looks bad with default Arial. For Arial 10pt look good.

Ivan Denisov wrote:For Arial 10pt look good.

My default usage is 10 pt Arial.

I use 9pt Arial.

BlackBox uses 9pt in its sources (from a quick check on some sources, not of all).
As far as I know there is nothing like a "default" font size, so the
size of the source code is fixed with 9pt.
Isn't this an indicator what to use for the default?

- Josef

I prepared the demo for 9pt and 10pt.

For 9pt you can see that many letters are joined (xt, wW). For 10pt all the letter drawn separately.

With 9pt our brain should make more hard work for split letters one from another. You will tied faster with 9pt. Of course if you already train your brain by the years of using 9pt it is easier for you, however for newbie this task is very hard. Newbie even do not know that he can change the default font in preferences dialog. He will be tired and disappointed.

I have good eye sight however prefer 10pt for Arial.

Ivan Denisov wrote:I prepared the demo for 9pt and 10pt.

For 9pt you can see that many letters are joined (xt, wW). For 10pt all the letter drawn separately.

...

I have good eye sight however prefer 10pt for Arial.

This example depends on the actual display resolution and settings. In addition,
it differs if subpixel rendering is activated or not and if true type metrics is activated or not.
(With the trend towards high resolution displays the rendering quality of
small fonts is generally improved.)

In general there is no right or wrong with the default settings.
This is to some degree a matter of personal preferences.

However, since it was 8pt for 20 years and nobody complained until recently,
I would not change it too much. The main disadvantage of using a larger font
is that you need more scrolling when reading program texts, in the log window
you get more line breaks, etc.
That's why 9pt was used as a trade-off between readability and navigation effort
in the BB sources.

- Josef

I think that altering this default is an unnecessary change, and currently intend to vote against any such change.

Robert wrote:I think that altering this default is an unnecessary change, and currently intend to vote against any such change.

The aim of the Center is to distribute BlackBox, to make it used wider. This 8pt is the atavism from the time of small resolutions. The first impression of the user plays very big role in general experience of the product. So that is why default font size should be changed.

I think, that small prevoting poll should be created to resolve this discussion.