We've already written about important VS Code extensions to become a more productive developer. We've also written about VS Code icon packs to make your files and folders look better. But there's one thing we haven't yet written about that could really improve your coding experience: programming fonts.
After all, if you spend hours every day reading and writing code, you may as well use a programming font that you enjoy looking at. One that makes code as legible as possible. In this article, we've collected fifteen popular and free programming fonts that are worth trying out. Whether you prefer clarity, customization, or a touch of personality in your programming font, we've got something for everyone.
Fira Code is a popular monospaced font designed specifically for programming. It uses ligatures that combine common programming symbols like -> and <= into single characters, making them faster and nicer to read.
Cascadia Code is a versatile monospaced font developed by Microsoft that was so popular it became the default font in Visual Studio. It uses programming ligatures, customizable line spacing, and a range of weights and styles. Cascadia Code is well-suited for coding in various programming languages and environments.
Mononoki is a clean and modern monospaced font designed by Matthias Tellen. It offers clear distinction between characters, making it easy to read code even at smaller sizes (or lower resolutions). Mononoki's minimalist design and consistent spacing contribute to a pleasant coding experience.
Monaspace is a simple and elegant monospaced font superfamily optimized for programming. Its clean and legible design, combined with well-defined characters, makes reading code easy across different coding environments and screen resolutions. There are a few options, but we like Monaspace Neon and Monaspace Argon the best.
Comic Mono is a playful and unconventional monospaced font that adds a touch of whimsy to your programming environment. While not traditionally associated with programming, Comic Mono is a unique and lighthearted alternative for developers wanting some personality in the way their code looks.
Agave is a succulent monospaced font with a sleek and stylish design. Its clean lines and balanced proportions make it suitable for coding in various programming languages. Agave's readability and versatility make it a popular choice among developers.
Inconsolata is a classic monospaced font known for its clarity and legibility. Developed by Raph Levien, Inconsolata features subtle design elements that enhance readability and make it ideal for long coding sessions.
JetBrains Mono is a modern monospaced font developed by JetBrains, the creators of popular IDEs such as IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm. It features ligatures, a clear distinction between characters, and customizable line spacing for better readability and developer productivity.
Cousine is a versatile sans serif font designed for programming and technical documentation. Designed by Steve Matteson, Cousine offers a balance between readability and aesthetics, making it suitable for coding in different environments.
This one is for the Linux stans. Ubuntu Mono is a monospaced font designed specifically for the Ubuntu operating system. It features a clean and modern design, with clear distinction between characters and consistent spacing. Ubuntu Mono's readability and versatility make it a popular choice among Linux developers.
Meslo is a customizable monospaced font family designed for coding and terminal applications. A customized version of Apple's Menlo-Regular font, Meslo offers various weights and styles, as well as powerline symbols and support for programming ligatures, making it highly adaptable to different coding environments.
IBM Plex is a versatile typeface designed by IBM for use across various platforms and applications. Its monospaced variant, IBM Plex Mono, offers excellent readability and distinct character shapes, making it well-suited for coding and technical documentation.
Recursive is a unique monospaced font designed with variable fonts technology, which means you can dynamically adjust weight, width, and slant. Its innovative design and customizable features make it suitable for coding in different programming languages and environments.
Hack is a monospaced font specifically designed for source code and programming. It features a clean and consistent design with a clear distinction between characters, make it easy to read and use for developers working on coding projects.
Hasklig is a specialized programming font designed to enhance Haskell code readability. Developed by Ian Tuomi, it features unique ligatures and symbols tailored for Haskell syntax, making for cleaner and more intuitive code. While it's designed with Haskell in mind, this font works great for any programming language.
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