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We've got feedback on the 4.1 beta announcement that the default font size is too small. Currently we are using 11 pixel font size as default. We have discussed this issue on usability meeting and agreed that the font size should be increased. The reasons for this are: 1. Other IDEs use bigger font sizes thus increasing the font size will make it easier for users to move to NetBeans. 2. The most widely used screen resolutions have changed during several last years. 3. Increasing the font size will improve out of box experience as source code will be easier readable without changing any settings in tools->options dialog. My suggestion for the new font size is 12 pixels. As we've agreed there's not a single person responsible for this decision. Thus I put on CC people who I think should be most relevant for making an agreement. If anybody's against 12 pixels please speak up with your reasons. Thanks.
I have just checked all other IDEs and made an interesting observation. If you open the same java file in all IDEs and try to switch from one window to another, the text remains almost on the same position. So the font size and type in other IDEs is almost identical. In this comparison of 4 IDEs only NetBeans uses a smaller font unlike the 3 others. I have screenshots for those who are interested to see it. I've compared the IDEs with their default settings on a standard WinXP desktop.
Let's increase the default fontsize from 11 to 12.
I'll change that.
The editor's font is taken from UIManager.getFont("TextField.font") which is 11 by default. As I assume that we do not want to change the font in textfields I've made the editor's default fontsize to be UIManager.getFont("TextField.font") + 1 The default fontsize is only used if it's not changed in the editor options explicitly. Integrated in trunk: Checking in libsrc/org/netbeans/editor/SettingsDefaults.java; /cvs/editor/libsrc/org/netbeans/editor/SettingsDefaults.java,v <-- SettingsDefaults.java new revision: 1.50; previous revision: 1.49
I do not object against setting default to 12. It is OK. I do not like Mila's implementation - if I start IDE w/ --fontsize it will use a different value than I have passed. Why? Similar holds with GTK L&F where the IDE should reuse system setting without any modification. Maybe +1 can have some performance impact if someone tries to run with large font as we may need to resize to unusal size
You're right, Radime, thanks for pointing this. I have digged into processing of the -fontsize and the UIManager.get("customFontSize") is set in that case. So I've changed the implementation to respect the custom font size if it was set. Checking in libsrc/org/netbeans/editor/SettingsDefaults.java; /cvs/editor/libsrc/org/netbeans/editor/SettingsDefaults.java,v <-- SettingsDefaults.java new revision: 1.51; previous revision: 1.50
Verified on 200503101100.