The Windows program SecureCRT from VanDyke Software ships a font called "vt100" which is very close to Misc Fixed found on most default X installs. These have superior legibility for fixed width fonts.

I find the Courier family quite illegible for reading code. Based on the ridiculously out-of-proportion @ alone, I'd throw it out. The most wonderful screen font is Verdana, but not for code, as it is not fixed-width. The Verdana and Tahoma benchmarks at MS included reading printed 5 point material from across the room (15 feet away iirc).

I'd give the Lucida Console fonts a #2 rating - they are pretty close to the ideal, but usually look too "tall" or "narrow" for my taste.

If at any time you notice any detail about the font, or any detail about a particular character, you've just gotten closer to knowing what the ideal isn't :)

This is a hugely important area and I'm surprised it isn't brought up more by programmers..

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