* '''Launchpad Entry''': https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/font-design-toolkit
 * '''Created''': by NicolasSpalinger
 * '''Contributors''': 
 * '''Packages affected''': fontforge, open-font-design-toolkit

== Summary ==

Making Ubuntu the ideal environment to design libre/open fonts

== Rationale ==

The vast majority of font designers use OS X and some use Windows-specific tools. With common standards (opentype) more are thinking cross-platform and most are using some libre/open plugins along with the current proprietary stack of font design tools (FontLab and friends). Improving the available tools, integrating them and providing a rich and intuitive design environment similar to what the font design community is already accustomed to will help.

== Use cases ==

Simon wants to add glyphs to an existing open font and would like to have all the stack needed to do proper font design easily installed. He would like a friendly and non-restricted environment where he can reuse his experience from designing fonts on other OSes. He would like as much interoperability and standard-based apps as possible so that his fonts can be developed and used cross-platform.


== Scope ==

We will list available 

 * tools 
 * research papers
 * tutorials
 * font sources to contribute to
 * font sources to branch from 

And gather useful information about the font design community

 * FLOSS-friendly designers
 * FLOSS-friendly websites and forums
 * font design community real-life meetups (conference and workshops)

== Design ==

Creating a meta-package to get the font design toolkit easily installed: 

see '''apt-get install open-font-design-toolkit''' (this set of design tools will be adjusted as needed)

Creating online and offline resources for open font designers.

== Implementation ==


Integrating the following tools:

 * fontforge, fontforge-doc, inkscape, gimp
 * freetype-tools, libfont-ttf-perl, fonttools, gwaterfall, freetype-demos, oto, sfddiff, fontQA, ttx, robofab, superpolator
 * gfontsampler, gucharmap, guci, scribus-font-preview
 * a selection of useful mozilla extensions

Doing an UI review for fontforge, suggesting usability enhancements. Helping with the GTK+ port, looking at a common format with FontLab either though import/export filters or a common XML-based format like UFO. Integrating the various small scripts lying around. 

See FontforgeImprovements.

See the various tools as listed on the Open Font Library wiki: http://openfontlibrary.org/wiki/Tools

And the various utilities on http://utilities.open-fonts.org/

Integration with revision control and best practises around source tree layout is also desirable. 


=== Code ===

=== Data preservation and migration ===

== Outstanding issues ==

== BoF agenda and discussion ==

discussion of related specs: OpenFonts FontManagement


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