Cascadia Code: A New Font for Windows Terminal and Code Editors
If you are looking for a fun, new, and modern font that enhances your coding experience, you might want to check out Cascadia Code. Cascadia Code is a monospaced font that includes programming ligatures and is designed to work well with Windows Terminal, Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, and other code editors. In this article, we will introduce you to Cascadia Code, show you how to download and install it, and give you some tips on how to use it effectively.
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What is Cascadia Code?
Cascadia Code is a new font from Microsoft that was released in 2019. It was developed alongside Windows Terminal, a new terminal application for Windows 10 that supports multiple tabs, panes, Unicode and UTF-8 characters, custom themes, styles, and configurations.
The origin and purpose of Cascadia Code
The name Cascadia Code originates from the Windows Terminal project. Initially, the Windows Terminal team wanted to use Consolas as the default font for their application. However, they realized that Consolas does not have programming ligatures, which are special glyphs that combine two or more characters into one symbol. For example, the characters "==" can be merged into a single equal sign, or the characters "=>" can be merged into a single arrow.
Programming ligatures can make code more readable and elegant, especially for languages like F#, Scala, Haskell, or JavaScript. Therefore, the Windows Terminal team decided to create a new font that supports programming ligatures and also looks good on the terminal. They chose to base their new font on Fira Mono, a free monospaced font that already has some ligatures. They also added some extra features, such as Powerline symbols (which are useful for displaying information in the prompt) and cursive italic variants (which are useful for distinguishing comments from code).
The result is Cascadia Code, a font that is not only suitable for Windows Terminal, but also for any code editor or command-line application that supports custom fonts. Cascadia Code is open source and licensed under the SIL Open Font License, which means anyone can use it for free, modify it, or contribute to its development.
How to install cascadia code font on windows 10
Cascadia code vs cascadia mono: which one to use
Cascadia code powerline: a version of cascadia with embedded symbols
Cascadia code ligatures: how to enable them in VS Code
Cascadia code github: where to find the latest releases and source code
Cascadia code variable font: how to use it and why it's better
Cascadia code cursive italic: how to access it via stylistic sets
Cascadia code web font: how to use it on your website
Cascadia code vs consolas: a comparison of two popular monospaced fonts
Cascadia code vs fira code: another comparison of coding fonts
Cascadia code license: what you need to know before using it
Cascadia code otf: for users who prefer OTF format fonts
Cascadia code woff2: for web use and smaller file size
Cascadia code ttf: for users who prefer TTF format fonts
Cascadia code update: what's new in the latest version
Cascadia code vscode: how to set it as the default font in Visual Studio Code
Cascadia code visual studio: how to set it as the default font in Visual Studio
Cascadia code windows terminal: how to set it as the default font in Windows Terminal
Cascadia code sublime text: how to set it as the default font in Sublime Text
Cascadia code atom: how to set it as the default font in Atom
Cascadia code notepad++: how to set it as the default font in Notepad++
Cascadia code jetbrains: how to set it as the default font in JetBrains IDEs
Cascadia code emacs: how to set it as the default font in Emacs
Cascadia code vim: how to set it as the default font in Vim
Cascadia code linux: how to install and use it on Linux
Cascadia code macos: how to install and use it on MacOS
Cascadia code android studio: how to set it as the default font in Android Studio
Cascadia code xcode: how to set it as the default font in Xcode
Cascadia code eclipse: how to set it as the default font in Eclipse
Cascadia code netbeans: how to set it as the default font in NetBeans
Cascadia code brackets: how to set it as the default font in Brackets
Cascadia code review: what are the pros and cons of this font
Cascadia code alternatives: what are some other good coding fonts
Cascadia code unicode support: what characters and languages are supported by this font
Cascadia code character sets: what are the different variants of this font and what do they include
Cascadia code features: what are the special features of this font such as ligatures and glyphs
Cascadia code documentation: where to find more information and instructions about this font
Cascadia code feedback: where to submit and view feedback for this font
Cascadia code contribution: how to contribute to this font project on GitHub
Cascadia code history: how this font was developed and by whom
The features and variants of Cascadia Code
Cascadia Code has several features that make it appealing for coding:
It has a modern and clean design that is easy on the eyes.
It has a large character set that covers many languages and symbols.
It has programming ligatures that enhance the readability and aesthetics of code.
It has Powerline symbols that enable rich prompt customization.
It has cursive italic variants that add flair to comments and annotations.
It has variable font options that allow fine-tuned weight adjustments.
Cascadia Code also has several variants that cater to different preferences:
Cascadia Code: The standard version of Cascadia that includes ligatures.
Cascadia Mono: A version of Cascadia that does not have ligatures.
Cascadia (CodeMono) PL: A version of Cascadia that has embedded Powerline symbols.
How to download and install Cascadia Code?
If you want to try out Cascadia Code on your machine, you need to download it from its GitHub repository and install it on your system. Here are the steps to do so:
The download options and formats of Cascadia Code
You can download the latest version of Cascadia Code from the releases page here: . You will see several files with different extensions, such as .ttf, .otf, .woff2, and .zip. These are different formats of the font that you can choose depending on your platform and application. Here is a brief explanation of each format:
Format
Description
.ttf
TrueType Font. A common font format that is supported by most operating systems and applications.
.otf
OpenType Font. A newer font format that has more features and capabilities than TrueType, such as variable fonts.
.woff2
Web Open Font Format 2. A compressed font format that is optimized for web use.
.zip
A compressed archive that contains all the other formats in one file.
If you are not sure which format to download, we recommend downloading the .zip file, which contains all the formats and variants of Cascadia Code. You can then extract the file and choose the format and variant that suits your needs.
The installation steps for different platforms and applications
Once you have downloaded the font file, you need to install it on your system. The installation steps may vary depending on your operating system and the application you want to use Cascadia Code with. Here are some general guidelines for installing Cascadia Code on different platforms and applications:
Windows 10
If you are using Windows 10, you can install Cascadia Code by following these steps:
Right-click on the font file and select Install for all users. This will install the font in the C:\Windows\Fonts folder.
Alternatively, you can open the Settings app and go to Personalization > Fonts. Then click on the + icon next to Add fonts and browse to the font file. This will install the font in the C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Fonts folder.
To use Cascadia Code in Windows Terminal, open the Settings UI by pressing Ctrl+, or by clicking on the dropdown menu and selecting Settings. Then go to Appearance > Font face and select Cascadia Code from the list.
To use Cascadia Code in Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code, open the settings and search for font. Then change the value of Editor: Font Family to Cascadia Code.
macOS
If you are using macOS, you can install Cascadia Code by following these steps:
Double-click on the font file and click on Install Font. This will install the font in the /Library/Fonts folder.
To use Cascadia Code in Terminal, open the Preferences and go to Profiles > Text. Then click on Change under Font and select Cascadia Code from the list.
To use Cascadia Code in Visual Studio Code, open the settings and search for font. Then change the value of Editor: Font Family to Cascadia Code.
Linux
If you are using Linux, you can install Cascadia Code by following these steps:
Copy the font file to the /.fonts folder. If the folder does not exist, create it first.
Run the command fc-cache -f -v to update the font cache.
To use Cascadia Code in Terminal, open the Preferences and go to Profiles > General. Then click on Custom font under Text Appearance and select Cascadia Code from the list.
To use Cascadia Code in Visual Studio Code, open the settings and search for font. Then change the value of Editor: Font Family to Cascadia Code.
How to use Cascadia Code?
Cascadia Code is a versatile font that can be used for various purposes, such as coding, scripting, writing, or even gaming. However, there are some things you should know before using it:
The benefits and drawbacks of Cascadia Code
Cascadia Code has many benefits that make it a great choice for coding:
It has a clear and consistent design that reduces eye strain and improves readability.
It has programming ligatures that simplify and beautify code expressions.
It has Powerline symbols that enable rich prompt customization.
It has cursive italic variants that add flair to comments and annotations.
It has variable font options that allow fine-tuned weight adjustments.
It is open source and free to use, modify, or contribute to.
It may not be compatible with some older or legacy applications that do not support custom fonts or ligatures.
It may not look good on some low-resolution or small screens that do not render fonts well.
It may not suit your personal taste or style preferences, especially if you are used to other fonts.
Therefore, you should always test Cascadia Code on your own device and application before using it for your projects. You can also customize Cascadia Code to your liking by changing its size, color, weight, or ligatures settings.
The comparison and alternatives of Cascadia Code
Cascadia Code is not the only font that is designed for coding. There are many other fonts that have similar or different features and styles. Here are some of the most popular and widely used coding fonts that you can compare and contrast with Cascadia Code:
Font
Description
Consolas
A default font for Windows and Visual Studio that has a clear and elegant design. It does not have ligatures or Powerline symbols.
Fira Code
A font based on Fira Mono that has programming ligatures and a modern look. It does not have Powerline symbols or cursive italic variants.
JetBrains Mono
A font created by JetBrains that has programming ligatures, increased line height, and distinctive shapes. It does not have Powerline symbols or cursive italic variants.
Monaco
A default font for macOS and Xcode that has a simple and clean design. It does not have ligatures or Powerline symbols.
Source Code Pro
A font from Adobe that has a balanced and professional design. It does not have ligatures or Powerline symbols.
You can find more coding fonts here: to preview and compare different fonts in various code snippets.
Conclusion
Cascadia Code is a new font from Microsoft that is designed for Windows Terminal, Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, and other code editors. It has programming ligatures, Powerline symbols, cursive italic variants, and variable font options. It is open source and free to use, modify, or contribute to. You can download it from its GitHub repository and install it on your system. You can also customize it to your liking by changing its size, color, weight, or ligatures settings. However, you should also be aware of its drawbacks and compatibility issues with some applications and screens. You should also test it on your own device and application before using it for your projects. You can also compare it with other coding fonts and choose the one that suits your needs and preferences best.
FAQs
What is the difference between Cascadia Code and Cascadia Mono?
Cascadia Code is the standard version of Cascadia that includes programming ligatures. Cascadia Mono is a version of Cascadia that does not have programming ligatures. Programming ligatures are special glyphs that combine two or more characters into one symbol, such as "==" or "=>". They can make code more readable and elegant, but they may also cause some issues with some applications or languages that do not support them.
What are Powerline symbols and how to use them?
Powerline symbols are special characters that are used to create rich and colorful prompts in the terminal. They can display information such as the current directory, the git branch, the exit status, the time, etc. To use Powerline symbols, you need to install a Powerline-compatible font, such as Cascadia (CodeMono) PL, and a Powerline-compatible shell, such as bash, zsh, or fish. You can find more information about Powerline here: .
How to enable or disable ligatures in Visual Studio Code?
To enable or disable ligatures in Visual Studio Code, you need to open the settings and search for ligatures. Then change the value of Editor: Font Ligatures to true or false. Alternatively, you can add "editor.fontLigatures": true or false to your settings.json file.
How to change the weight of Cascadia Code?
Cascadia Code supports variable fonts, which means you can adjust the weight of the font from thin to black. To change the weight of Cascadia Code, you need to use a variable font editor, such as . You can also use CSS properties, such as font-weight or font-variation-settings, to change the weight of Cascadia Code on web pages.
How to contribute to Cascadia Code?
Cascadia Code is an open source project that welcomes contributions from anyone who is interested. You can contribute to Cascadia Code by reporting issues, suggesting features, submitting pull requests, or donating to the project. You can find more information about how to contribute to Cascadia Code here: . 44f88ac181