Support for more font sizes

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 66 views

Supporting the New Kitty Text Sizing Protocol: Enhancing Terminal Experience

Introduction

The Kitty Terminal has been a pioneer in pushing terminal emulator standards forward with innovative features like the Terminal Graphics Protocol. However, the lack of support for multiple font sizes has been a long-standing issue in terminal emulators. The recent release of Kitty 0.40 has introduced the Text Sizing Protocol, which allows for displaying lines with multiple font sizes. This feature makes documents like markdown files easier to read and aligns with Neovide's goal of providing a terminal UI that is both functional and visually appealing.

Understanding the Text Sizing Protocol

The Text Sizing Protocol is a significant improvement over the classical terminal grid, where only a single text size was supported. This protocol allows text to be displayed in different sizes, both larger and smaller than the base text. It also solves the problem of determining the width of a character in cells, which is essential for rendering text correctly. The protocol enables applications to interleave text of different sizes on the screen, making it possible to achieve typographic niceties like headlines, superscripts, and more.

Benefits of the Text Sizing Protocol

The Text Sizing Protocol offers several benefits, including:

Improved readability: By allowing multiple font sizes, the protocol makes it easier to read documents like markdown files, which often contain headings, subheadings, and other typographic elements.
Enhanced user experience: The protocol enables applications to provide a more visually appealing and user-friendly experience, which is essential for a terminal emulator.
Increased flexibility: The protocol allows developers to create more complex and visually appealing interfaces, which can improve the overall user experience.

Backwards Compatibility

One of the significant advantages of the Text Sizing Protocol is its backwards compatibility. Terminals that implement the protocol will continue to work just the same with applications that do not use it. This means that developers can adopt the protocol without worrying about breaking existing applications.

Public Discussion

The Text Sizing Protocol is still in its early stages, and public discussion is ongoing. The protocol is being discussed on the Kitty GitHub issue tracker, where developers can provide feedback and suggestions. This open discussion will help refine the protocol and ensure that it meets the needs of the terminal community.

Implementing the Text Sizing Protocol in Neovide

Implementing the Text Sizing Protocol in Neovide would be a significant step towards achieving its goal of providing a terminal UI that is both functional and visually appealing. By supporting the protocol, Neovide can provide a more user-friendly and visually appealing experience for its users.

Conclusion

The Text Sizing Protocol is a significant improvement over the classical terminal grid, and its benefits are numerous. By supporting the protocol, developers can create more visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces, which can improve the overall user experience. The protocol's backwards compatibility and open discussion make it an attractive solution for terminal emulators. As the terminal community continues to evolve, the Text Sizing Protocol is likely to play a significant role in shaping the future of terminal emulators.

Future Developments

As the Text Sizing Protocol continues to evolve, we can expect to see more features and improvements. Some potential future developments include:

Improved font rendering: The protocol could be extended to support more advanced font rendering techniques, such as anti-aliasing and sub-pixel rendering.
Support for more font sizes: The protocol could be modified to support a wider range of font sizes, making it possible to create more complex and visually appealing interfaces.
Integration with other terminal features: The protocol could be integrated with other terminal features, such as graphics and animations, to create a more immersive and engaging user experience.

Conclusion

The Text Sizing Protocol is a significant improvement over the classical terminal grid, and its benefits are numerous. By supporting the protocol, developers can create more visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces, which can improve the overall user experience. As the terminal community continues to evolve, the Text Sizing Protocol is likely to play a significant role in shaping the future of terminal emulators.
Frequently Asked Questions: Supporting the New Kitty Text Sizing Protocol

Introduction

The Kitty Text Sizing Protocol is a new feature that allows for displaying lines with multiple font sizes in terminal emulators. This feature has generated a lot of interest and questions among developers and users. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the Text Sizing Protocol.

Q: What is the Text Sizing Protocol?

A: The Text Sizing Protocol is a new feature in Kitty Terminal that allows for displaying lines with multiple font sizes. This feature makes it possible to create more visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces in terminal emulators.

Q: How does the Text Sizing Protocol work?

A: The Text Sizing Protocol works by allowing applications to interleave text of different sizes on the screen. This is achieved by using a combination of font sizes and character widths to create a visually appealing and readable interface.

Q: What are the benefits of the Text Sizing Protocol?

A: The Text Sizing Protocol offers several benefits, including improved readability, enhanced user experience, and increased flexibility. It also allows developers to create more complex and visually appealing interfaces.

Q: Is the Text Sizing Protocol backwards compatible?

A: Yes, the Text Sizing Protocol is fully backwards compatible. Terminals that implement the protocol will continue to work just the same with applications that do not use it.

Q: How can I implement the Text Sizing Protocol in my application?

A: To implement the Text Sizing Protocol in your application, you will need to use the Kitty Terminal API. This API provides a set of functions and data structures that allow you to create and manage text with multiple font sizes.

Q: What are the system requirements for the Text Sizing Protocol?

A: The Text Sizing Protocol requires a terminal emulator that supports the Kitty Terminal API. This includes Kitty Terminal, Neovide, and other terminal emulators that have implemented the protocol.

Q: Can I use the Text Sizing Protocol with other terminal features?

A: Yes, the Text Sizing Protocol can be used with other terminal features, such as graphics and animations. This allows developers to create more complex and visually appealing interfaces.

Q: How can I provide feedback and suggestions for the Text Sizing Protocol?

A: You can provide feedback and suggestions for the Text Sizing Protocol by commenting on the Kitty GitHub issue tracker. This is where the development team is actively discussing and refining the protocol.

Q: What is the future of the Text Sizing Protocol?

A: The future of the Text Sizing Protocol is bright. The development team is actively working on refining the protocol and adding new features. We can expect to see more improvements and enhancements in the coming months and years.

Q: Can I use the Text Sizing Protocol with other operating systems?

A: Yes, the Text Sizing Protocol can be used with other operating systems, including Windows and macOS. However, the implementation may vary depending on the operating system and terminal emulator.

Q: How can I get started with the Text Sizing Protocol?

A: To get started with the Text Sizing Protocol, you will need to install a terminal emulator that supports the protocol. You can then use the Kitty Terminal API to create and manage text with multiple font sizes.

Conclusion

The Text Sizing Protocol is a new feature in Kitty Terminal that allows for displaying lines with multiple font sizes. This feature has generated a lot of interest and questions among developers and users. In this article, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the Text Sizing Protocol. We hope that this information has been helpful and informative.