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I want to install Nerd Fonts. I can install them through scoop. I added its bucket (scoop bucket add nerd-fonts) and when I want to install FiraCode, I get the following options:

scoop search fira
FiraCode-NF-Mono  3.2.1   nerd-fonts
FiraCode-NF-Propo 3.2.1   nerd-fonts
FiraCode-NF       3.2.1   nerd-fonts
FiraCode-Script   0.0.28  nerd-fonts
FiraCode          6.2     nerd-fonts

What is the difference between the base NF, mono, propo, and script versions?

There is a version without any suffix avaiable (FiraCode). Am I right to assume that this is just the original font without any Nerd Font glyphs included?

What are the differences for the variants? Which are their use cases?

Which should I install when I want to use the font for coding in an IDE and terminal?

Destroy666
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k0pernikus
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2 Answers2

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You can easily verify yourself what each JSON package definition in the bucket does:

  • FiraCode-NF-Mono downloads the whole .zip from official Nerd Fonts repository, as defined in automatically updated for future versions url property. Then it runs a PowerShell script to filter the NerdFontMono- files and install them either globally or for the user.
  • likewise, FiraCode-NF-Propo filters the NerdFontPropo- version
  • FiraCode-NF basically installs all the font files, as it filters by NerdFont- that all .ttf files contain.
  • FiraCode-Script downloads from a different repository: https://github.com/DanielAtKrypton/Fira-Code-Script It's a version apparently more suitable for development, but it's very outdated so it's unlikely you want to use it.
  • lastly FiraCode downloads the original non-patched font as you thought

As for which font is the most suitable for you, there's a short summary on the patched font's repository pages:

  • If you are limited to monospaced fonts (because of your terminal, etc) then pick a font with Nerd Font Mono (or NFM).
  • If you want to have bigger icons (usually around 1.5 normal letters wide) pick a font without Mono i.e. Nerd Font (or NF). Most terminals support this, but ymmv.
  • If you work in a proportional context (GUI elements or edit a presentation etc) pick a font with Nerd Font Propo (or NFP).

So there's no generic answer for "an IDE and terminal". One will support the monospaced fonts better, another will look better with the wider characters. I personally use the non-mono non-proportional font as it looks good in Visual Studio Code and WezTerm. It's best to install the full -NF version and test yourself what fits your apps and taste the most. You might even want to use different versions in different apps.

Destroy666
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FiraCode-NF-Mono -> monospace

FiraCode-NF-Propo -> for reading

FiraCode-NF -> with additional symbols for displaying in terminal

FiraCode-Script -> a handwritten version

FiraCode -> base font

sfy
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