diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 44d43292..dea009fa 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -2,8 +2,9 @@ # fontc -Where in we pursue oxidizing (context: https://github.com/googlefonts/oxidize) fontmake. For context -around where fontmake came from see [Mr B goes to Vartown](https://github.com/googlefonts/oxidize/blob/main/text/2023-10-18-mrb-goes-to-vartown.md). +Where in we pursue oxidizing [fontmake](https://github.com/googlefonts/fontmake). +For context around where fontmake came from see +[Mr B goes to Vartown](https://github.com/googlefonts/oxidize/blob/main/text/2023-10-18-mrb-goes-to-vartown.md). Converts source to IR, and then IR to font binary. Aims to be safe, incremental, and fast. @@ -18,10 +19,24 @@ References ## But why? +Two main reasons: + +1. Speed + * The python compiler is too slow and we don't think we can plausibly make it fast enough +1. A key part of Google Fonts technical strategy is to get off both Python and C++, consolidating on Rust + * Rust enables us to write fast code that integrates well with our serving stack + * See https://github.com/googlefonts/oxidize + +So, Rust compiler time! + ![image](https://github.com/googlefonts/fontc/assets/6466432/669778a7-5efa-43f8-8380-2f71bfc49f3f) (https://xkcd.com/303/ remix) +## Are we there yet? + +https://googlefonts.github.io/fontc_crater/ tracks our progress in making the new compiler match the old one. + ## Getting started Install the latest version of Rust, https://www.rust-lang.org/tools/install.