DesktopLinux has published an interview in which Bitstream VP Saampo Kaasila — instrumental in developing TrueType fonts at Apple — explains font concepts such as hinting and anti-aliasing. The interview includes Bitstream CEO Anna Chagnon and Lycoris Founder Joseph Cheek. Lycoris recently licensed Bitstream technology for its Linux distributions.

Lycoris distributes a version of Linux for PDAs and other embedded devices, as well as a popular distribution for desktop users. It recently licensed Bitstream's btX2 font techology from Bitstream.

Bitstream's btX2 is a FreeType driver that can render eight font formats, including compact Asian stroke-based fonts.

In the interview, Kaasila notes that developers prefer TrueType and OpenType fonts because they are open standards supported by nearly all font foundries. Kaasila says interest is especially high in Asia, where consumer electronics device developers are seeking compact scalable Asian language fonts.

Bitstream has long taken an interest in Linux, releasing a Linux version of bx1, predecessor of btX2, in December, 2001. Bitstream also recently contributed the high-quality Vera fonts to the open source community.

Read the complete interview for more fascinating insights into the current state of font technology, and where Linux today lags behind (yes, still).

Read interview with Kaasila, Chagnon, and Cheek

 
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