[mgp-users 00692] Re: Chinese support

[jg@pa.dec.com (Jim Gettys)]

When we designed the X Window System, we did not forsee the consequences
of some of the design decisions we made, particularly when combined
with outline fonts.

The core X protocol requires that the font metrics of the entire font
be returned.  So when you image an outline font (still a gleam in various
people's eyes at the time we were doing the design work), you have to
render the *entire* font: all glyphs must be imaged to be able to return
the font metrics, most of which you will never use.  All this has to happen
before you can paint a single character.

Needless to say, on eastern fonts with many glyphs, this can take a significant
amount of time.

Sorry.  We goofed.

OK, so what is the solution?  If someone would convert mgp to use the new
Xft library which uses the new X Render extension you will get:
    1) incremental rendering of glyphs as needed.  Startup time on eastern
       fonts will be dramatically reduced.
    2) anti-aliased text.
    3) sub-pixel decimation on flat panel displays (something like Microsoft's
       ClearType, but fundamentally better).
Xft has been designed to make it reasonably easy to retrofit applications,
and will fail-over to use bitmap fonts if outline fonts and/or Render
is not available.  Render is now becoming pretty widespread on open source
systems.

So this is the solution I recommend.
                          - Jim Gettys

--
Jim Gettys
Technology and Corporate Development
Compaq Computer Corporation
jg@pa.dec.com