# Recommended Font for Kanboard **URL:** \ **Category:** Installation Issues\ **Created:** [August 28, 2023, 10:29am UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901 "2023-08-28T10:29:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aljawaid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/aljawaid/32/1090_2.png) [@aljawaid](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/aljawaid)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 10:29am UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/1 "2023-08-28T10:29:55Z")
Does anybody know how to get the recommended font for Kanboard? Kanboard specifies: `font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;` On Windows 10 my Kanboard always fallsback to Arial in the browser; `Helvetica Neue` or `Helvetica` is not available by default and there are so many different versions online. **Does anybody know which version would work with Kanboard?** ---
**Author:** ![alfredb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/alfredb/32/1051_2.png) [@alfredb](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/alfredb)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 12:40pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/2 "2023-08-28T12:40:21Z")
Arial is Microsoft’s Helvetica. But: [Helvetica Neue Font Family : Download Free for Desktop & Webfont](https://www.cufonfonts.com/font/helvetica-neue-55) ---
**Author:** ![aljawaid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/aljawaid/32/1090_2.png) [@aljawaid](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/aljawaid)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/3 "2023-08-28T14:47:28Z")
oh I tried that link… but it doesnt pick up the name set by the Kanboard CSS file - could be a different version. Arial is a crap alternative to Helvetica - they are hardly similar. I think it calls for a new font-only plugin…now I realise why my Kanboard default looks so crap as it is using Arial… I never focussed on it before as I thought the font was included with Kanboard but it’s actually not. ---
**Author:** ![aljawaid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/aljawaid/32/1090_2.png) [@aljawaid](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/aljawaid)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 6:38pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/4 "2023-08-28T18:38:10Z")
> **[Plugin Concept · aljawaid/FontSwitcher · Discussion #1](https://github.com/aljawaid/FontSwitcher/discussions/1)** > > By default, Kanboard uses the following order for loading fonts: font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; On Windows computers Helvetica Neue and Helvetica are not available wit... ---
**Author:** ![alfredb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/alfredb/32/1051_2.png) [@alfredb](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/alfredb)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 7:29pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/5 "2023-08-28T19:29:58Z")
Could you please add some screenshots, to document what it looks like? TBH, I have no complaints regarding fonts, as I’m using Kanboard with Firefox on Linux. ---
**Author:** ![aljawaid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/aljawaid/32/1090_2.png) [@aljawaid](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/aljawaid)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/6 "2023-08-28T19:52:45Z")
Yes I will, I have just started a skeleton copy and working on the files. Arial is way too blocky and wide for me on computer and laptop compared to other fonts. Also, it looks too bland and plain. I would’ve stuck with Helvetica if it was on my system but it isn’t. Then I thought of Open Sans, which I have used in the past and its nice on the eye and on the design with a lot more styles. e.g. I use normal (400) and bold (700) but for headings and texts in my plugins, I use bolder (600) … but Arial will see its as 700 and make it very black blocky bold. After that I thought, why not have a few open source fonts included with the plugin which dont connect to a third-party service like Google… in line with data privacy for such an internal application (Kanboard). But yeah, once I got something working, I will send a screenshot. ---
**Author:** ![alfredb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/alfredb/32/1051_2.png) [@alfredb](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/alfredb)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/7 "2023-08-28T19:54:44Z")
> [@aljawaid](#): > > but it doesn’t pick up the name set by the Kanboard CSS file - could be a different version. I think the naming will be handled by the OS. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/kanboard1/original/2X/b/b0844e3915b9d43eadf579e7a5c79a9f2871a742.png) ---
**Author:** ![aljawaid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/aljawaid/32/1090_2.png) [@aljawaid](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/aljawaid)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/8 "2023-08-28T20:16:27Z")
I agree, there seems to be many versions on the net for Windows… some with or without space and then other words as part of the name. I think it is better to go open source with fonts… the plugin should be light with only one selected font loaded and I get more styles etc. This is the Open Sans example: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/kanboard1/original/2X/4/46026bddd0bb2116e3cf2705467aa433879ea1aa.png) ---
**Author:** ![alfredb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/alfredb/32/1051_2.png) [@alfredb](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/alfredb)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/9 "2023-08-28T20:22:24Z")
I have downloaded the fonts from the link I gave you above, installed, just to see any difference. There **might** be a very slight difference on Linux, but IMHO it’s not worth the effort. ---
**Author:** ![aljawaid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/aljawaid/32/1090_2.png) [@aljawaid](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/aljawaid)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/10 "2023-08-28T20:26:14Z")
the thing is Helvetica after all the versions I tried, doesnt get picked up by my browser as the one Kanboard is defining. Arial is too old and doesnt look nice in any of my plugins. My KanboardCSS uses Open Sans but that’s because I have it installed locally… but that’s not good for other users so I need something independent. ---
**Author:** ![alfredb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/alfredb/32/1051_2.png) [@alfredb](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/alfredb)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:35pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/11 "2023-08-28T20:35:12Z")
Forcing users to install fonts is indeed a bad practice. Providing fonts in an OS task, the app specifies a favorite font and a list of possible alternatives. ---
**Author:** ![aljawaid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/aljawaid/32/1090_2.png) [@aljawaid](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/aljawaid)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:39pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/12 "2023-08-28T20:39:38Z")
Yes correct but for the desired result, users can optionally install a plugin and change the font style of the site. The favourite and alternatives in Windows are not to my liking. For the moment, I’m just playing with it to see if my mind matches what I’m doing… let’s see ---
**Author:** ![alfredb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/alfredb/32/1051_2.png) [@alfredb](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/alfredb)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:47pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/13 "2023-08-28T20:47:56Z")
> [@aljawaid](#): > > users can optionally install a plugin and change the font style of the site. This means, you’re just tweaking the style sheet? ```css font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; ``` ---
**Author:** ![aljawaid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/aljawaid/32/1090_2.png) [@aljawaid](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/aljawaid)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/14 "2023-08-28T20:50:21Z")
yes and loading the relevant web font (comes with the plugin) … in theory ---
**Author:** ![alfredb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/alfredb/32/1051_2.png) [@alfredb](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/alfredb)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/16 "2023-08-28T20:55:34Z")
> [@aljawaid](#): > > loading the relevant web font (comes with the plugin) Here I disagree. Once again: > [@alfredb](#): > > Providing fonts in an OS task, ---
**Author:** ![aljawaid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/aljawaid/32/1090_2.png) [@aljawaid](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/aljawaid)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2023, 12:12am UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/17 "2023-08-29T00:12:16Z")
that’s cool but webfonts are loaded for the web page and not installed on the system… so once the cache etc is cleared those fonts are gone too. It is website-specific… Github, BBC both have their own to name two common sites, they have fallbacks too. It’s pretty common to use webfonts across websites these days. The fallback (if correctly coded) is always the system font. ---
**Author:** ![alfredb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/alfredb/32/1051_2.png) [@alfredb](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/alfredb)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2023, 8:17am UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/18 "2023-08-30T08:17:18Z")
Nice! But, as font-selection is a theming task, my EssentialTheme, including the original, and probably some other theme plugins, are falling back to ```auto font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; ``` How to deal with this? ---
**Author:** ![alfredb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/alfredb/32/1051_2.png) [@alfredb](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/alfredb)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2023, 8:31am UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/19 "2023-08-30T08:31:33Z")
I have some more: - Google Fonts are licensed under the Open Font License. You cannot simply change it to MIT, maybe you should mention this somewhere. (LICENSE or README) - I’m still waiting for some screenshots, that show how the Arial font looks on your Windows system. This was the motivation for creating this plugin. ---
**Author:** ![aljawaid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/aljawaid/32/1090_2.png) [@aljawaid](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/aljawaid)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2023, 9:35am UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/20 "2023-08-30T09:35:42Z")
I need to check it, I only tested on a clean no-theme installation. **On EssentialTheme, it works as intended:** ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/kanboard1/original/2X/c/c548183242c001752e09f2accca247891a928ce2.png) **Even on KanboardCSS, it works as intended:** ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/kanboard1/original/2X/1/1994ac693ea0ffec0f0d1dea0c69052e68068998.png) ---
**Author:** ![aljawaid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/kanboard.discourse.group/aljawaid/32/1090_2.png) [@aljawaid](https://kanboard.discourse.group/u/aljawaid)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2023, 9:38am UTC](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901/21 "2023-08-30T09:38:19Z")
I mentioned Google Fonts in the README I will put a point for the licenses. I will post my screenshots later today. [Next page](https://kanboard.discourse.group/t/recommended-font-for-kanboard/2901.md?page=2)