Compiler by Identity Letters is a 'no-frills' font family inspired by console typefaces

Boutique type foundry Identity Letters has released a new font family inspired by retro console typefaces. Called Compiler, the no-frills typeface is legible, technical and clear with a slight hint of a retro feel, as though it's come straight from the heart of a microprocessor.

The humanist sans serif typeface combines a large x-height with striking serifs on certain letters such as 'i' and 'l'. "Those serifs evoke the aesthetics of monospace typefaces for programming," explains Moritz Kleinsorge, founder of Identity Letters. "Even though Compiler is a proportional typeface, this detail improves glyph recognition and helps differentiate between individual letters," he adds.

Combined with vertical stroke ends, which allow for particularly even spacing, the serifs make for an extremely legible typeface – even in small sizes, you'll be glad to hear.

If you're looking for a typeface for an identity you're working on that requires a mechanical flavour without appearing stark, then. Compiler is the one. You can also use it for websites, apps, corporate design, annual reports, signage, and many other areas with legible and impactful results.

Compiler includes an additional subfamily, Compiler Plain. Here, the signature letters lose their serifs and the forms of 'a' and 'g' are simplified. "This way, the shapes are neutralised," says Moritz. "The technical impression recedes into the background and both families can be combined smoothly – you might, for example, use the standard Compiler fonts for display sizes and Compiler Plain styles for body copy."

Compiler provides you with eight weights in four variations: Upright, Italics, Plain Upright and Plain Italics. That brings it all to a grand total of 32 fonts. Each style contains more than 900 glyphs, including advanced typographic tools such as proportional and tabular figures (both lining and old-style) or small caps – something you'll rarely find in this genre. Other glyphs are optimised for display sizes, such as circled figures and various arrows.

There's also a set of glyphs designed for web use: with symbols for shopping carts, hamburger menus or checkboxes, which you can implement smoothly and consistently without relying on third-party tools (like an external icon font).

Powered by highly productive OpenType functions, Compiler is an "intermedia workhorse straight from cyberspace". Available at: www.identity-letters.com.

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