The Code2000 Download Page
What is Code2000?
Code2000 is a shareware font. It is a Unicode-based font, as are many
modern computer fonts. Code2000 is one of the larger fonts available
and the latest build has over 63000 glyphs covering 53082 characters.
The current version of the font has glyphs covering all of the CJK
ideographs in the Basic Multilingual Plane of Unicode with the exception
of some of the presentation forms. Much
work remains on the CJK in Code2000. There are still many
rough, filler glyphs among the CJK ideographs, but the latest
version is much improved over previous versions.
Here are some of the areas Code2000 version 1.176 supports which have
been added since version 1.174:
Ethiopic Extended-A
Myanmar Extended-A
Myanmar Extended-B
Myanmar OpenType support is not yet completed.
Several other miscellaneous glyphs from various ranges. For example,
the alarm clock (⏰) encoded at U+23F0.
Additional CJK Ideographic Description Characters which were
approved for Unicode 15.1.
Code2000 can display most symbols and many of the Unicode scripts
reasonably well. There are at least rudimentary OpenType tables for
many of the complex Indic scripts, and some of the OpenType Indic tables
are fairly well advanced. But Code2000 doesn’t yet cover Sinhala or
Tibetan. Of the Philippine scripts, only Buhid is covered by Code2000.
Although Code2000 has many glyphs for Arabic, Code2000 can not yet
be recommended for Arabic text display. Code2000 can populate charts
for Oriya and Kannada — but can not yet properly display
text in those scripts.
Code2000 is expected to work on modern operating systems.
Code2000 is a proportional font. If you need a good monospaced font
covering many ranges of Unicode, please visit
Everson Typography's web pages.
Code2000 is a “work-in-process”, which means it just keeps getting better!
Display Issues?
Proper display of so-called “complex” scripts depends on several factors.
The operating system performs some functions all by itself, but it
performs other functions in conjunction with instructions and data
tables which are present in a font. On modern platforms, this
information inside the font can be stored in “OpenType” tables. The operating
system program used by Windows to get these font-specific instructions
and implement them in the display used to be called “Uniscribe”. Newer
versions of Windows use “USE”. Modern Linux uses a special program
called “HarfBuzz”. These special programs for supporting complex scripts are
called “shaping engines”.
It’s Shareware!
The Code2000 download has been freely available and fully functional
all along. It is an inexpensive shareware, though, and registration fees
are much appreciated.
The registration fee for Code2000 is a “one-time” fee and
registered users are considered to be registered for all newer versions.
Users are required to register the font after a “reasonable” evaluation
period if they like the font and continue to use it. However, determining
what is “reasonable” is left for the user to decide. The Code2000
download doesn’t degrade or expire and there are no annoying pop-up
screens. This has been left open-ended intentionally. In some cases,
members of minority script user communites — those who need a font
like Code2000 the most — can least afford it. Clearly, if registering the
font means your family doesn’t get enough food on the table, even for
one meal, then it is not reasonable to register the font.
But, if you can afford the small fee, and you like the font and continue
to use it after a reasonable evaluation period, then register your
shareware! After all, I need food on my plate, too.
The single user/single site fee is just US$5.
More fee information can be found in the HTML file included in CODE2000.ZIP.
Code2000 can be registered via
PayPal
using my e-mail address.
Or use this handy PayPal button:
Download
Download Code2000 (Version 1.176).
My home page.
