411129 - Enable builds with special download requirements, like fonts

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(www.mozilla.org :: General, defect)

Description

[Axel Hecht [:Pike]]

We're currently not shipping Georgian on the Mac because the mac has a sad font story there. We could probably link to freely available fonts that could fix that, but there's no way to do that right now.

As Gecko 1.9 doesn't fix that for at least Georgian, we should come up with a way to point to downloads or installs for particular releases.

No idea, perhaps just having something like a special release note page, and get that localized, would do it. Just playing mind games.

Comment 1

[Axel Hecht [:Pike]]

The Sinhala localization is getting close, and it'd be really good if we could come up with an idea here.

Comment 2

[Danishka]

Axel,

As I explained over the chat, few PC's might be not with Sinhala Unicode fonts.
But www.siyabas.lk is the official site for the Sinhala fonts issues and the http://www.siyabas.lk/sinhala_how_to_install.html give you the correct instructions to install Sinhala fonts as well.

English version available at : http://www.locallanguages.lk/ and http://www.locallanguages.lk/sinhala_how_to_install_in_english.html 

Moreover government also promoting Sinhala Unicode as it's the Standard. 
Hope we can move ahead if you satisfied. Even if any of you required official notice from them I can't arrange it as well.

One point: can we add a link to http://www.locallanguages.lk/sinhala_how_to_install_in_english.html from Fx 3 Startup page?

I hope nearly 1% of BOX's having font issue. 

Comment 3

[Danishka]

I just got the update via community.

Sinhala fonts available on MS Vista by default. 

Comment 4

[Danishka]

Hi Axel,

I have disused with the Sri Lankan officials on Fx 3 release and they are very much interested for promoting it as the best Sinhala supporting browser and the safest browser.
It will be include few events, press and road shows too. Target audience will be Students (schools+ Uni) and out stations ppl.
During these events we hope to update them on Sinhala Unicode as well.

Hope it 'll be a good solution.

I hope we can release si with RC2. :)

Comment 5

[Nicholas Shanks]

I did a sinhala font that works better on the Mac:
http://web.nickshanks.com/typography/

Comment 6

[Axel Hecht [:Pike]]

Thanks for that, I just installed the telugu font from your site on my mac today :-)

Comment 7

[Nicholas Shanks]

Hi Axel. The Sinhala font was inspired by the release of FF3 in Sinhala ;-)
If you have any point to make or suggestions, please pass them along.

I would be happy to do Oriya and Malayalam if:
a) I can find suitable fonts (free, unicode, complete, good glyph design/metrics) 
b) you can point in my direction anyone who groks Unicode and knows those scripts.

I would also be interested in doing hinting if you know anyone who can teach me TrueType hinting, and include bitmap versions for small font sizes.

Comment 8

[Axel Hecht [:Pike]]

Sounds great, thanks. Would you mind opening a thread in mozilla.dev.i18n, http://www.mozilla.org/community/developer-forums.html#dev-i18n (also on google groups) on that? That'll get more folks on the hook that might be able to help. You might want to cross-post to mozilla.dev.l10n.in, where many of our Indic volunteers hang out.

Comment 9

[Danishka]

Hi Nicholas,

Yes, our community is happy with you work. Will contact you if need more help.
I saw over the Sinhala mailing list. :)

Comment 10

[Laura Forrest]

Doing a bit of bug housekeeping here and came across this. 

Closing for now since this hasn't been updated in 3 years. If you think this is still important to fix, and applies to the current mozilla.com, please re-open. Thanks!