FTSTRING(1)

📦
version 2.15.0 · 9 versions
, in arch rolling

💅 FTSTRING(1) — ftstring, string viewer (General Commands Manual) 💅

🌸 NAME 🌸

ftstring — string viewer. That’s the whole vibe, bestie: it views strings. Iconic.

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

ftstring [options] [pt] font ...

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

Okay so ftstring displays a text string with the given font, and it lets you change various rendering and display options interactively. Literally interactive. Main character energy fr fr.

  • pt — The point size for the given resolution. If resolution is 72dpi, this directly gives the ppem value (pixels per EM). No cap, that’s just the math.
  • font — The font file(s) to display. For Type 1 font files, ftstring also tries to attach the corresponding metrics file (with extension .afm or .pfm). It’s giving “I got your back.”

Besides the string, ftstring also displays two stress test patterns sensitive to rendering flaws, such as incorrect gamma settings. Alternative text-carpeting and waterfall views are also available. This program is part of the FreeType demos package. Periodt. 💅

🎀 OPTIONS 🎀

  • -d WxH[xD] — Set the window width to W px, the height to H px, and optionally the depth to D bpp (default: 640x480x24). Window sizing but make it customizable. Slay.
  • -r r — Use resolution r dpi (default: 72dpi). DPI check: passed. ✨
  • -e enc — Specify encoding tag (default: no encoding). Common values: unic (Unicode), symb (symbol), ADOB (Adobe standard), ADBC (Adobe custom), or a numeric charmap index. Choose your encoding like you choose your playlist. 🎧
  • -m text — Use text for rendering. Your string, your rules. 💖
  • -k keys — Emulate sequence of keystrokes upon start-up. If the keystrokes contain 'q', the program operates in batch mode. Function keys Fx are mapped to character codes 0xFx; as an example, -k $'\xF3q' is function key 'F3' followed by character 'q'. Keystroke automation, but make it keyboard-smash chic. ⌨️💥
  • -v — Show version. Short, sweet, and to the point. 👑

This whole manual-page moment comes from FreeType 2.15.0, dated October 2026. Byeeee bestie — go render something gorgeous! 🎀✨🫶

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