Github Repo: potasiyam/Kalpurush

Change #1095081 had a related patch set uploaded (by MdsShakil; author: MdsShakil):

[mediawiki/extensions/UniversalLanguageSelector@master] Add Kalpurush font for Bengali Language

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/1095081

We initially requested the Kalpurush font for ws-export (as part of a WikiConference Hackathon project) because, unlike many other free Bengali fonts, it has a suitable license. As a widely used, recognized Unicode font favored by the FOSS community for Bengali books and periodicals, its absence from ws-export is a key omission.

Furthermore, "Wikipotrika" (Bengali Signpost) will use Kalpurush as its official font. Since this font isn't commonly pre-installed, adding it to MediaWiki ensures consistent display for Wikipotrika readers.

In short, adding Kalpurush improves readability, aesthetics, and cross-project consistency, while also increasing accessibility for users without the font installed. Its small file size means minimal impact on loading times. Therefore, including Kalpurush in MediaWiki will significantly benefit Bengali content.

The webfonts feature in Universal Language selector was originall to support scripts when operating systems does not ship default fonts. People used to see rectangles in such case. We had included free and opensource fonts for several languages for this(2011-2014). Thanks to Noto and many other projects, this situation has improved a lot. Except a few less known scripts, all scripts has good enough fonts in all operating systems. So UniversalLanguageSelector removed many of these fonts. Note that shipping a webfont to users browser has significant perfromance cost. There is also an issue that users often has preference on fonts and we can only ship one font. So the scope of UniversalLanguageSelctors webfont feature at present is very narrow.

1. Whereever we see that operating systems are not shipping fonts, we can fill that gap.
2. Special accessibility cases - We ship opendyslexic to support readers with dyslexic issue
3. Supporting digitization of old books that require special fonts for better reproduction.

In any of these cases, we don't embed fonts by default - we embed only based on users explicit selection in settings screen of ULS. So if your intention is to make Klapurush the default font for Bengali wikipedia, our solution does not work. And ULS font embedding is only for desktop while majority of wikipedia reading is from mobile.

Bengali is a well supported script in all operating systems. There are many fonts supporting the beautiful script of Bengali.

(Disclaimer: I am a professional typeface designer)

Currently ULS has TiroBangla and SiyamRupali fonts are present for options for Bengali script.

Kalpurush is one of the free and officially used Unicode font of Bengali language

There is no such official font status for any fonts.

In short, adding Kalpurush improves readability, aesthetics, and cross-project consistency, while also increasing accessibility for users without the font installed. Its small file size means minimal impact on loading times. Therefore, including Kalpurush in MediaWiki will significantly benefit Bengali content.

Aesthetic claims are quite subjective.

Considering all these limitations, you can see that your objectives with Kalpurush cannot be achieved with the current scope and capabilities of UniversalLanguageSelector. If added it will be just an option for users to explicitly choose from the font selector of UniversalLanguageSelector(which many don't do as per our analytics) in desktop versions only. By default Bengali wikipedia will be continued to be read on system fonts in Desktops and mobiles.

Please evaluate this facts and let us know. Thanks

@santhosh Thank you for your detailed response. The example you mentioned, "Supporting digitization of old books that require special fonts for better reproduction," is directly relevant to ws-export in Bengali Wikisource (T344532). Including the Kalpurush font would significantly enhance the accurate digital representation of Bengali texts. By "official," I did not mean government-recognized but rather that Kalpurush is widely used across Bengali publications, print media, and offices. As a typeface designer, you may already be aware that Bengali Wikipedia and its sister projects use Kalpurush in their logos and wordmarks, further highlighting its significance in Bengali content. Additionally, its small file size would have minimal impact on loading times. Therefore, I kindly request that Kalpurush be included at least as an option in the ULS's font list.

Thank you again for your time.

The example you mentioned, "Supporting digitization of old books that require special fonts for better reproduction," is directly relevant to ws-export in Bengali Wikisource (T344532).

WSExport does not use the fonts from UniversalLanguageSelector features. So adding the font to ULS webfonts does not help T344532

Bengali Wikipedia and its sister projects use Kalpurush in their logos and wordmarks, further highlighting its significance in Bengali content.

English Wikipedia logo and watermarks uses Linux Libertine font. However this font is nowhere used in any content presentation. Same is the case for so many other language wikis. Just FYI.

Additionally, its small file size would have minimal impact on loading times.

Unlike images, small file size does not help with fonts. Image can continue loading after the page text is visible to users. But for webfonts, the page appears blank till the font is fully loaded or page appears in system font and then it re-renders with the font it just downloaded causing a flash in the page. This was the major performance concern to reduce the usage of webfonts in wikipedia. See https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Universal_Language_Selector/WebFonts

I am not saying we should not add the Kalpurush font, I am just trying to convey that the benefits you expect from doing so is not there. It is a feature we considered sunsetting(removing altogether) but not done yet because of narrow usecases I explained above.

Hi @santhosh, the request is to add Kalpurush as an option in ULS in desktop versions only, just like we did with T343658. Nothing else (so not as default or anything else).

By default Bengali wikipedia will be continued to be read on system fonts in Desktops and mobiles.

Agreed. We should not change this.

currently not prioritizing this area for the quarter hence removing tag