makepad-font

Supporting material availability

This catalog copy contains the inline guidance below, but does not include the following supporting paths. They are external prerequisites, not bundled files:

• ./references/font-system.md

Ask for the original supporting material or an existing installation before using a step that depends on these paths; this catalog does not identify a verified download source for them. Resolve each path relative to that installation, inspect its contents, and verify any applicable license and execution prerequisites. Do not run a command or claim a referenced procedure was followed until its required file exists. Do not fabricate the missing scripts or treat an unrelated file with the same name as equivalent. Independent steps fully documented here can proceed within the user’s authorized scope; report any dependent step as unavailable.

Makepad Font Skill

Version: makepad-widgets (dev branch) | Last Updated: 2026-01-19

Check for updates: https://crates.io/crates/makepad-widgets

You are an expert at Makepad text and font rendering. Help users by:

• Font configuration: Font families, sizes, styles
• Text layout: Understanding text layouter and shaping
• Text rendering: GPU-based text rendering with SDF

Documentation

Refer to the local files for detailed documentation:

• ./references/font-system.md - Font module structure and APIs

IMPORTANT: Documentation Completeness Check

Before answering questions, Claude MUST:

1. Read the relevant reference file(s) listed above
2. If file read fails or file is empty:
   • Inform user: "Local documentation is incomplete, it is recommended to run /sync-crate-skills makepad --force to update the documentation"
   • Still answer based on SKILL.md patterns + built-in knowledge
3. If reference file exists, incorporate its content into the answer

Text Module Structure

draw/src/text/
├── font.rs           # Font handle and metrics
├── font_atlas.rs     # GPU texture atlas for glyphs
├── font_face.rs      # Font face data
├── font_family.rs    # Font family management
├── fonts.rs          # Built-in fonts
├── glyph_outline.rs  # Glyph vector outlines
├── glyph_raster_image.rs # Rasterized glyph images
├── layouter.rs       # Text layout engine
├── rasterizer.rs     # Glyph rasterization
├── sdfer.rs          # Signed distance field generator
├── selection.rs      # Text selection/cursor
├── shaper.rs         # Text shaping (harfbuzz)

Using Fonts in DSL

Text Style

<Label> {
    text: "Hello World"
    draw_text: {
        text_style: {
            font: { path: dep("crate://self/resources/fonts/MyFont.ttf") }
            font_size: 16.0
            line_spacing: 1.5
            letter_spacing: 0.0
        }
        color: #FFFFFF
    }
}

Theme Fonts

<Label> {
    text: "Styled Text"
    draw_text: {
        text_style: <THEME_FONT_REGULAR> {
            font_size: (THEME_FONT_SIZE_P)
        }
    }
}

Font Definition in DSL

live_design! {
    // Define font path
    FONT_REGULAR = {
        font: { path: dep("crate://self/resources/fonts/Regular.ttf") }
    }

    FONT_BOLD = {
        font: { path: dep("crate://self/resources/fonts/Bold.ttf") }
    }

    // Use in widget
    <Label> {
        draw_text: {
            text_style: <FONT_REGULAR> {
                font_size: 14.0
            }
        }
    }
}

Layouter API

pub struct Layouter {
    loader: Loader,
    cache_size: usize,
    cached_params: VecDeque<OwnedLayoutParams>,
    cached_results: HashMap<OwnedLayoutParams, Rc<LaidoutText>>,
}

impl Layouter {
    pub fn new(settings: Settings) -> Self;
    pub fn rasterizer(&self) -> &Rc<RefCell<Rasterizer>>;
    pub fn is_font_family_known(&self, id: FontFamilyId) -> bool;
    pub fn define_font_family(&mut self, id: FontFamilyId, definition: FontFamilyDefinition);
    pub fn define_font(&mut self, id: FontId, definition: FontDefinition);
    pub fn get_or_layout(&mut self, params: impl LayoutParams) -> Rc<LaidoutText>;
}

Layout Parameters

pub struct OwnedLayoutParams {
    pub text: Substr,
    pub spans: Box<[Span]>,
    pub options: LayoutOptions,
}

pub struct Span {
    pub style: Style,
    pub len: usize,
}

pub struct Style {
    pub font_family_id: FontFamilyId,
    pub font_size_in_pts: f32,
    pub color: Option<Color>,
}

pub struct LayoutOptions {
    pub max_width_in_lpxs: Option<f32>,  // Max width for wrapping
    pub wrap: bool,                       // Enable word wrap
    pub first_row_indent_in_lpxs: f32,    // First line indent
}

Rasterizer Settings

pub struct Settings {
    pub loader: loader::Settings,
    pub cache_size: usize,  // Default: 4096
}

pub struct rasterizer::Settings {
    pub sdfer: sdfer::Settings {
        padding: 4,     // SDF padding
        radius: 8.0,    // SDF radius
        cutoff: 0.25,   // SDF cutoff
    },
    pub grayscale_atlas_size: Size::new(4096, 4096),
    pub color_atlas_size: Size::new(2048, 2048),
}

DrawText Widget

<View> {
    // Label is a simple text widget
    <Label> {
        text: "Simple Label"
        draw_text: {
            color: #FFFFFF
            text_style: {
                font_size: 14.0
            }
        }
    }

    // TextFlow for rich text
    <TextFlow> {
        <Bold> { text: "Bold text" }
        <Italic> { text: "Italic text" }
        <Link> {
            text: "Click here"
            href: "https://example.com"
        }
    }
}

Text Properties

Property	Type	Description
text	String	Text content
font	Font	Font resource
font_size	f64	Size in points
line_spacing	f64	Line height multiplier
letter_spacing	f64	Character spacing
color	Vec4	Text color
brightness	f64	Text brightness
curve	f64	Text curve effect

When Answering Questions

1. Makepad uses SDF (Signed Distance Field) for crisp text at any scale
2. Fonts are loaded once and cached in GPU texture atlases
3. Text shaping uses harfbuzz for proper glyph positioning
4. Use dep("crate://...") for embedded font resources
5. Default font cache size is 4096 glyphs
6. Atlas sizes: 4096x4096 for grayscale, 2048x2048 for color (emoji)

When to Use

Use this skill when tackling tasks related to its primary domain or functionality as described above.

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.