What it does
fontmake compiles Glyphs, UFO and Designspace sources into static or variable font files. The free, open-source command-line tool is for type designers who want to automate font builds.
Choose the intended output before running a build. The default produces OTF and TTF files for each master; named static instances need -i. This distinction matters when a multi-master source contains more release styles than masters.
Install with pip3 install fontmake in Python 3.10 or later. For example, fontmake MyFont.glyphs -o variable creates a TrueType variable font in variable_ttf. The variable-cff2 option creates CFF2 output in variable_otf; --output-dir changes the destination.
Glyphs, UFO and Designspace inputs share the same compiler. A virtual environment separates its dependencies from other Python projects. Outline drawing remains a separate part of the workflow.
Strengths
- Several common design-source formats share one compiler workflow.
- Static instances, TrueType variable fonts and CFF2 variable fonts have separate output options.
Watch out for
- Default master output does not automatically generate the source’s named instances.
- A Python environment and dependencies are required.
Best for
- Foundries automating font builds
- Type designers maintaining source-to-release workflows
Sources
- fontmake README (Oct 27, 2026)
- fontmake Apache License (Oct 27, 2026)