These days my eyes are dimming, so I dislike skinny fonts. Now I use DejaVu Sans Mono in _bold_ exclusively. Every now and then when HN does a programming font post, I try out different ones, but I always end up going back to DejaVu Sans Mono Bold.
Also, the old VGA font is surprisingly nice and legible. Can be had here:
You might take a look at Trebuchet MS. One thing I like about it is that the strokes are nice and fat. At least on my high-DPI displays; haven't checked on a low or medium DPI display.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/verdana-pro/9n8d67vhhdc2
Coincidentally, I wonder if the license allows it to be downloaded and installed on other OSes, like the old "Microsoft core fonts" package that included Verdana.
It doesn't look like it.
The Microsoft core fonts EULA (https://web.archive.org/web/20091208063245/http://www.micros...) says things like:
> You may install and use an unlimited number of copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
> You may reproduce and distribute an unlimited number of copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT; provided that [they're verbatim, include the EULA, aren't distributed for profit]
> You may not rename, edit or create any derivative works from the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, other than subsetting when embedding them in documents.
> You may permanently transfer all of your rights under this EULA, provided the recipient agrees to the terms of this EULA.
So you can distribute and install them. You have to take some care, but you don't need to involve Microsoft, and you're not bound to the systems they were originally intended for.
The Verdana Pro license (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement/#STANDARDA...) says things like:
> You may install and use the application on Windows devices or Xbox consoles [...]
> [You may not:] Work around any technical limitations in the application.
So it's very limited.