Dive Into Python uses ugly font

Created an attachment (id=1447)
Yelp displaying Dive Into Python with ugly font

Does this only affect diveintopython, or other documents as well?

It only affects diveintopython. Other documents use the gnome-wide application
font (that yelp is set to use).

Created an attachment (id=1627)
It changes the 'ugly' serif font to sans-serif

Hmm, placed a patch... but dunno really if it solves the problem or simply
changes it. -- <email address hidden>

On a current hoary system, I'm unable to see the "ugly" font. Please could you
try to install apache2, and then point your browser to
http://localhost/doc/diveintopython/html . Can you see the ugly fonts there as
well?

Changing the serif font to a sans-serif font only makes it harder to read long
lines.

Could you check, if editing the stylecheet to use the FreeSans and FreeSerif
fonts gives better results for you?

Installing apache and reading the docs from another browser didn't make any
difference (not when "Always use my fonts" was unselected). Changing the
stylesheet gave improvements: FreeSerif and FreeSans looked a bit better,
Bitstream Vera looked even better (see screenshots below).

All other documents on my system use sans serif in Yelp (even if Yelp isn't set
to use the system font). Perhaps this behaviour should be consistent?

Conserning the readability of long lines, actually decreasing line length would
do more than switching the fonts. I find p {width: 40 em;} to be quite
comfortable.

Created an attachment (id=1651)
Yelp displaying DiveIntoPython with FreeSerif and FreeSans

Created an attachment (id=1652)
Yelp and DiveIntoPython, this time with Bitstream Vera

I noticed it is hard to see from the screenshots, but the hinting on Bitstream
Vera is better than with FreeSerif and FreeSans on my LCD screen (even with
subpixel rendering enabled). That is the reason I think it looks better.

Ok. I think I found the problem. This system was upgraded from Warty. In the
process I changed the hinting from autohinter to sub-pixel. However I made the
mistake to enable bitmapped fonts, that is the reason for this problem.

The fix is to:
1. sudo dpkg-reconfigure fontconfig
2. Select hintning (in my case subpixel hinting)
3. Select to _not_ enable bitmapped fonts
4. Log in/out or reboot.

Thank you for your time and effort!