Backport JDK-8212071 font fix to OpenJDK 11

[John Neffenger]

This is a request to backport the two-line fix for Java Bug JDK-8212071 to OpenJDK 11. Doing so will correct a visible font error that has been in the OpenJDK since its beginning. The bug is described on the page below. Scroll down to the first set of Font Demo screenshots for a quick view of the problem in the "Before" and "After" images.

OpenJDK FreeType Font Fix
https://github.com/jgneff/openjdk-freetype

The official report in the Java Bug System is here:

Need to set the FreeType LCD Filter to reduce fringing
https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/JDK-8212071

I believe the consequences of this bug have been far-reaching. It's one of the reasons why JetBrains created their own fork of the JDK to include in IntelliJ IDEA [1]; why we have popular forks of the JDK to fix the fonts on Ubuntu [2]; and why the snap for NetBeans 10 ships with sub-pixel rendering disabled by default [3], reverting to grayscale anti-aliasing.

Personally, it's why I was ready to abandon the platform. The same problem occurred in JavaFX as well, but for different reasons [4]. That made it appear as if this was something intrinsic to Java itself. Instead, they were both simple bugs that nonetheless persisted for years, making Java and JavaFX look bad on Ubuntu and any other Debian-based distribution.

I don't think we can wait for OpenJDK 12. Let me know how I can help.

Thank you,
John

[1] https://github.com/JetBrains/jdk8u_jdk
[2] https://launchpad.net/~no1wantdthisname/+archive/ubuntu/openjdk-fontfix
[3] https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/NETBEANS/Font+Rendering+Issues
[4] https://github.com/javafxports/openjdk-jfx/issues/229

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[John Neffenger (jgneff)]

The font fix is backported to OpenJDK 11.0.6 with the following Backport Bug Report:

JDK / JDK-8231359
Need to set the FreeType LCD Filter to reduce fringing
https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/JDK-8231359

OpenJDK 11.0.6 is scheduled to be released on January 14, 2020.

OpenJDK 11 Updates
https://wiki.openjdk.java.net/display/JDKUpdates/JDK11u

This bug report can be closed.

[John Neffenger (jgneff)]

Fix committed upstream in OpenJDK 11.0.6 to be released January 14, 2020.

[John Neffenger (jgneff)]

2020-01-15: OpenJDK 11.0.6 is available on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS with the fix.
2020-01-17: OpenJDK 8 Update 242 is available on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS with the fix.