Comment 102 for bug 650498

The design solutions have long been there, although many of them don't read well - probably, because they were designed either by non-Germans/Austrians, who don't have an innate sensibility of what the letter is supposed to look like - particularly the Frankfurt design with its top-left corner - making it look too much like a B, unless the font is particularly angular anyway.

The Dresden design with its top-left arc and diagonal stroke in the top-right, only reads well if the lower-case ß looks like ſƷ or ſz, otherwise it loses context and can end up looking out of place.

The Zehlendorf design (as used by the German government) is a bit of a compromise between the Dresden and Leipzig designs, with its wide top-left arc and narrow top-right swerve rather than a diagonal stroke or distinct S-shape. I personally find it easier to read than the Dresden design but slightly too ambiguous.

If the lower case ß is shaped like ſs (like Ubuntu) the Leipzig design works best in my opinion - combining a top-left arc with an upper-case S. This design can however, be done quite badly, if the top-right of the S is left at full length and/or full size, in which case, the top-left arc ends up looking (and reading) like an R.

In the absence of a Ubuntu solution, I have found a substitute (when using Ubuntu Regular) in DejaVu Sans Book. Although the bottom of the S-shape could be cut off at an angle, the size, form and kerning, work perfectly in combination with Ubuntu Regular. The top-left arc of the DejaVu Sans Book ẞ is slightly over-sized, in order to compensate for the upper-case S-element being slightly smaller than a stand-alone upper-case S (as well as being slightly truncated).

If anyone is looking for an ẞ-work-around for Ubuntu Regular, I can highly recommend DejaVu Sans Book. Available from FontSquirrel: https://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/dejavu-sans