Jim's TrueType QR Code Font Turns Text into Scannable Symbols

I created an experimental OpenType font that transforms bracketed text into QR codes while keeping surrounding text readable. Using a build script to generate glyph outlines and GSUB logic, this tool embeds Reed-Solomon parity circuits directly into the font file. You can type mixed content like abc[hello]ghi, and the font automatically renders a scannable QR code for the bracketed section using printable ASCII input.

The default build compiles the delimiter parser, byte expansion, Reed-Solomon parity circuit, QR module placement, and fixed mask rendering.
  1. athenot

    Maybe it's not practical for day-to-day use but the way this hacks the font to produce something completely different is amazing!

  2. ChrisArchitect

    [dupe] a recent Show HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48703200

  3. jhogervorst

    A fun benefit seems to be that you can select the QR code as text and copy it, which puts the original text in your clipboard.

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2026-07-07