stable snap (1.0.1) cannot handle variable font Inconsolata

1. Summary

After installing the variable font Inconsolata on my Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS system, it shows up in Inkscape. However, it seems like Inkscape can only use the default Inconsolata settings. Moving the Weight and Width sliders has no effect.

2. How did I install `Inconsolata` font?

I've installed the Inconsolata font in this way:

1. Navigate to the Inconsolata font in Google Fonts: https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Inconsolata

2. Click the Download Family button in the top-right corner.

3. Unpack Inconsolata.zip

4. Open the folder ~/Downloads/Inconsolata/ in the Ubuntu file explorer. You should see the file Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf, which is the variable font:

   

5. Right click the file and select Open with fonts. A window opens that shows the whole font in all its variants.

6. Click the Install button at the top of the window.

7. To make sure that the new font takes effect, clear the font cache. Open a terminal and issue the command:

   $ sudo fc-cache -f -v

8. To verify if the installation is correct, open a terminal and do:

   $ fc-list | grep -i inconsol

   I had the following output:

   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Regular
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Expanded Medium
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiCondensed ExtraBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiExpanded Bold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraExpanded Medium
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiExpanded Medium
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraExpanded Bold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Expanded ExtraLight
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraExpanded SemiBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraCondensed Regular
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraExpanded ExtraBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiExpanded Black
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraExpanded SemiBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Condensed Light
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraExpanded ExtraBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiCondensed Black
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraExpanded ExtraLight
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Condensed Medium
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraCondensed Black
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraExpanded Regular
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiCondensed Bold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraExpanded Light
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraExpanded Regular
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Bold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Condensed SemiBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Condensed ExtraLight
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Expanded Regular
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraCondensed ExtraLight
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraCondensed Black
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Expanded Black
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Expanded SemiBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraExpanded Light
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiExpanded SemiBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraCondensed SemiBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Expanded ExtraBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiCondensed Regular
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraExpanded Bold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Black
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiExpanded ExtraBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiCondensed Medium
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraLight
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraCondensed Bold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Condensed Regular
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraCondensed Light
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraCondensed SemiBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraExpanded Black
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Medium
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraCondensed ExtraLight
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Expanded Light
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraCondensed Light
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Condensed Bold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraCondensed Bold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiCondensed SemiBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiExpanded Regular
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiExpanded Light
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraCondensed Medium
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraExpanded Black
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Condensed ExtraBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Expanded Bold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraCondensed Medium
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraCondensed ExtraBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiCondensed Light
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiCondensed ExtraLight
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Condensed Black
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraExpanded Medium
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=SemiExpanded ExtraLight
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=Light
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=ExtraCondensed Regular
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraCondensed ExtraBold
   /home/kristof/.local/share/fonts/Inconsolata-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf: Inconsolata:style=UltraExpanded ExtraLight

3. What happens in inkscape?

Inkscape recognizes the Inconsolata font:

Unfortunately, nothing happens if you select one of the variants (like Heavy) or if you move the sliders yourself. After you click Apply, the text remains the same. The Weight and Width values of your selection (eg. 900 and 100 for the Heavy variant) appear next to the name Inconsolata in the Font Family listing, with a red strike through them. Also the selected variant (eg. Heavy) jumps back to Normal:

In short, it looks like you can use the standard Inconsolata font, but none of its variants.

Version Info:

- Inkscape Version: 1.0.1 (0767f8302a, 2020-10-17)
- Operating System: Ubuntu
- Operating System version: Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS