Behdad Esfahbod he/they /behˈ·dɒːd ɛs·fæhˈ·boːd/ ▶

I’m an Iranian-Canadian software engineer and consultant working on fonts, text rendering, and internationalization. In Persian, my name is بهداد اسفهبد. I’m best known as the author of HarfBuzz—the text-shaping engine used across major operating systems, browsers, and apps.

For more than 25 years, I’ve worked to improve digital text across writing systems worldwide, beginning with Persian support in open-source software. Along the way, I’ve worked at FarsiWeb, Red Hat, Google, and Facebook.

I was born in Sari, Iran, and have lived in Tehran, Toronto, Menlo Park, and Seattle before settling in Edmonton, Canada.

∞ Software Projects

Text shaping HarfBuzz The engine behind modern digital typography Rust HarfRust A Rust implementation of HarfBuzz Font engineering FontTools Python tools for building, inspecting, and modifying fonts

Take HarfBuzz for a spin at HarfBuzz World. More open-source projects on my GitHub. For earlier work, see Past Software Projects on the résumé page.

∞ Beyond Software

Beyond software, I’m drawn to food, travel, photography, filmmaking, writing, leathercraft, mental health, psychonautics, polyamory, and alternative ways of living.

Markéta Jakešová is my partner in life and crime, and my collaborator in writing and film. Our wedding website and its source code are public.