> I don't see an advantage over using native system fonts
As touched on in the article, you need a standardized font you have control over for automated testing, to make sure you're getting reproducible results. OS fonts are too inconsistent for that.
Now, why they couldn't use any of the literally hundreds of other open-source fonts instead that Google made…
That was one of my first thoughts.... imho Noto looks better, and the monospace font is pretty hideous imho. I like Inconsolata/Consolas, but there are many other options that are libre licensed and better looking imho.
As to other comments, mostly agreed on using system fonts.
I suspect partially to avoid the Google branding (which seems like a good reason), and partially because of Rob Pike's Bell Labs and Plan 9 history (which would be more nostalgia than anything else, but not necessarily a bad reason).
As touched on in the article, you need a standardized font you have control over for automated testing, to make sure you're getting reproducible results. OS fonts are too inconsistent for that.
Now, why they couldn't use any of the literally hundreds of other open-source fonts instead that Google made…