Need for a message catalog framework per application

Hilaire Fernandes hilaire at ext.cri74.org
Wed May 17 12:13:56 UTC 2006


The message catalogues -- for translation -- as handled right now come 
in the form of an unique dictionary per language in the Image. When 
developing a specific application where you want the interface to be 
translated in several languages it is a very big problem.
Indeed there are *no standard* way in message catalogues transportation 
related to your package. Right now the application source code and the 
translation are located in different places. The first one in a 
Monticelly package and the other in the Image. Therefore it could be 
very easy mix up or even worst lose part of an application translation.

I read here and there about possible hacks to do it, but could we try to 
define once *a standard way* to define such message catalogue 
transportation.

 From my point of view -- application developer -- I will need:

- for one specific application, the message catalogues  should come with 
the source code (as it is done with the GNU Gettext system).
- the message catalogues should be transportable with the source code. 
For example I read it could be integrated in the Monticello package and 
SqueakMap package
- it should be easy for translators to translate one specific 
application, then commit back in the application repository the 
translated messages.

I don't think I can define such a framework alone, but if other people 
are interested for such a solution I am willing to help.

Hilaire


-- 
ADD R0,R1,R2,LSL #2



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