Calagopus

Translating Calagopus with Crowdin ​

This guide explains how to contribute translations using Crowdin.

Prerequisites ​

You will need:

  • A Crowdin account
  • Basic understanding of both English and your target language

Joining the Project ​

  1. Open the Calagopus Crowdin project.
  2. Sign in to Crowdin.
  3. Select the language you want to translate.
  4. Click en.json. This indicates the source, not the target language.

If your language is not available, open a GitHub issue requesting support for it.

Understanding the Translation Interface ​

Each source string consists of:

  • Source string - The original English text.
  • Translation - Where you enter your translation.
  • Suggestions - Existing translations or machine translation suggestions.
  • Comments - Context from developers or other translators.

Always read the surrounding context before translating. Automated suggestions may be incorrect; review them before submitting.

Picture of the Crowdin User Interface

Translation Guidelines ​

Keep Meaning, Not Words ​

Translate the intent of the message rather than performing a literal translation.

Preserve Variables ​

Strings often contain placeholders.

Example:

text
Welcome back, {username}!

Translate only the surrounding text.

✅ Correct

text
¡Bienvenido de nuevo, {username}!

❌ Incorrect

text
¡Bienvenido de nuevo, {nombre}!

Never translate or modify text inside {}.

Preserve Markdown ​

Some strings contain Markdown formatting.

Example:

md
Click **Save** to continue.

Translate only the visible text.

md
Haz clic en **Guardar** para continuar.

Do not remove:

  • **bold**
  • _italic_
  • Links/URLs
  • Line breaks

Plural Forms ​

Some languages have multiple plural rules. Translate every required plural form.

Consistency ​

Use consistent terminology throughout the project. Avoid using multiple translations for the same technical term.

Reviewing Existing Translations ​

Before translating a string:

  • Read previous translations.
  • Check translation memory suggestions.
  • Vote on good translations.
  • Improve incorrect ones.

Proofreading ​

Before saving, verify:

  • Grammar
  • Spelling
  • Punctuation
  • Variables are unchanged
  • Markdown is preserved

What Should Not Be Translated ​

Generally leave these unchanged:

  • Product names (e.g. Calagopus, Docker, GitHub, PostgreSQL)
  • Linux commands
  • Environment variable names
  • File names
  • URLs

Machine Translation ​

Machine translation can be a useful starting point, but every suggestion should be reviewed by a human. Ensure translations sound natural to native speakers.

Need Help? ​

If you are unsure about a translation:

  • Leave a comment on the string in Crowdin.
  • Ask other translators.
  • Open a discussion or issue on GitHub.