How to contribute to translations

We use Weblate to translate /e/OS and Murena Workspace. Anyone can help, in any language.

What is Weblate and why do we use it?

Weblate is a libre, web-based translation tool with tight version control integration. It keeps translations in sync with the source code, shares translations across components, runs quality checks and links each string to its source file.

We use it to localize the text of all the default applications of /e/OS and of Murena Workspace, without anyone having to edit source files by hand.

Which languages are supported?

We focus on the following languages:

English
Italian
French
German
Spanish

Tip: Our solutions are always translated into these 5 languages. If you notice a missing translation in one of these languages, please let us know via GitLab.

In addition to these 5 languages, community members contribute to other languages, for instance:

Polish
Dutch
Russian
Turkish
Bulgarian

Your language is not listed? Please create an issue in GitLab to request its addition.

Get started

1. Log in to Weblate

You need an E Foundation GitLab ID to log in.

Go to https://i18n.e.foundation/ and click Sign in at the top right corner:
Once logged in, you should see your dashboard:

Warning: Log in to Weblate at least once before requesting the rights to translate. Otherwise your account does not exist yet and we cannot find you in the admin interface.

2. Request the rights to translate in your language

Being logged in is enough to browse the projects, but saving translations requires being a member of the translators group of your language.

Create an issue in GitLab to request the rights to translate in your language, with your language and your Weblate username
Join the translators group on Telegram, so the team can reach you and you can talk with the other translators of your language
Once an admin has added you to the group, log out of Weblate and log in again

Tip: Until you have been added to the group of your language, Weblate shows the error Insufficient privileges for saving translations. when you save a string. This is expected: request the rights as described above.

3. Pick a project and a language

In the menu, go to Projects > Browse all projects:
Select the project you want to contribute to:
- /e/OS to translate /e/OS
- Murena Workspace to translate Murena Workspace
Each project contains several components, usually one per application (for example BlissLauncher or AccountManager). Select the component you want to work on:
Select the language you translate into:

Translate

On the language page, start with Unfinished strings, then Strings waiting for review if there is none. The Search tab lets you find a specific string:
On the translation page, the source text in English is at the top. Type your translation in the box below it:
Click Save and continue to go to the next string. Keep the default Waiting for review option selected.

Why keep `Waiting for review` selected?

A translation sounds more natural once someone else, or yourself a few days later, has looked at it with a fresh eye. Marking a string as Waiting for review lets another contributor of your language check it.

When you review a translation that looks good to you, tick Approved and click Save and continue.

For Murena admins: grant the rights

Check that the person has already logged in once to https://i18n.e.foundation/, otherwise the account does not exist yet.
In the Weblate admin interface, go to Users, open the user and add them to the group Community Reviewers <language>.
If the group of that language does not exist yet, create it by copying an existing one (roles Review strings, Manage languages and Manage glossary, restricted to the language).
Tell the person it is done and ask them to log out and log in again.

Need help?

Check the Weblate documentation, or ask in the translators group on Telegram.