Pootle
Encyclopedia
Pootle is an online translation management tool with translation interface. It is written in the Python programming language
using the Django framework and is free software
originally developed and released by Translate.org.za in 2004. It was further developed as part of the WordForge project and the African Network for Localisation and is now maintained by Translate.org.za.
Pootle is intended for use by free software translators but is usable in other situations. Its main focus is on localization
of applications' graphical user interfaces as opposed to document translation. Pootle makes use of the Translate Toolkit
for manipulating translation files. The Translate Toolkit also offers offline features that can be used to manage the translation of Mozilla Firefox
and OpenOffice.org
in Pootle. Some of Pootle's features include terminology extraction
, translation memory
, glossary management and matching, goal creation and user management.
It can play various roles in the translation process. The simplest displays statistics for the body of translations hosted by the server. Its suggestion mode allows users to make translation suggestions and corrections for later review, thus it can act as a translation specific bug reporting system. It allows online translation with various translators and lastly it can operate as a management system where translators translate using an offline tool and use Pootle to manage the workflow of the translation.
The name Pootle is an acronym for PO-based Online Translation / Localization Engine, but is also a character in the BBC
children's program The Flumps
.
Translate.org.za released various versions and in 2006 Pootle was further developed as part of the WordForge project, a project funded by the Open Society Institute
and the International Development Research Centre
. This added XLIFF
file management and infrastructure for translation workflow. Many of these features were added in the 1.0 release.
Pootle is used by OpenOffice.org
, One Laptop per Child and other projects. Pootle is the basis of the Verbatim project which is building localisation infrastructure for Mozilla
projects.
. It serves as a translation management system, treating translation files as documents and managing them as such.
The aim of Pootle is never to replace existing processes but rather to enhance them. Thus it interacts with upstream version control systems allowing it to commit changes directly to the main project rather than maintaining a parallel system outside of the project.
It is free software and projects are encouraged to host their own Pootle server to allow their community to localise.
provides conversion from its supported source document formats which include: Java and Mozilla .properties
files, OpenOffice.org SDF files, HTML, Text, XLIFF
and Gettext
PO.
Pootle itself works directly on Gettext PO and XLIFF files, as well as Qt .ts, TBX and TMX
(since version 2.0.3). Since Pootle 2.1.0 there is also native support for several other formats, such as Java .properties files, PHP array files, Mac OS X strings and several subtitle formats.
Python (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
using the Django framework and is free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
originally developed and released by Translate.org.za in 2004. It was further developed as part of the WordForge project and the African Network for Localisation and is now maintained by Translate.org.za.
Pootle is intended for use by free software translators but is usable in other situations. Its main focus is on localization
Internationalization and localization
In computing, internationalization and localization are means of adapting computer software to different languages, regional differences and technical requirements of a target market...
of applications' graphical user interfaces as opposed to document translation. Pootle makes use of the Translate Toolkit
Translate Toolkit
The Translate Toolkit is a localization and translation toolkit. It provides a set of tools for working with localization file formats and files that might need localization. The toolkit also provides an API on which to develop other localization tools....
for manipulating translation files. The Translate Toolkit also offers offline features that can be used to manage the translation of Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers...
and OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org, commonly known as OOo or OpenOffice, is an open-source application suite whose main components are for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. OpenOffice is available for a number of different computer operating systems, is distributed as free software...
in Pootle. Some of Pootle's features include terminology extraction
Terminology extraction
Terminology mining, term extraction, term recognition, or glossary extraction, is a subtask of information extraction. The goal of terminology extraction is to automatically extract relevant terms from a given corpus....
, translation memory
Translation memory
A translation memory, or TM, is a database that stores so-called "segments", which can be sentences or sentence-like units that have previously been translated. A translation memory system stores the words, phrases and paragraphs that have already been translated, in order to aid human translators...
, glossary management and matching, goal creation and user management.
It can play various roles in the translation process. The simplest displays statistics for the body of translations hosted by the server. Its suggestion mode allows users to make translation suggestions and corrections for later review, thus it can act as a translation specific bug reporting system. It allows online translation with various translators and lastly it can operate as a management system where translators translate using an offline tool and use Pootle to manage the workflow of the translation.
History
Pootle was first developed by David Fraser while working for Translate.org.za in a project funded by the CATIA project. Its first official release was made in December 2004 although it had been used in various internal Translate@thons by Translate.org.za.The name Pootle is an acronym for PO-based Online Translation / Localization Engine, but is also a character in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
children's program The Flumps
The Flumps
The Flumps is a children's programme which was produced in 1976 by David Yates. It was broadcast by the BBC many times from 1977 to 1988.-Overview:...
.
Translate.org.za released various versions and in 2006 Pootle was further developed as part of the WordForge project, a project funded by the Open Society Institute
Open Society Institute
The Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
and the International Development Research Centre
International Development Research Centre
The International Development Research Centre is a Canadian Crown Corporation created by the Parliament of Canada that supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development...
. This added XLIFF
XLIFF
XLIFF is an XML-based format created to standardize localization. XLIFF was standardized by OASIS in 2002. Its current specification is v1.2 released on Feb-1-2008....
file management and infrastructure for translation workflow. Many of these features were added in the 1.0 release.
Pootle is used by OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org, commonly known as OOo or OpenOffice, is an open-source application suite whose main components are for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. OpenOffice is available for a number of different computer operating systems, is distributed as free software...
, One Laptop per Child and other projects. Pootle is the basis of the Verbatim project which is building localisation infrastructure for Mozilla
Mozilla
Mozilla is a term used in a number of ways in relation to the Mozilla.org project and the Mozilla Foundation, their defunct commercial predecessor Netscape Communications Corporation, and their related application software....
projects.
Design Philosophy
Pootle was designed to be a web translation tool using the Translate ToolkitTranslate Toolkit
The Translate Toolkit is a localization and translation toolkit. It provides a set of tools for working with localization file formats and files that might need localization. The toolkit also provides an API on which to develop other localization tools....
. It serves as a translation management system, treating translation files as documents and managing them as such.
The aim of Pootle is never to replace existing processes but rather to enhance them. Thus it interacts with upstream version control systems allowing it to commit changes directly to the main project rather than maintaining a parallel system outside of the project.
It is free software and projects are encouraged to host their own Pootle server to allow their community to localise.
Supported source document formats
The Translate ToolkitTranslate Toolkit
The Translate Toolkit is a localization and translation toolkit. It provides a set of tools for working with localization file formats and files that might need localization. The toolkit also provides an API on which to develop other localization tools....
provides conversion from its supported source document formats which include: Java and Mozilla .properties
.properties
.properties is a file extension for files mainly used in Java related technologies to store the configurable parameters of an application. They can also be used for storing strings for Internationalization and localization; these are known as Property Resource Bundles.Each parameter is stored as a...
files, OpenOffice.org SDF files, HTML, Text, XLIFF
XLIFF
XLIFF is an XML-based format created to standardize localization. XLIFF was standardized by OASIS in 2002. Its current specification is v1.2 released on Feb-1-2008....
and Gettext
Gettext
In computing, gettext is an internationalization and localization system commonly used for writing multilingual programs on Unix-like computer operating systems. The most commonly-used implementation of gettext is GNU gettext, released by the GNU Project in 1995.- History :gettext was originally...
PO.
Pootle itself works directly on Gettext PO and XLIFF files, as well as Qt .ts, TBX and TMX
Translation Memory eXchange
TMX is an open XML standard for the exchange of translation memory data created by computer-aided translation and localization tools....
(since version 2.0.3). Since Pootle 2.1.0 there is also native support for several other formats, such as Java .properties files, PHP array files, Mac OS X strings and several subtitle formats.
Features
- Terminology extractionTerminology extractionTerminology mining, term extraction, term recognition, or glossary extraction, is a subtask of information extraction. The goal of terminology extraction is to automatically extract relevant terms from a given corpus....
based on term frequency - Translation memory - created by an offline tool
- Machine translationMachine translationMachine translation, sometimes referred to by the abbreviation MT is a sub-field of computational linguistics that investigates the use of computer software to translate text or speech from one natural language to another.On a basic...
through popular online services - Alternative source language - view translations from a third language while translating
- Glossary - choose between live global glossary or a glossary per project
- Goals - set goals and add users to goals
- Statistics - word count and string statistics
- Suggestions - allow suggestions to be made allowing outside participation and bug reporting
- Version control - update from or commit directly to upstream version control systems
- User management - assign various rights to users
- Translation interface - perform online translation and review
- Checks - performs over 40 checks on translation quality
See also
- Translation MemoryTranslation memoryA translation memory, or TM, is a database that stores so-called "segments", which can be sentences or sentence-like units that have previously been translated. A translation memory system stores the words, phrases and paragraphs that have already been translated, in order to aid human translators...
- Computer-assisted TranslationComputer-assisted translationComputer-assisted translation, computer-aided translation, or CAT is a form of translation wherein a human translator translates texts using computer software designed to support and facilitate the translation process....
External links
- Pootle home - Official Pootle web site
- Demo Pootle server hosting the translation of Pootle and some other projects
- Live Pootle servers - List of projects, companies and temporary Pootle servers
- Python package index
- [irc://irc.freenode.net/#pootle #pootle] on freenode
- WordForge project - WordForge project information