GNU gettext

GNU gettext: A Translation Tool for Multi-Language Support

A software translation tool allowing programmers to create applications with interfaces in multiple languages, providing localization support for software.

What is GNU gettext?

GNU gettext is a popular open source internationalization and localization system used for writing multilingual programs on UNIX-like systems. It allows programmers to separate program logic from language-specific text which makes it easier to add, update, and maintain support for multiple languages.

The gettext tools provide a framework for translating text in applications into different human languages. Programmers wrap text strings that should be translated in special function calls, and gettext takes care of producing output tailored for the selected language. The translation work is done by creating PO (Portable Object) text files containing strings mapped to their translations.

Key features of GNU gettext include: support for dozens of programming languages, translation memory merging, handling plural forms of languages, and an easy to use translation editor. It has become an essential part of Linux and open source development for creating software that can target users across languages and locales.

GNU gettext Features

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