Translating WordPress with GlotPress

Contents

Translating WordPress with GlotPress

Localization and internationalization are critical for making WordPress accessible worldwide. GlotPress is the community–driven solution that streamlines translation management. This article provides a comprehensive guide to using GlotPress to translate WordPress core, themes, and plugins.

1. Understanding Internationalization (i18n) and Localization (l10n)

Internationalization (i18n): Preparing code and content so it can be translated.
Localization (l10n): Adapting internationalized code to a specific language or region.
WordPress provides a robust i18n API (developer.wordpress.org/apis/internationalization/), using __(), _e(), _n(), and other functions.

2. What Is GlotPress

GlotPress is an open–source translation management tool originally developed for WordPress.org. It allows collaboration, translation memory, and glossary features in a web interface.

Feature	Description
Project Locale Management	Organize software by project and target language.
Translation Memory	Reuses previously approved translations.
Glossary	Manages consistent terminology.

3. Installing and Configuring GlotPress

Server Requirements: PHP 7.2 , MySQL 5.6 /MariaDB 10.0 , Apache/Nginx.
Download GlotPress: Get the latest from GitHub.
Install as a WordPress Plugin:
1. Extract to wp-content/plugins/glotpress/.
2. Activate via WP Admin gt Plugins.
Database Setup: On activation, GlotPress creates its tables (gp_projects, gp_translations, etc.).
Basic Configuration: In WP Admin gt GlotPress gt Settings, define user roles and default locales.

4. Integrating GlotPress with WordPress Projects

To translate themes and plugins:

Export a .pot file from your project using WP‐CLI make‐pot or Poedit.
In GlotPress, create a new Project gt New Locale gt Upload the .pot file.
Translators contribute via the web UI once approved, download .po and .mo files.
Deploy: Place .mo files in wp-content/languages/plugins/ or themes/your-theme/languages/.

5. Translation Workflow and Collaboration

A typical workflow involves:

Extract strings from source code (.pot).
Import into GlotPress and assign locales.
Translators suggest translations reviewers approve or reject.
Use Translation Memory to fill recurring terms.
Export final .po/.mo packages and integrate.

6. Best Practices for Quality Translations

Consistency: Maintain a glossary of key terms in GlotPress.
Context Matters: Provide translator notes to clarify ambiguous strings.
Automated Checks: Enable term checks and plural form validation.
Regular Updates: Sync with upstream code frequently to avoid large merges.
Community Engagement: Use WordPress Polyglots for coordination.

7. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem	Solution
Missing strings after POT import	Verify the `text-domain` matches in code and GlotPress project settings.
Incorrect plural forms	Adjust locale settings under GlotPress gt Locales and confirm `nplurals` value.
CSS/JS strings not extracted	Use correct extraction tools/plugins (e.g., WP‐CLI i18n tools) and pass proper flags.

8. Advanced Tips

API Integration: Use the GlotPress REST API to automate imports/exports (GlotPress API docs).
CI/CD: Integrate translation steps in your build pipeline (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI).
Security: Restrict roles (Translator, Reviewer, Administrator) in GlotPress settings.
Backups: Regularly dump your GlotPress database tables (gp_) along with your WP site.

9. Conclusion

Translating WordPress with GlotPress empowers global collaboration, enhances user experience in diverse languages, and streamlines project workflows. By following best practices and leveraging GlotPress features—such as translation memory, glossaries, and API integrations—you can maintain high–quality, consistently updated translations for WordPress core, themes, and plugins.

For more information, refer to the official documentation:

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Translating WordPress with GlotPress