wittrans 0.7.0
Search for translation strings in Linux distributions
Requires Python: >=3.12
Keywords: translation, localization, l10n, linux, gettext

# wittrans

A command-line tool to search for translated strings and source messages in localization files used by Linux distributions.

## Overview

`wittrans` is a command-line utility designed to search through compiled `.mo` localization files in Linux distributions. Finding and verifying translations in Linux systems can be tedious, especially when dealing with inconsistent translations, spelling errors, or locating the source of a specific translation. The main use case is to simplify this process by enabling fast, comprehensive searches across installed `.mo` files in a specified language.

> The project name comes from the common question: "Where is that translation?"

## Key Features

- ✨ Fast search through compiled `.mo` files in system-wide programs and Flatpak apps
- 🔍 Case-insensitive search functionality
- 📝 Search capability in both English source text and translations
- 🌍 Support for all system-available language codes
- 📊 Search results can be displayed in the console or exported to a TSV file
- 🐛 Find spelling mistakes easily!

## Installation

`wittrans` is available on [PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/wittrans/) and can be installed using a Python package manager, such as `uv`, `pipx`, or `pip`. The only requirement is that wittrans must be run on a GNU/Linux distribution for proper path resolution.

### Prerequisites

- GNU/Linux distribution
- Python >= 3.12 (runtime)
- uv >= 0.8.11, pipx >= 1.7.1, or pip >= 24.3.1 (for installation)

### Install via uv

Install wittrans as a standalone command-line tool using uv:

```bash
uv tool install wittrans
```

### Install via pipx

Install wittrans as a standalone command-line tool using pipx:

```bash
pipx install wittrans
```

## Usage

### Search

After installation, use wittrans as a command:

```bash
wittrans "search_term" language_code
```

If you wish to generate a TSV file out of search results, use option `-o`:

```bash
wittrans "search_term" language_code -o tsv
```

### Parameters

| Parameter | Description | Example |
|-----------|-------------|----------|
| `search_term` | Text to search for (in quotes) | `"maanantai"` |
| `language_code` | Two-letter ISO-639 Set-1 language code, or three-letter ISO-639 Set-2 or Set-3 language code, or locale code as in GNU C Library  | `fi`, `fin`, `fi_FI` for Finnish |

### Options

| Option | Description | Example |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| `-i`, `--indicate` | Highlight search term matches in output | `-i` |
| `-f`, `--no-flatpak` | Skip searching Flatpak applications (faster search) | `-f` |
| `-s`, `--source` | Search only in source strings (cannot be used with -t) | `-s` |
| `-t`, `--translation` | Search only in translation strings (cannot be used with -s) | `-t` |
| `-w`, `--whole-word` | Match whole words only instead of partial matches | `-w` |
| `-o`, `--output` | Output format. Supports `tsv` for tab-separated values | `-o tsv` |
| `--output-file` | Custom output filename (used with `-o` option). If not specified, auto-generated filename is used | `--output-file my_results.tsv` |
| `-a`, `--all` | Retrieve all translations from .mo files (cannot be used with search term, requires -o tsv for output) | `-a -o tsv` |
| `--version` | Show version number and exit | `--version` |
| `-h`, `--help` | Show help message and exit | `-h` |

### Examples

Find "maanantai" (Monday) in Finnish translations:

```bash
wittrans "maanantai" fi
```

Find "måndag" (Monday) in Swedish translations with result highlighting:

```bash
wittrans "måndag" sv -i
```

Find "lunes" (Monday) in Spanish translations, skipping Flatpak for faster search:

```bash
wittrans "lunes" es -f
```

Find "segunda-feira" (Monday) in Brazilian Portuguese translations and export to a TSV file:

```bash
wittrans "segunda-feira" pt_BR -o tsv
```

Find "星期一" (Monday) in Chinese translations and export to a TSV file with a custom name:

```bash
wittrans "星期一" zh_CN -o tsv --output-file chinese_monday.tsv
```

Find all Finnish translations and save results to a TSV file:

```bash
wittrans fi -a -o tsv
```

## Documentation

### Search Paths

To locate .mo translation files, the following 14 standard paths are used, covering system-wide and user-specific directories:

| Path | Description |
|-----------|-------------|
| `/usr/share/locale/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES` | Primary system-wide translations directory. Contains the original .mo files installed by application packages through the system's package manager. |
| `/usr/share/locale-langpack/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES` | Supplementary system-wide translations directory used by Ubuntu and some derivatives. Contains additional translations that can be installed separately via language packs. |
| `/usr/local/share/locale/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES` | System-wide translations for manually installed software. Contains translations for applications installed by administrators outside the package manager (e.g., compiled from source). |
| `~/.local/share/locale/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES` | User-specific translations directory. Contains translations for applications compiled and installed by the current user in their home directory. |
| `/var/lib/flatpak/app` | System-wide Flatpak application translations, accessible to all users. Each Flatpak app maintains its own locale directory within its sandbox, typically under `{app_id}/{arch}/stable/active/files/share/locale/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES` or `{app_id}/{arch}/stable/active/files/locale/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES`. |
| `/var/lib/flatpak/runtime` | System-wide Flatpak runtime translations, accessible to all users. Runtime translations are typically found under paths like `{runtime_id}.Locale/{arch}/stable/active/files/{lang_code}/share/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES`. |
| `~/.local/share/flatpak/app` | User-specific Flatpak application translations, only accessible to the current user. Follows the same directory structure as system-wide Flatpak applications. |
| `~/.local/share/flatpak/runtime` | User-specific Flatpak runtime translations, only accessible to the current user. Follows the same directory structure as system-wide Flatpak runtimes. |
| `/usr/share/gnome-shell/extensions/{extension_name}/locale/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES` | System-wide GNOME Shell extensions. Contains translations for extensions installed system-wide by the package manager or administrator. |
| `/usr/local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/{extension_name}/locale/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES` | User-specific GNOME Shell extensions in system location. Extensions manually installed to the system-wide location by users with appropriate permissions. |
| `~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/{extension_name}/locale/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES` | User-specific GNOME Shell extensions. Contains translations for extensions installed by current user through GNOME Extensions website or manual installation. |
| `/usr/share/plasma/plasmoids/{plasmoid_name}/contents/locale/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES` | System-wide KDE Plasmoids (widgets). Contains translations for KDE widgets and plasmoids installed to all users. |
| `/usr/local/share/plasma/plasmoids/{plasmoid_name}/contents/locale/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES` | System-wide KDE Plasmoids (widgets). Contains translations for KDE widgets installed to all users by an administrator outside the package manager. |
| `~/.local/share/plasma/plasmoids/{plasmoid_name}/contents/locale/{lang_code}/LC_MESSAGES` | User-specific KDE Plasmoids (widgets). Contains translations for KDE widgets installed by current user. |

### TSV Output Format

When using `-o tsv`, the output file contains the following tab-separated columns:

| Column | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `Source Type` | Source category of translation, e.g. "System Locale or "System Flatpak". There are eight different categories |
| `File Path` | Full path to the translation file |
| `Context` | Translation context (if available) |
| `Original Text` | English source text |
| `[Language] Translation` | Translated text in the specified language |

TSV files can be opened in spreadsheet applications (LibreOffice Calc, etc.).

### Notes

- Results include matches in both source text and translations
- `.mo` files are the compiled binary versions of `.po` files used by the system
- [ISO-639 Set-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_639-1) language codes are the primary, supported way for setting language code
- While there is a preliminary support for [ISO-639 Set-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_639-3) codes and locale codes, such as zh_CN and pt_BR, provided by GNU C Library, all the system-available locale codes have not been tested and might not work as reliably as Set-1 codes. Run `locale -a` in command line to see available locales.

### External Links

- [GNU gettext](https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/manual/index.html)
- [The Format of GNU MO Files](https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/manual/html_node/MO-Files.html)
- [GNU C Library locales](https://sourceware.org/git/?p=glibc.git;a=tree;f=localedata/locales;hb=HEAD)
- [ISO 639 Code Tables](https://iso639-3.sil.org/code_tables/639/data)
- [Filesystem Hierarchy Standard](https://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/FHS_3.0/fhs/index.html)

## Contributing

Code contributions of all kinds are welcome: bug fixes, new features, and more. See [CONTRIBUTING.md](https://codeberg.org/artnay/wittrans/src/branch/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) for development setup, code guidelines, and how to submit changes.

### Reporting Issues

Report issues to Codeberg [issue tracking system](https://codeberg.org/artnay/wittrans/issues).

## License

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. See the [LICENSE](https://codeberg.org/artnay/wittrans/src/branch/main/LICENSE) file for details.