Localization Process Concepts

The basic localization process involves taking resource files out of the code base and sending a file that is suitable for translation to the translation team. This team is often an external team, such as an outsourced translation provider, or LSP (Language Service Provider).

Making the decision whether one or several strings are ready for localization is an important task as it has implications for timing and cost. The translations are generally done in computer-assisted translation tools, or CAT tools, and imported back into the code base. Due to this there is a time delay of anywhere between a few hours and several weeks from the submission of a line of text in code and the finalized localization.

Article by Tabea De Wille, University of Limerick, Dept. of Computer Science & Information Systems