Introduction
Weblate is a web-based localization platform that integrates directly with version control systems like Git and Mercurial. It provides translators with a web interface to translate strings, while automatically syncing translations back to the source repository. This creates a continuous localization workflow where code and translations stay in sync.
What Weblate Does
- Provides a web-based translation editor for gettext, XLIFF, JSON, Android XML, and 50+ file formats
- Syncs translations bidirectionally with Git, GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket repositories
- Applies automatic quality checks for placeholders, formatting, length, and consistency
- Offers translation memory and glossary features to maintain consistency across projects
- Integrates machine translation from DeepL, Google Translate, LibreTranslate, and others
Architecture Overview
Weblate is a Python Django application using PostgreSQL as its primary database and Redis for caching and task queuing. Celery handles background jobs like repository syncing, translation memory indexing, and machine translation lookups. Git repositories are cloned locally and managed through a version control abstraction layer. The front end is a Django template-based UI. A REST API provides programmatic access to all translation management features.
Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Requires Python 3.9+, PostgreSQL, Redis, and a web server or use Docker
- Configure VCS integration by adding SSH keys or personal access tokens for repository access
- Set up machine translation backends in settings (DeepL, Google, LibreTranslate)
- Configure email for notifications and user registration
- Docker Compose is the recommended deployment method with official images
Key Features
- Continuous localization with automatic commit and push of translations to source repos
- Translation memory shared across projects for consistent terminology
- Glossary management for enforcing approved translations of key terms
- Automatic suggestions from machine translation and translation memory
- Granular review workflow with dedicated reviewer roles and approval states
Comparison with Similar Tools
- Crowdin — SaaS localization platform with polished UI, but proprietary and usage-priced
- Transifex — SaaS with strong API, but no self-hosted option and per-word pricing
- Pontoon — Mozilla's localization tool, focused on Mozilla projects with less generic flexibility
- Lokalise — SaaS with developer-focused features, no self-hosting available
- POEditor — Simple web-based translation tool, SaaS only, fewer automation features
FAQ
Q: What translation file formats does Weblate support? A: Weblate supports over 50 formats including gettext PO, XLIFF, JSON, YAML, Android XML, iOS Strings, Java Properties, PHP arrays, Qt TS, and many more.
Q: How does Weblate sync with my Git repository? A: Weblate clones your repository, watches for changes, and presents new or modified strings to translators. Completed translations are committed and pushed back to the repository automatically or on a schedule.
Q: Can I use Weblate for commercial software localization? A: Yes. Weblate is used by both open-source projects and commercial organizations. The self-hosted version is free under the GPL license. A hosted SaaS option is also available.
Q: Does Weblate support right-to-left languages? A: Yes. The translation editor fully supports RTL languages like Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian with proper text direction handling.