A Comprehensive Approach to Internationalizing Applications: Client, Backend, and Collaboration

Introduction: Understanding I18N

Internationalization, often abbreviated as I18N (indicating 18 letters between 'I' and 'N'), is more than a process; it's a vital strategy for making applications universally accessible. While the concept sounds straightforward—make your application adaptable to various languages, currencies, and date formats—it encompasses challenges like text expansion, cultural nuances, and pluralization.

In this article, I will provide a detailed guide based on my experience, focusing on three primary areas: the client, the backend, and the collaboration platform.

The Client: Streamlining Frontend I18N

Use of Established Libraries

An essential first step in client-side I18N is choosing a reliable library. My preferred choice is i18next, which offers robust features and is framework-agnostic. Using a well-established library ensures that you benefit from the collective experience of the development community.

Simplified Implementation

Though libraries like i18next offer various advanced features, the key is to strike a balance. Using a single JSON file for storing translations is often sufficient unless you have a specific need to minimize bundle size.

Why Simplification is Crucial

1. Namespaces: These often get omitted, making it difficult to find the relevant translations.
2. Backend-provided translations: While useful, these come with their own set of challenges, such as being loaded asynchronously.
3. Nested Keys: They add unnecessary complexity, making it difficult for developers to trace translations.

Naming Conventions

Adopting a straightforward naming pattern is advisable. A BEM-inspired convention like UserSettingsPage__LanguageSwitch--German works well as it is self-explanatory.

Effective Tooling

Automate the process of keeping your translation keys up-to-date by using tools like the i18next-parser. Such tools scan your codebase, remove unused keys, and add new ones. For those using TypeScript, generating type files for keys via a templating engine adds another layer of reliability. Don`t forget to sort your translation keys alphabetically 😉

The Backend: Optimizing Translations and Performance

Library and Tooling

For the backend, the choice of the library might differ, but the principles remain consistent. Translation management should be streamlined and automated as much as possible.

Handling User Language Preferences

Storing a user's language preference in the database can be useful but is not scalable for every API call in a stateless server environment. A more efficient approach is to obtain the locale from a custom headers sent in the API requests, thereby reducing database queries and server load.

Implementation Workflow

1. Acquire the language preference from a custom header.
2. If not available, query the user’s language preference from the database.
3. For public APIs, default to the Accept-Language header that every browser provides.
4. Use a fallback language for all edge cases or failures.

The Collaboration Platform: Bridging the Gap

Why a Collaboration Platform is Essential

The interface between product management and development teams should be as smooth as possible. Automating translation workflows can be a significant first step in this direction.

Utilizing Professional Software

Platforms like locize offer invaluable services, allowing non-technical team members to update translations independently. Automation features like webhooks can open pull requests automatically, leaving the development team to review and merge the changes.

Conclusion

Internationalization is a complex but rewarding process that broadens the reach of your application. While this article offers an overview based on my experience, the realm of I18N is ever-expanding with advanced topics like pre-generated pages for each language, bundle size optimizations, and A/B testing of translations. Should the interest arise, these could be subjects for future deep-dives.

By adopting a structured approach covering client-side implementation, backend efficiency, and collaborative workflows, it is possible to set up a robust I18N environment in less than a week. With the right tools and strategies, the task becomes less daunting and more about enhancing your application for a global audience.