Introduction

In the Ubuntu community we always need more translators. There are literally thousands of applications out there that need to be translated, and one of the major reasons why people choose Ubuntu is that there is a huge catalog of software that is ready to install and use in their own language. These thousands of applications are translated by a large and growing community of volunteers who help to localising these applications. As the number of applications grows though, we need more and more volunteers.

Generally if someone expresses an interest in packaging, we point them to Translations and away they go. Another great way to get people up to speed is with... Translation Jams!

With a huge world-wide network of LoCoTeams, more and more teams are running Translation Jams - special events in which people meet up and a few instructors show the attendees how to get involved with translating Ubuntu. Not only are these events extremely valuable in attracting new translators, but they are huge fun! This page offers a simple guide to running a Translation Jam.

Requirements

To run a Translation Jam, you need a few things:

• Tutor(s) - Someone with experience in translation who can handle questions, accept/review translations and some of the unexpected likely to come up. (The tutor needs to have experience with Launchpad Translations and the Ubuntu translations process.) In order to be able to review and accept translations suggestions, he/she must be a member of the translation group for his/her language.

• Decided Day - A day with some spare time. As an example, the Michigan LoCo went from noon until 8pm on a Saturday. Progress will be slower than you might expect, so provide plenty of time.

• Venue - A meeting location with network connectivity, power for everyone, and some room to get comfy for a little bit. Optionally, a projector can also be useful to run presentations for new contributors.

You also want to provide some snacks and drinks to help people through their new translation journey.

Asking people to prepare for the Jam

• If your translation team has got translation guidelines, it might be a good idea to ask participants to read and get familiar with them beforehand.

• It might also be a good idea to understand a bit of the underlying technologies behind translation, so reading the gettext documentation, in particular the section on the format of PO files might also be useful.

• The documentation links in the tools and information section might also be a good introductory read to Ubuntu translations. In particular, we recommend to install gobby to share notes and links.

• The tutor or the translation team might want to agree on a list of applications to translate before the jam, and put this list in the LoCo or translation team's wiki.

• Some suggestions:

  • Ubuntu documentation

  • Kubuntu documentation

  • Debian package descriptions (those shown in "Add/Remove" and Synaptic)

  • Sort descriptions of installable applications (those shown in "Add/Remove")

  • Here's a list of packages included in the default install, which can be considered higher priority.

  • You could also use Nightmonkey for translating package descriptions of installable applications (those shown in "Add/Remove"). You can get per package statistics and Launchpad links on this site.

Material

Holding the Session

Introduction Session

It might be a good idea to run a short presentation for new contributors, to explain them how Ubuntu translations and Launchpad work.

Here are some suggestions for things the tutor can explain in such a presentation:

• Basic introduction to the format of PO files and the gettext tools
• Online/offline translation
• Relationship between Ubuntu (downstream) and upstream translations

• Lifecycle of Ubuntu translations (import from upstream, translation in Launchpad, releasing translations in language packs, etc.). You can get some more information at Translations/TranslationLifecycle.

• Difference between User/Published upload
• Color meanings in the translation statistics in Launchpad

Tasks

• Translating higher priority (most used and most visible) applications (see suggestions above)

• Identifying very visible untranslated strings by running the distro and translating them in Launchpad

• Reporting translation bugs against the Ubuntu Translations project in Launchpad and even adding the 'i18n' or 'l10n' flags to them.

• You can even try to solve, provide feedback or triage the existing translation bugs

Workflow

This will greatly depend on how your translation team works.

A suggestion would be for members of the translation group to sit next to new contributors and initiate them in the translation suggestion -> review -> translation approval process. The new contributor can do the translation suggestions and the translation team member can then review, approve or suggest changes to his/her translations.

Tools & Helpful Information

• Ubuntu Translations home page

• How to get in touch with the translations team

• Launchpad Translations help guides

• You can also get help on #ubuntu-translators IRC channel on Freenode.

• Use Gobby to share notes and links:

  • Install Gobby

  • and tell it to connect to gobby.ubuntu.com.

  • You will be presented with a list of documents being edited

CategoryJam CategoryTranslations