Basic knowledge Review, What Is i18n and what is internationalization ......?

What are i18n and l10n?

I18n is the abbreviation of internationalization. It means that there are 18 letters between I and N, which means the software is "internationalized". Similarly, l10n is the abbreviation of localization, that is, there are 10 letters between l and N, which means the software is "localized ".

Where does i18n and l10n come from? What are their differences?

According to the practice of software development, the original software only has an English version. As needed, the author translates the software interface and documents into language versions in different countries and regions. However, due to the different ways to achieve translation, translation efficiency, and translation reusability, the translation work is facing great difficulties and hinders the promotion and application of software. To easily translate software into different language versions, a set of translation specifications and common tools are required, which leads to the emergence of an "Internationalization" mechanism. Translation alone is not enough. The same language may have multiple branches in different countries and regions. They have different expressions, syntax structures, and even types and codes. dialects are even more strange, the quality of generic translation is definitely not high. There are still differences in operation habits in the computer field, and it is not easy to provide perfect input, display, printing, storage, and transmission for a language, this leads to the emergence of the "localization" mechanism. In short, "internationalization" is part of "localization", mainly refers to the implementation mechanism and translation work of internationalization. "localization" includes "internationalization ", it is a supplement and improvement to "internationalization". It also includes targeted Translation adjustments for achieving good support for a specific language and patching for software.

What are i18n and l10n international organizations?

I18n and l10n international organizations are openi18n organizations, whose predecessor is li18nux. It was originally an international program to develop software globalization standards for free GNU/Linux operating systems. later it was expanded to all open source code technical fields outside GNU/Linux, and thus renamed it open internationalization initiative, sponsored by the free standards group, and supported by major vendors around the world, it has a decisive impact on the multi-language text processing technology and environment on GNU/Linux systems. Open-source software development organizations generally have branches responsible for "Internationalization" and "localization.

What tools does i18n mainly use?

I18n mainly uses the gettext software package to enable international support for the software. In fact, it is a complete set of i18n solutions.

What are GPL, lgpl, and GFDL? What is the relationship between them and source code and commercial sales?

GPL is the abbreviation form of GNU General Public License (GNU General Public License); lgpl is the abbreviation form of GNU lesser General Public License (GNU wide General Public License, the old name is GNU Library General Public License (GNU Library General Public License); GFDL is the abbreviation of GNU Free Documentation License (GNU free document license. They are universal copyright verification protocols for Free Software and are developed and released by the Free Software Foundation (FSF.

GPL-based software can be commercially sold, but Source Code cannot be closed.
If you make any changes and/or re-develop and release the software that complies with GPL, your product must inherit the GPL protocol and do not allow closed source code.
Lgpl-based software can also be commercially sold, but Source Code cannot be closed.
If you make any changes and/or re-develop and release the software that complies with lgpl, your product must inherit the lgpl protocol and do not allow closed source code. However, if your program makes any connection, call, and include to software that complies with lgpl, the source code can be closed.

What are Po and Mo files? What are their differences?

Po is the abbreviation of portable object, and Mo is the abbreviation of machine object. The PO file is a resource file that is intended for translators and extracted from source code. When the software is upgraded, you can use the gettext package to process the Po files, so that the translation results can be inherited to a certain extent, reducing the burden on the translators. Mo files are computer-oriented binary files compiled by the Po file using the gettext package. The program converts its interface to the language used by the user by reading the mo file.