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Android Resource Translation ​

Replexica seamlessly handles Android resource files, making it easy to localize your Android apps without changing your existing workflow.

Setting Up ​

Start by creating an i18n.json config file in your project root:

json
{
  "version": 1,
  "locale": {
    "source": "en",
    "targets": ["es", "fr", "de"]
  },
  "buckets": {
    "android": {
      "include": ["res/values-[locale]/strings.xml"]
    }
  }
}

This config tells Replexica:

  1. Your source language is English;
  2. You want to translate to Spanish, French, and German;
  3. Your Android resource files are in the res/values-[locale] folders, named strings.xml.

Available Languages ​

To see what languages Replexica supports:

bash
npx replexica@latest show locale sources  # List available source languages
npx replexica@latest show locale targets  # List available target languages

Use these to choose the right locale codes for your Android project.

Translating ​

With your config set, run:

bash
npx replexica@latest i18n

Replexica will:

  1. Read your source XML file (e.g., res/values-en/strings.xml);
  2. Identify new or changed strings;
  3. Translate them to your target languages;
  4. Update or create the target XML files (e.g., res/values-es/strings.xml, res/values-fr/strings.xml, res/values-de/strings.xml).

Why This Works ​

Replexica's approach is effective for Android resources because:

  1. It respects the standard Android resource file structure, fitting into your existing development process;
  2. It uses AI to understand context, providing more accurate translations than traditional methods;
  3. It's incremental, only translating what's new or changed, which is crucial for large apps with frequent updates.

Pro Tips ​

  1. String Arrays: Replexica handles string arrays in Android resource files. Your list-based translations are safe:

    xml
    <resources>
  <string-array name="planets_array">
    <item>Mercury</item>
    <item>Venus</item>
    <item>Earth</item>
    <item>Mars</item>
  </string-array>
</resources>

  2. Plurals: Replexica understands Android's plural format:

    xml
    <resources>
  <plurals name="numberOfSongsAvailable">
    <item quantity="one">%d song found.</item>
    <item quantity="other">%d songs found.</item>
  </plurals>
</resources>

  3. String Parameters: Replexica preserves string parameters in your translations:

    xml
    <resources>
  <string name="welcome_messages">Hello, %1$s! You have %2$d new messages.</string>
</resources>

By leveraging these features, you can maintain a robust, scalable localization setup for your Android app, all while using the standard resource file format you're already familiar with.