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IFIP International Conference on Open Source Systems

OSS 2013: Open Source Software: Quality Verification pp 153–167Cite as

A Preliminary Analysis of Localization in Free Software: How Translations Are Performed

  • Conference paper

Part of the IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology book series (IFIPAICT,volume 404)

Abstract

Software is more than just source code. There is a myriad of elements that compose a software project, among others documentation, translations, multimedia, artwork, marketing. In this paper, we focus on the translation efforts that free, libre, open source software (FLOSS) projects undergo to provide their software in multiple languages. We have therefore analyzed a large amount of projects for their support and procedures regarding translations, if they exist. Our results show that many, but not all, projects offer some type of support and specify some ways to those wanting to contribute. Usually, projects from a more traditional libre software domain are more prone to ease such tasks. However, there is no general way to contribute, as formats and procedures are often project-specific. We have identified as well a high number of translation-supporting tools, with many projects having their own one. All in all, information about how to contribute is the main factor for having a very internationalized application. Projects accepting and giving credit to contributing translators have high levels of internationalization, even if the process is rudimentary.

Keywords

  • free software
  • open source
  • libre software
  • translations
  • internationalization
  • localization
  • collaborative development
  • crowdsourcing
  • open innovation

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technical University of Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain

    Laura Arjona Reina

  2. GSyC/Libresoft, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain

    Gregorio Robles & Jesús M. González-Barahona

Authors
  1. Laura Arjona Reina
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  2. Gregorio Robles
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  3. Jesús M. González-Barahona
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Free University of Bozen/Bolzano, 39100, Bolzano, Italy

    Etiel Petrinja, Giancarlo Succi, Nabil El Ioini & Alberto Sillitti, ,  & 

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Arjona Reina, L., Robles, G., González-Barahona, J.M. (2013). A Preliminary Analysis of Localization in Free Software: How Translations Are Performed. In: Petrinja, E., Succi, G., El Ioini, N., Sillitti, A. (eds) Open Source Software: Quality Verification. OSS 2013. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 404. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38928-3_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38928-3_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-38927-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-38928-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)