xgettext

xgettext is a command-line tool used for extracting translatable strings from source code files. It is a part of the GNU gettext utilities package, commonly found on Linux systems.

The primary purpose of xgettext is to scan the source code of software projects and extract all the translatable text messages, such as user-visible strings, display messages, and error messages.

It supports various programming languages including C, C++, Java, Python, Perl, and many others. By analyzing the syntax and structure of these files, xgettext can extract strings that need to be translated.

xgettext can process files with different extensions, such as .c, .cc, .cpp, .h, .py, .java, .m, .mm, and many more. It allows developers to specify which files to include or exclude during the extraction process.

The tool generates a .pot (Portable Object Template) file, which serves as a template for translating the extracted strings. This .pot file contains all the extracted strings along with their context, line numbers, and file references.

xgettext also provides options to customize the generated .pot file based on localization needs. For example, you can add comments, specify character encodings, define the source language, and format the output according to specific standards.

Developers can use the .pot file with translation tools, such as POedit, to create .po (Portable Object) files for each supported language. Translators can then work on these .po files, providing translations for the extracted strings.

Once the translations are complete, the .po files can be compiled into binary .mo (Machine Object) files, which are then loaded by the application at runtime to display the translated messages.

Overall, xgettext simplifies the process of internationalizing software by extracting translatable strings from source code files and providing a standardized template for translators to work with.