Migrate from Weblate to Localazy for translations

[daniellekirkwood]

The Element X apps integrate with https://localazy.com instead of Weblate. This choice was made, among others, for ease of setup, better support for plural formats and multi-repo translation projects. For consistency and to enable string reuse, we'll be migrating Element Web to Localazy as well.

Tasks

Beta Give feedback

1. Research Localazy capabilities for community contributors (we'll want to lock down contributions during the migration but open them up again ASAP afterwards)
2. Update gen-i18n to use nested object pluralisation format matrix-org/matrix-web-i18n#7
   +0
   
3. Re-key all |zero-pluralised translations for Localazy compatibility matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11417
   T-Task +1
4. Switch to nested object pluralisation format for i18n files matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11412
   T-Task +1
   
5. Switch to nested object pluralisation format for i18n files vector-im/element-web#25970
   T-Task +1
   
6. Switch to nested object pluralisation format for i18n files vector-im/element-desktop#1172
   T-Task +1
   
7. Add support for structured JSON format aside from pluralisation matrix-org/matrix-web-i18n#9
   +0
   
8. Create @matrix-org/spec npm package containing sas-emoji.json matrix-org/matrix-spec#1620
   +0
9. Load SAS Emoji translations from @matrix-org/spec matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11429
   T-Task +1
   
10. Use Intl to localise dates and times matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11422
    T-Task +1
    
11. Update matrix-web-i18n matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11436
    T-Task +1
    
12. Use Intl for names of languages matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11427
    T-Task +1
    
13. Get country names from the browser instead of manual i18n matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11428
    T-Task +1
    
14. Align common_* strings with Element X project in Localazy matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11434
    T-Task +1
    
15. Align a11y_* strings with Element X project in Localazy matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11435
    T-Task +1
    
16. Align action_* strings with Element X project in Localazy matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11437
    T-Task +1
    
17. Look for reuse opportunities with Element X strings (probably enough to cross check their action_* and common_* strings, see https://github.com/vector-im/element-x-android/blob/develop/tools/localazy/README.md)
18. Guard translation methods with typescript to protect against invalid usage vector-im/element-web#26021
    T-Task +1
    
19. Fix instances of double translation and guard translation calls using typescript matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11443
    T-Defect +1
    
20. Add utility to move/copy translation keys matrix-org/matrix-web-i18n#10
    +0
    
21. Create more action_* common strings matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11438
    T-Task +1
    
22. Create more common_* common strings matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11439
    T-Task +1
    
23. Update docs for developers (https://github.com/vector-im/element-web/blob/develop/docs/translating-dev.md)
24. Update docs for contributors (https://github.com/vector-im/element-web/blob/develop/docs/translating.md)
25. Remove Element Web project(s) from Weblate
26. Remove weblate webhooks
27. Update docs for release captain (https://gitlab.matrix.org/new-vector/internal/-/wikis/Element-Web:-Release-Candidates
28. Replace Weblate graph in https://github.com/vector-im/element-web/blob/develop/README.md
29. Update custom translations to support nested fields in structured JSON matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#11685
    T-Defect X-Release-Blocker +2
    
30. Migrate all strings to use dedicated keys (hard to script because that wouldn't allow you to build a sensible key hierarchy)
31. Set up Element Web project(s) in Localazy and import all strings
32. Open Localazy up for contributors
33. Wire up i18n for the React frontend matrix-org/matrix-authentication-service#1962
    A-Frontend A-I18n T-Enhancement +3
    
34. Document admittance process for Element employees (how to invite contributors, what role to give them, which locales to give them and which not), might have to be centralized for all of Element
35. Close https://github.com/vector-im/customer-retainer/issues/21 and the PSB issue linked from there

Time sheeting ⏱️

RETAINER: ...you know which one...

[t3chguy]

Related #21308

[t3chguy]

Worth noting currently we rely on Weblate to prune non-english i18n files when a key is removed from the english (base) file

[Glandos]

I know that migration is nearly done, but here are some pain points, as a translator:

• Onboarding is difficult: create a localazy account, ask access to language in https://matrix.to/#/#element-translations:matrix.org then accept invitation, then re-notify room to get access.
• Access to other languages is forbidden: it seems that localazy has no "read-only" access. This really helpful to see the current state of translations, what other translators did to solve some issue
• Keyboard shortcut are far from complete: to fill a suggestion, it is required to blur translation input with ESC, then insert with SHIFT+1 (or 2, 3, etc.). But refocusing input can only be done either with tabbing like a monkey, since / triggers my browser find feature instead of focusing input.
• Keyboard shortcut, reloaded: placeholders, such as %(value) are hard to type. In Weblate, shortcuts CTRL+1 (2, 3 for more) insert placeholder at cursor location. It seems only possible to click on the placeholder in Localazy, this is a hard TMS trigger.

[t3chguy]

@Glandos can you open a discussion in https://github.com/vector-im/element-meta/discussions

I agree with everything you said, unfortunately we're just following in the footsteps of the Element X Mobile teams here so their input on your concerns is vital for any change to happen

[Glandos]

Done in element-hq/element-meta#2134