PhraseApp

PhraseApp

Type of site	Localization management and software translation
Available in	English and German
Owner	Dynport GmbH
Slogan(s)	Translate Your Software Better
Website	www.phraseapp.com
Alexa rank	166,509 (January 2014)[1]
Commercial	Yes
Registration	Required
Users	over 10.000
Launched	October 2012 (2012-10)
Current status	online

PhraseApp is a web-based translation management system, also known as Globalization Management System (GMS). Competitors include Transifex and Smartling.^[2][3] It is targeted at open source and commercial software projects and allows the automation of translation workflows through a token-based API.^[4]

PhraseApp is offered as a software as a service for commercial products and is free of charge for open source projects.^[5]

Description

The provides a sharing and collaboration platform for language files, allowing translators and developers to cooperate on software translation projects.^[6]

The PhraseApp platform software was written in Ruby and runs on the Rails as API-backend for the OpenSource Rubygem phrase which has been downloaded more than 128.000 times.^[7][8]

History

PhraseApp started out with the idea of an in-place editor for translations using the Ruby i18n localization library and JQuery named phrase. It was presented as a techdemo at the Euruco 2012 in Amsterdam.^[9] The idea was soon met by requests of early users to store, edit and share locale files online, from which demand the PhraseApp Translation Center was inspired and released.^[3][10] The company states the motto of PhraseApp as: "We believe in a world in which software can be used by everyone in their native language. For software creators, translating their products should be natural and effortless." ^[11] In an interview with the Theguardian.com its founder stated that "[...] 56% of the internet’s content is in English, but only 27% of its users come from English-speaking countries".^[12] PhraseApp.com is operated by Dynport GmbH in Hamburg, Germany.^[13]

Translation Workflow description

A software developer creates a project in PhraseApp. He can then invite translators or fellow programmers to join the project to work on the copywriting and translation of locale files together. Initially a source locale file is uploaded and then translated to other desired locales. Translated content can be downloaded using the command-line client, the Rubygem phrase. The Client can also be used to upload newly created translation keys to the service.^[14]

Supported document formats

Android Strings, Apple Localizable Strings, Gettext (PO/POT), QT, TMX, Joomla INI files, Mozilla DTD,PO/POT files, XLIFF files, XML files, YAML, JSON, PHP Symfony YAML Locale Files, Microsoft.NET RESX, ASP ResX, C# ResX and Windows Phone ResX Files ^[15]

Features

• Support for language file formats, including YAML, XHTML, XLIFF, PO, PLIST, JSON ^[15]
• Sharing language files with translators who can download, translate and update software translations online and offline ^[16]
• phrase Command Line Client that allows uploading (pushing), downloading (pulling), converting and updating of translation resources ^[17]
• Translation Memory for duplicate source content ^[16]
• Translation statistics over missing translations, word counts and overall status of projects ^[16]
• Commenting and proof-reading system for translators ^[16]
• Professional translation services ^[16]
• API for integration with other platforms/services ^[4]

Notable users

• Tutao Tutanota OpenSource Mail Client

Commercial customers include:

• mytaxi^[18]
• SecretEscapes^[19]
• Xing^[20]
• Wimdu^[21]
• Wundercar^[22]
• Virgin Pulse^[23]

OpenSource Projects

Beside many framework adapters these projects have been developed by PhraseApp developers and made available through OpenSource:

• Slimkeyfy^[24]
• Urknall^[25]

References

External links

• Official website
• Official blog
• PhraseApp Documentation
• PhraseApp | CrunchBase
• PhraseApp on Github
• PhraseApp on Twitter