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Gerard Meijssen writes:
MediaWiki is best known as the software that runs Wikipedia. Currently there are projects in over 250 languages supported by the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) and new projects are regularly proposed and initiated. The MediaWiki software is continuously under development and there are over 200 extensions to the software.
Both the development and the localisation of MediaWiki software are done by volunteers. Finding volunteers for so many languages is a challenge and once they are found, the most important thing is to retain them. This means that we have to provide the localisers with compelling reasons to work on Betawiki.
No programming skills required
The people that provide the localisation are typically not the people who develop the software. When you insist that localisers submit to CVS or SVN, most potential localisers will find that to much is asked of them and consequently localisation is unlikely to happen.
Daily commits of the newly localised messages to the WMF production systems
When people have worked on the localisation, it is extremely important that they see the benefit of their work. The WMF uses the bleeding edge of MediaWiki for its projects so by committing the latest work, all projects benefit straight away.
Improved functionality for the localisation job
Betawiki is a wiki optimised for working on localisation, this means that many of the screens help people understand the work flow that is being used. The extensions that Betawiki uses are also localised this makes the environment look friendly but business like. Some of the localisers want to use specialised tools like computer assisted translation tools, for them we allow for the export and import of "gettext" or ".po" files.
Provision of information what messages are used for
Often messages are cryptic, it is not immediately clear what they are used for. By providing extra information it is made clear what the messages are used for. This improves the quality of the work done and it tells our localisers that we value their contribution.
Active support for the localisation of MediaWiki extensions
The developers that support Betawiki have a great track record collaborating with the extension developers to make sure that localisation is properly supported. Details like name conventions need to be considered.
Requirement of set levels of localisation before new projects may start
There is circumstantial evidence that shows that a relation between the quality of the localisation of the software and the success of its projects. By requiring localisation prior to the start of new projects, the new projects benefit from this effect but it also helped people find their way to Betawiki to do the localisation.
A localisation project needs the same kind of attention that any project requires. There are always new issues to resolve. With improved awareness, requests will be made like support for the six forms of plural for Welsh. People will ask for the consistent use of terminology in their language...
Betawiki provides a necessary function for the MediaWiki software. Freecol is the second application supported by Betawiki and more applications may follow. What Betawiki offers is localisation independent from projects and distributions. It is there to get a job done.
Thanks,
Gerard
