WordPress
Since this blog is powered by WordPress it seems natural to start this review series with no other script but this one.
General
Script name: WordPress
Script URI: http://wordpress.org
Download: http://wordpress.org/download/
Documentation: http://codex.wordpress.org
Licence: GNU/GPL
Price: Free
Description: Blogging tool; also used as light CMS. Quote from its website: “a state-of-the-art semantic personal publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability”.
i18n
WordPress has been prepared for internationalization for a long time. The translation technology is based on gettext and the developers provide a .POT file for every new version. Once the .pot file is provided the translators working on localization (l10n) will need a special catalog editor to create and edit the .po files and, eventually the .mo file.
One of the most popular editors is poEdit but there are also online systems for editing, like Rosetta. These online systems are especially useful in a team l10n effort.
(The .pot file actually can be edited even in a plain text editor, but in this way it is not possible to create a .mo file when the work is done.)
Known issues:
1. The localization of the themes is cumbersome and counter-intuitive, without documentation; even having a localized .mo file for a theme the installation for an average user is difficult.
2. Although WP has a huge number of plugins to modify its basic behaviour, the majority of the plugin authors do not prepare their work for i18n.
i18n/l10n documentation: Translating WordPress
Method: gettext, strings
Tools: catalog editor
Difficulty level: medium
September 3rd, 2006 at 12:32 (CDT)
Also, your comment moderation feature needs work. It’s really ugly. I recommend Bad Behavior, Spam Karma, or Akismet and commenters won’t have to go through the ugly moderation screen after commenting, especially since there is no way back to your blog from that screen.
WordPress’s ability to handle comment spam is why is continue to outrank so many other blogging tools, allowing people to comment with ease and reducing the work load on the blogger.
September 3rd, 2006 at 12:33 (CDT)
But Moshu, (I finally saw your name) you should know all this, you WordPress-wise guru! Miss you!
September 8th, 2006 at 12:15 (CDT)
Hi Lorelle,
I am not sure what “moderation screen” are you talking about. I’ve tried to post test comments from different other computers (while not logged in) and didn’t see anything like that. BB and SK are active!
July 22nd, 2007 at 2:53 (CDT)
thanks again for inviting me to your blog.
October 1st, 2007 at 21:06 (CDT)
Good job, very useful information it will come in handy some day. THANKS!
February 29th, 2008 at 9:03 (CST)
I like your blog theme. I want to use it on my blog.
Can you please tell me from where I can download these theme?
Many thanks
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Dan owner of the future gadgets blog
August 27th, 2008 at 4:19 (CDT)
Hi there,
I work for a large UK translations company.
There are a few points to make regarding automated translation systems such as those found online.
Software can be used for translation projects, but I would advise against it if what you’re translating is intended ultimately for publication.
There are often so many cultural nuances to take into consideration that cutting corners by using translation software can render your message practically impossible to understand for your target audience.
And beyond popular European languages like Spanish (that being 2nd only to English and 4th overall in the world), you run the risk of dramatic misinterpretation.
Often the only way to go is to utilise the services of a professional translator.
Anyway, great blog though; keep it up.
Good to have these things discussed so that people get the facts rather than being left to speculate and not get the results that they want.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:25 (CDT)
Maxwell,
Obviously, you didn’t read this blog before posting your advertisement comment…
I am the strongest opponent of any kind of machine translation; just read my post about multilingual blogging:
http://crosscultural.transycan.net/blog/archives/2005/06/03/multilingual-blogging/