git8n

ICU MessageFormat ​

A text in the files can use the syntax of ICU MessageFormat, as FormatJS, next-intl and i18next-icu write it. The files stay i18next JSON: only the text of a key changes.

Arguments ​

git8n check reads each argument of a text, and compares them with those of the source:

In the sourceRead as
{name}{name}
{n, number}, {d, date, short}{n}, {d}
{count, plural, one {# item} other {# items}}{count}
{gender, select, male {He} other {They}}{gender}
{n, selectordinal, one {#st} other {#th}}{n}
  • The format of an argument, after its first comma, can change: {n, number} and {n} are the same argument.
  • The branches of a choice are text. # is not an argument.
  • An argument inside a branch counts: in {count, plural, one {{who} has one} other {{who} has #}}, the text holds {count} and {who}. A translation whose branches all drop {who} loses it.
  • offset:1 and the exact branches =0, =1 are read.
  • A translation that renames an argument, {total} for {count}, loses one and adds one: two errors of placeholders.

A text can mix the two syntaxes. When it holds an ICU choice, {{ starts a branch and not an interpolation of i18next: one {{who}} is the branch one that holds {who}.

Quoted text ​

An apostrophe quotes text, as ICU reads it:

  • '' writes one apostrophe: It''s {name} holds {name}.
  • '{name}' writes {name} literally. It is text, not an argument.
  • In a text with a choice, an apostrophe before {, } or # starts literal text, up to the next apostrophe: one {'#' sold} writes #.

'{{name}}' stays an interpolation of i18next: « Delete ''? » quotes the value. An apostrophe that quotes nothing, as in l'{name}, is text.

Plurals ​

An ICU plural is one key. In each translation, git8n check compares the branches of each plural and selectordinal with the rules of the language, from Intl.PluralRules: a form that the language needs and that the translation does not write, or a form that the language never uses, is a warning of icu-plural-forms. A Polish plural needs one, few, many and other. An exact branch such as =0 is always allowed. Exact branches that hold all the numbers of a form replace it: =1 replaces one in English, but not in French, where one is 0 and 1. A form that only a number past 9999 takes, such as the many of French, is allowed and not needed. i18next JSON gives the forms of some languages.

Numbered arguments ​

An argument can be a number, as in {0} of {1}: ICU reads it as the argument at that place of the list, and vue-i18n as a list argument. {0} is an argument as {name} is.