Re: [9fans] localization

[erik quanstrom <quanstro@quanstro.net>]

!/bin/upas/marshal -s 'Re: [9fans] localization' -R /mail/fs/mbox/3100 9fans@9fans.net
On Wed Apr 27 12:04:56 EDT 2011, dexen.devries@gmail.com wrote:
> browsing through uriel's slides from fosdem 2006 [1], i see him mention Plan 9
> lacks localization. what are this lists feelings on localization (both
> translation of strings and formatting of numbers, time etc.) of user-facing
> applications?

it's not the implementation that bothers me so much as the
theory of operation.  command-line utilities are localized s.t.
it becomes necessary to fiddle with the locale if you want to
parse the output.  but then you can't present this as localized
output yourself easily.  localization can go as far as changing the set
of digits, or even the default numbering base!  they also don't
choose a character set.  shell scripting becomes impossible.

i realize no localization makes life difficult for folks who speak greek.
it would be interesting to hear from a non-native english speaker
on if they think dealing with the computer in english is something
that can be done once and then forgotten, and if this is less work
than dealing with the tower of locale.

it would be interesting to hear ideas on this.  it's a hard problem.

- erik