I easily translated my React.js applications into multiple languages. Here is how... 🤯

Translating an App to multiple languages (localization) is tricky part of many applications.

Tolgee is simplifying the localization process and saves developer's time by removing repetitive tasks 🔁 ❌

Saving time? That's what I want. Show me how to localize my React app!

What is Tolgee

Tolgee is an open-source i18n tool combining localization platform and SDKs to provide simple way to translate the web applications for both developers and translators.

Tolgee is not just another software localization platform offering integrations that only syncs local data with the backend. Instead, Tolgee is truly integrated into your app via SDKs.

In context translating 📖

As a developer of localized application, you probably have to modify localization data every time you need to change a text.

So you have to open the file, add or find the key to modify, save it and check whether everything was changed correctly in the app.

With Tolgee you can just ALT + click the actual translated text in your app and 💥boom💥 translation dialog appears and you are able to translate it right away.

Automatic Screenshot Generation 📸

Another tricky part of localization is providing context to translators. Only exporting the keys and translations in source language is not always enough.

Tolgee enables you to take and upload screenshot directly in the in-context translation dialog. So no more manual taking and uploading screenshots.

Localization platform included ✅

Tolgee is also localization platform, where you can manage all your localization strings. You can provide access to translators and they can translate the texts there.

If you have uploaded screenshots before, they know the context of the translations perfectly and can produce perfect results.

Isn't that hard to integrate? No it's not!

To get started, you can simply follow the integration guides provided in the platform.

1. Login to Tolgee Cloud or use your self hosted Tolgee instance.

2. Create a new project by clicking Add button in the top right. Fill the project name.

   

   Optionally, you can add multiple languages to translate your app into.

3. Select Integrate from side menu, choose React (Vite) and generate an API key with all scopes checked.

1. Success! 🎉 Now you just have to follow the integration guide.

Let's integrate it into React App

1. Generate brand new React App and open it your favorite editor

   npm create vite@latest tolgee-hello-world -- --template react-ts
   # follow the vite guide
   

2. Install Tolgee packages ⬇️

   npm install @tolgee/react
   

3. Add Tolgee properties to you development .env file env.development.local by copying it from the integration guide

   VITE_APP_TOLGEE_API_URL=https://app.tolgee.io
   VITE_APP_TOLGEE_API_KEY=<your API key>
   

4. Wrap your App component in main.tsx with TolgeeProvider component. Again, you can copy it from the integration guide.

5. Go to App.tsx and replace all the crap with simple "Hello world!" message.

   import './App.css';
   
   function App() {
     return (
       <div className="App">
         <h1>Hello world!</h1>
       </div>
     );
   }
   
   export default App;
   

6. Wrap the "Hello world!" with <T> component and add keyName prop.

   import './App.css';
   import { T } from '@tolgee/react';
   
   function App() {
     return (
       <div className="App">
         <h1>
           <T keyName="hello_world">Hello world!</T>
         </h1>
       </div>
     );
   }
   
   export default App;
   

7. Let's run the App in the browser and see the magic! 🪄

   Hold your ALT key and move your mouse over the text. It should be highlighted.
   When you click it, dialog opens and you're able to edit the text or generate screenshots.

   

   After you hit the update button, your Hello World! text will be immediately changed to the new value!

Congratulations! You're done! 🎉🎉🎉

Now you are able to translate your React applications. To learn more about Tolgee or to find out how to translate more complicated cases, visit our docs.

Tolgee - Developer friendly localization tool

Tolgee helps teams localize apps effortlessly. We make translation simple with real-time updates and easy integration into your workflow.

Say goodbye to complex file management and focus on building great products. Fast, smooth, and built for devs.

If you like this tutorial, please help us with a star. It would help us to create more articles like this 💖

Star the Tolgee repository ⭐