# Localization Files

This directory contains translation files for the Personotes application.

## Available Languages

- **English** (`en.json`) - Default language
- **Français** (`fr.json`) - French translation

## File Structure

Each language file is a JSON file with nested keys for organizing translations:

```json
{
  "app": {
    "name": "Personotes",
    "tagline": "Simple Markdown note-taking"
  },
  "menu": {
    "home": "Home",
    "search": "Search"
  },
  "errors": {
    "internalError": "Internal error"
  }
}
```

## Adding a New Language

To add support for a new language:

1. **Create a new JSON file** named with the language code (e.g., `es.json` for Spanish, `de.json` for German)
2. **Copy the structure** from `en.json` 
3. **Translate all strings** to the target language
4. **Keep placeholders intact**: Use `{{variable}}` syntax as-is (e.g., `{{filename}}`, `{{date}}`)
5. **Test your translation** by setting the language in the application

### Language Codes

Use standard ISO 639-1 codes:
- `en` - English
- `fr` - Français (French)
- `es` - Español (Spanish)
- `de` - Deutsch (German)
- `it` - Italiano (Italian)
- `pt` - Português (Portuguese)
- `ja` - 日本語 (Japanese)
- `zh` - 中文 (Chinese)

## Variable Interpolation

Some strings contain variables in the format `{{variableName}}`. Keep these exactly as they are:

```json
{
  "editor": {
    "confirmDelete": "Are you sure you want to delete this note ({{filename}})?"
  }
}
```

In French:
```json
{
  "editor": {
    "confirmDelete": "Êtes-vous sûr de vouloir supprimer cette note ({{filename}}) ?"
  }
}
```

## Guidelines for Translators

1. **Consistency**: Use consistent terminology throughout
2. **Context**: Consider the UI context (button labels should be short, help text can be longer)
3. **Formality**: Match the tone of the original language
4. **Special Characters**: Ensure proper encoding for special characters
5. **Testing**: Test in the actual application to see how translations fit in the UI

## Contributing

To contribute a new translation:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your translation file (e.g., `locales/es.json`)
3. Add the language to `languages` section in your file:
   ```json
   "languages": {
     "en": "English",
     "fr": "Français",
     "es": "Español"
   }
   ```
4. Update this README with your language
5. Submit a pull request

Thank you for helping make Personotes accessible to more users! 🌍