A tool for Xcode to automatically add language translations to your Strings Catalog file using DeepL, Anthropic Claude or OpenAI GPT services.
To translate all strings in your app to Japanese using default DeepL for translation, call:
strings_catalog_translate -k [API_KEY] -t jaEnsure that the initial Strings Catalog file is added to your Xcode project. More details can be found here.
By default the command will read the Localizable.xcstrings from the path where it was run and modify it with the translations.
OVERVIEW: A utility for language translation of Xcode Strings Catalogs.
USAGE: strings_catalog_translate <subcommand>
OPTIONS:
--version Show the version.
-h, --help Show help information.
SUBCOMMANDS:
deepl Translate Xcode Strings Catalog using DeepL service.
openai Translate Xcode Strings Catalog using OpenAI service.
gemini Translate Xcode Strings Catalog using Gemini service.
anthropic Translate Xcode Strings Catalog using Anthropic service.
list_keys List API keys stored in Keychain.
delete_key Delete an API keys stored in Keychain.
print_key Print an API key stored in Keychain to STDOUT.
See 'strings_catalog_translate help <subcommand>' for detailed help.
The subcommands have mostly the same arguments, with a few platform specific variations.
% ./.build/release/strings_catalog_translate gemini -h
OVERVIEW: Translate Xcode Strings Catalog using Gemini service.
USAGE: strings_catalog_translate gemini [--verbose] [--key <key>] [--available_languages] [--input-file <input-file>] [--output-file <output-file>] [--target-language <target-language>] [--model <model>] [--project-id <project-id>]
OPTIONS:
-v, --verbose Verbose output to STDOUT
-k, --key <key> --key <key>
The API key used for authentication. You can provide it in one of two ways:
1. From Keychain:
Use the format `key_id:[YOUR_KEY_ID]` (e.g., `key_id:key1`). The tool will search for the specified `YOUR_KEY_ID` in the keychain.
- If the key isn't found, you will be prompted to enter it.
- The entered key will be securely saved under the provided `YOUR_KEY_ID` for future use.
2. From Environment Variable:
Set the standard environment variable, such as OPENAI_API_KEY or specify with "env:MY_API_KEY".
3. Direct Value:
Simply pass the API key as a literal string without any format (e.g., `--key your-api-key`).
--available_languages List available translation language codes for service.
-i, --input-file <input-file>
Input Strings Catalog file. (default: Localizable.xcstrings)
-o, --output-file <output-file>
Output Strings Catalog file. Overwrites. Use "-" for STDOUT. (default: Localizable.xcstrings)
-t, --target-language <target-language>
The target language identifier, ie "de". Case-insensitive.
--model <model> (default: gemini-1.5-flash)
--project-id <project-id>
--version Show the version.
-h, --help Show help information.
Notes:
- Only untranslated strings will be processed. Those already translated or marked "do not translate" in the Strings Catalog are skipped.
- By default the
Localizable.xcstringsfile will be modified.
- DeepL: Get a key from the DeepL Pro API.
- Gemini Make a project and generate an API Key in Google AI Studio.
- OpenAI: Obtain a key from their API portal.
- Anthropic Get a key from Anthropic Dashboard.
Saved API keys in the keychain can be managed using the macOS Keychain app and searching keys prefixed with tools.xcode.translate_strings.
- Run
swift build -c releaseto build thetranslate_stringsexecutable in./.build/release. - Copy the executable to a location in your
$PATHfor easy access.
The package has two targets:
strings_catalog_translatethe executable command line tool.TranslationServicethe library the executiable uses for for the translation services. It specifies the protocol and concrete types for DeepL, Anthropic and OpenAI.