Translation

Plainpad supports multiple languages. Learn how to add or modify translations for your installation.

How Translations Work

Plainpad uses language files to manage translations. Each supported language has its own file containing key-value pairs that map internal identifiers to translated strings.

Available Languages

Plainpad ships with English as the default language. Community-contributed translations may be available in the repository. Check the application/language/ directory for existing translations.

Adding a New Language

Step 1: Copy the English Language File

Create a copy of the English language directory as a starting point:

cp -r application/language/english application/language/french

Step 2: Translate the Strings

Open the language file and translate each string value. Keep the keys unchanged — only modify the values:

// Before (English)
$lang['notes'] = 'Notes';
$lang['settings'] = 'Settings';
$lang['logout'] = 'Logout';

// After (French)
$lang['notes'] = 'Notes';
$lang['settings'] = 'Paramètres';
$lang['logout'] = 'Déconnexion';

Step 3: Configure Plainpad to Use the New Language

Update the application settings to set the default language, or allow users to choose their preferred language from the settings panel.

Modifying Existing Translations

To fix or improve an existing translation, simply edit the corresponding language file and update the string values as needed.

Contributing Translations

If you create a translation for a new language, consider contributing it back to the project:

1. Fork the Plainpad repository
2. Add your language files
3. Submit a pull request