Fennec localization for three-character language code locales

[Jeff Beatty]

Hi everyone,

I hope you're all well. I have some exciting news about Fennec localization!

The release of the Android 5.0 platform included new build tools within
the Android SDK. These build tools now support building three-character
language codes into multilocale apps. This is a big win for Mozilla l10n
teams whose language is classified with a three-character language code
and allows us to expand language coverage beyond what has ever been done
before on mobile!

As with many things, there is a bit of a catch here. Because these build
tools are specific to the Android 5.0 platform, these locales will only
be exposed on an Android device if either of the following conditions
are met:

1) The device is running Android 5.0 on it.
2) The device has an older version of Android, but is running a custom
version that specifically looks for your locale (e.g., A device
manufacturer in India may ship devices running Android 4.0, but
customizes their ROM of Android to look for Maithili (mai code) language
resources in each of the apps installed on it.)

Adoption rates for Android 5.0 are increasing quickly. It's possible to
expect that within 8-10 months, Android 5.0 will occupy a good portion
of the Android market, thus allowing your locale to reach a larger
population density. Since that is the direction that the Android market
is heading, it is relevant and good for us to begin populating Firefox
for Android with these locales in advance of the adoption rate in order
to accommodate a good, localized user experience on that platform.

So, what does this all mean? If you're localizing into a locale that
utilizes a three-character language code and would like to ship your
locale, I want to help you make that happen. Please reach out to me and
we'll add your locale to the roadmap. Remember, however, that it will
only be available (in the multilocale build) to users whose devices meet
either of the above criteria. If you would like to wait and watch the
Android market for the 5.0 userbase to expand, I want to help you there too.

Thanks,
Jeff

PS, if you're wondering when your Android device will receive an update
to 5.0, this seems to be a reliable resource:
http://www.androidpit.com/android-5-0-lollipop-phone-update-news
--
*Jeff Beatty*
Localization Engineer
@mozilla_l10n <http://twitter.com/mozilla_l10n>
801.367.3763

[Michael Wolf]

Jeff Beatty schrieb:

Hi Jeff,

> I hope you're all well. I have some exciting news about Fennec
> localization!
>
> The release of the Android 5.0 platform included new build tools within
> the Android SDK. These build tools now support building three-character
> language codes into multilocale apps. This is a big win for Mozilla l10n
> teams whose language is classified with a three-character language code
> and allows us to expand language coverage beyond what has ever been done
> before on mobile!

What a Christmas present! You are Santa Claus for me. :-)

>
> As with many things, there is a bit of a catch here. Because these build
> tools are specific to the Android 5.0 platform, these locales will only
> be exposed on an Android device if either of the following conditions
> are met:

Doesn't matter. I see that the solution of this issue draws nearer.

>
> 1) The device is running Android 5.0 on it.
> 2) The device has an older version of Android, but is running a custom
> version that specifically looks for your locale (e.g., A device
> manufacturer in India may ship devices running Android 4.0, but
> customizes their ROM of Android to look for Maithili (mai code) language
> resources in each of the apps installed on it.)

Well, probably this won't happen for Sorbian languages but,
nevertheless, I have new hopes now.

>
> Adoption rates for Android 5.0 are increasing quickly. It's possible to
> expect that within 8-10 months, Android 5.0 will occupy a good portion
> of the Android market, thus allowing your locale to reach a larger
> population density. Since that is the direction that the Android market
> is heading, it is relevant and good for us to begin populating Firefox
> for Android with these locales in advance of the adoption rate in order
> to accommodate a good, localized user experience on that platform.

What a joy. Thank you and all people of the localization team that made
this possible. I think it wasn't easy to convince google to enable
three-character language codes.


Kind regards,

Michael

[Jeff Beatty]

El 12/16/14 12:58 PM, Michael Wolf escribió:

I had a feeling you would be the first to respond ;-)

Let's get dsb and hsb shipped next Aurora cycle (Fennec 37) :-D

Any others three-character language code locales interested in launching
their localization of Fennec?

Jeff

[Mohomodou Houssouba]

Dear Jeff,

Thank you for the update. Great news, indeed. I share Michael's
excitement and anticipation. Could you put Songhay [son] on the list?

A good day to you and best regards,
Mohomodou

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[Jeff Beatty]

El 12/17/14 1:15 AM, Mohomodou Houssouba escribió:

Absolutely! I have hsb, dsb, and son added to the Fennec 37 roadmap.

[Michael Wolf]

Jeff Beatty schrieb:

> I had a feeling you would be the first to respond ;-)

Well, Fennec has been translated into dsb and hsb for a long time and I
don't want that my work is in vain.

> Let's get dsb and hsb shipped next Aurora cycle (Fennec 37) :-D

Fine.

Thank you and the whole team for your good work.


Regards,

Michael

[Mohomodou Houssouba]

Greetings everybody,

A colleague expressed interest in contributing to the Bambara [bm]
localization efforts (translating or recruiting volunteers for website
and Firefox). Sounds like a great opportunity for community building. If
anyone would like to get hold of him, please let me know.

A great weekend to all,
Mohomodou

[Ibrahima SARR]

Hi Mohomodou
Great news! I personally welcome every effort to empower African languages
as that was one of the goals of the event in August (
http://i-sarr.ibrahima-sarr.com).
I will be happy to help them build a team and get started with the
translation work.
Mozilla's presence in Mali is already a reality as a team was created
during my stay in Bamako and they are working so we can formalize the
creation of the community in Mali.
Cheers
Ibrahima

[Axel Hecht]

Hi,

I suspect that that'd be in Latin script, not in N'Ko?

Also, we should probably think about which product to start this with.
Is Desktop the best choice, or should we rather do Android or Fx OS?

Axel

[Mohomodou Houssouba]

Hello Axel,

That'll be in Latin script, to be sure.
Existing team page: https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n:Teams:bm

I put the query to the Malian mailing lists with the options of starting
with a "smaller project.

Mohomodou