[Feature] Make Pybricks Code multilingual

[laurensvalk]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
Pybricks can sometimes be harder to use for non-native English speakers.

Describe the solution you'd like
Most of the localization framework for this is already in place. Auto-translating the doc strings should now be easier than ever, with users perhaps able to review the results.

We'll also need to add a UI for this in the settings.

The documentation might be a bit trickier though.

[Robo-Hinataya]

I teach robotics to children ages 7 to 15 in Japan.
I want to teach using block coding, but English blocks are difficult for children to understand.

Are there any plans to make block coding multilingual?
Or, I would be happy if I could freely set the characters of the block.

[laurensvalk]

Yes, we have plans for this as part of a future update.

Thank you very much for offering to help! We will post an update in this thread with further information when we are closer to making this possible.

[laurensvalk]

So far we have had translation requests for:

• Japanese
• Spanish
• Italian
• German
• French
• Polish

As a first step, I think we can prepare the technical changes for this, and add one test translation to ensure we've covered all portions of the app and blocks. As a second step, we could organize a way to do the actual translations. Perhaps partially automated with human review.

Blockly has support for right-to-left languages too, but we'll need to review our Pybricks additions to ensure "block mutations/extensions" respect this as well.

[Robo-Hinataya]

Thank you!

[biasedlogic]

Hi, I can support for German and Polish - especially interested in making the blocks multilingual.

[laurensvalk]

Thanks!

[wv77]

I would like to request support for Dutch as well. My children are now using Scratch (multilingual) and would love to use PyBricks.

[juice-ontour]

Adding other languages would be a big step towards adoption of Pybricks by kids.
I can provide help, translation work, and review for German and French.

[SamohtHub]

Hi, I am also interested in a German translation. The translations will allow children without knowledge of English to program in blocks. Similar to the Lego app. I am also willing to offer help for German. Is there already a status or plan until when the translations should be made possible?

[wimvhex]

Hi, I'm interested in a Dutch translation. Feel free to contact me for helping in providing Dutch translations.

[dlech]

German: pybricks/pybricks-code#2331

Although, we'll probably want to use a translation service like Crowdin or Weblate to help manage translations.