Virtaal


Virtaal is a computer-assisted translation tool written in the Python programming language. It is free software developed and maintained by Translate.org.za.
Virtaal is built using the Translate Toolkit allowing it to process a number of translation and localisation formats.

Design Philosophy

The key principle behind the design of Virtaal is the optimisation of the interface for the localiser. This includes ensuring that all relevant functionality is keyboard accessible and that needed information is always optimally displayed.

History

Work on Virtaal began in 2007 with an initial 0.1 release made to a small number of open-source localisers. Version 0.2, released in October 2008, became the first official release.

Name

The name Virtaal, pronounced, is a play on words. In Afrikaans, an official language of South Africa where Translate.org.za is located, the expression "vir taal" means "for language", while the word "vertaal" means "translate".

Supported source document formats

Virtaal works directly with any of the bilingual files understood by the Translate Toolkit. This would include XLIFF, Gettext PO and MO, various Qt files, Wordfast translation memory, TBX, TMX and OmegaT glossaries.

Features