MetaGlot

Platform Metadata Localization Compiler

One POT, all platforms.

MetaGlot is a command-line tool that unifies localization metadata for applications shipped on multiple platforms. It extracts or defines translatable strings from platform-specific metadata files, normalizes them into Gettext-compatible POT/PO catalogs, and compiles translated PO files back into platform-native files.

It currently is designed for projects that ship on:

• Windows using RC resource files
• Linux using .desktop and AppStream MetaInfo XML files
• macOS using Info.plist and localized InfoPlist.strings files

Instead of asking translators to edit platform-specific formats, MetaGlot lets them work with standard Gettext PO files.

Why MetaGlot?

Every platform has its own localization mechanism for application metadata:

Platform	Metadata format	Localization mechanism
Windows	.rc	String tables, version resources
Linux	.desktop	Name, Comment, etc.
Linux	AppStream XML	<name>, <summary>, <description>
macOS	Info.plist	InfoPlist.strings, plist keys

These formats are necessary for packaging and distribution, but they are inconvenient as translation sources. MetaGlot introduces a common localization layer.

MetaGlot does not replace Gettext. It makes Gettext the canonical translation workflow for platform metadata.

License

MetaGlot is released under the MIT License. See LICENSE for details.