- What does the Localizator package do in a Laravel application?
- Localizator is a Laravel package that scans your application for translation strings and generates language files ready for translation in the locales you choose. It also provides a web interface for editing translations, which helps simplify multilingual Laravel projects. It is intended as a developer-time Artisan tool rather than a runtime dependency.
- How do I install Localizator in a Laravel project?
- Install it as a Composer dev dependency with composer require --dev amirami/localizator. Publish any configuration if needed, then run the package's localize command locally or in CI. Review the generated language files before committing them.
- Which Laravel and PHP versions does Localizator support?
- The provided evaluation does not list an official Laravel and PHP compatibility matrix. Check the package's composer.json, README, and release notes for supported versions, and confirm it matches your project's exact Laravel and PHP versions. Because the maintainer base is small, test the package in your target repository rather than assuming broad compatibility.
- Does Localizator modify my existing translation files in place?
- Localizator is designed to generate and update language files, so it can change translation files rather than only reporting missing strings. The evaluation flags dry-run and diff behavior as questions to confirm for the current release. Run it on a non-critical branch and review the generated diffs before using it on existing translations.
- Can Localizator detect dynamic translation keys and handle pluralization?
- Static scanning can find many __(), @lang, and trans() usages, but dynamically constructed translation keys are a common gap for extraction tools. Pluralization, nested keys, and Blade component usage should also be validated against your codebase. Treat Localizator's output as a starting inventory and manually review edge cases.
- How do I exclude vendor directories or specific paths from Localizator scans?
- Configuration is the place to check for excluding paths, locales, and file types from scans. Confirm how the current release handles vendor, node_modules, and other generated directories, and test exclusions in the target repository. Without explicit exclusions, scans can produce noisy diffs or false positives.
- Can Localizator fail CI when untranslated strings are found?
- The evaluation lists CI failure behavior as a key question, so verify whether the command returns a useful nonzero exit code when untranslated strings are found. Until that behavior is proven, run Localizator as a report-only CI job. Do not make it a hard release gate before reviewing extraction quality.
- Should Localizator be a dev dependency or a production dependency?
- Localizator should be installed as a require-dev dependency because it is a developer-time Artisan tool, not a runtime dependency. It does not need to ship in production application code paths. Keeping it in dev dependencies reduces runtime risk and makes rollback as simple as removing the package and discarding generated files.
- What license does Localizator use, and can I use it commercially?
- The evaluation reports a NOASSERTION license, which is not a standard permissive license and requires legal review before organizational or commercial adoption. Do not assume MIT-style permissions until the license terms are clarified. Confirm internal and commercial use rights with your legal team.
- Is Localizator actively maintained, and what alternatives should I consider?
- The latest release date noted is 2025-03-06, but the package has a small maintainer set and 0 reported dependents, so long-term maintenance is a bus-factor concern. Evaluate alternatives such as Laravel's built-in translation files, community language-file packages, or a translation management system if you need stronger governance. Run a time-boxed pilot and assign an internal owner before adopting it as a recurring workflow.