git-sh-i18n

This script is not intended for direct user invocation. It is internally sourced by other Git shell scripts.

(None directly)
    git-sh-i18n does not accept command-line parameters in the traditional sense, as it is designed to be sourced rather than executed directly. Its functionality is exposed through the shell functions it defines upon sourcing.

git-sh-i18n is an internal helper script within the Git project, designed to provide internationalization (i18n) capabilities for Git's various shell-based scripts. Instead of being executed directly by the user, it is typically sourced by other Git shell scripts, such as git-sh-setup.sh, to enable message translation for command output and prompts.

The script defines a set of functions, including gettext_init, gettext_noop, eval_gettext, gettextln, and gettext_printf, which allow shell scripts to retrieve translated strings based on the user's locale settings. Its primary purpose is to integrate GNU gettext functionality into the shell environment that Git commands operate within, ensuring that Git's messages can be presented in multiple languages and improving the user experience for non-English speakers.

Caveats:
1. Internal Use Only: This script is not meant for direct user interaction or execution. Attempting to run it directly will not produce meaningful results for an end-user.
2. Dependency: Relies on the GNU gettext utilities being installed and accessible on the system for effective internationalization.
3. Context Dependent: Its functions are designed to operate within the specific context of Git's shell environment.

Instead of being executed directly, git-sh-i18n is 'sourced' into other Git shell scripts. This means its functions and variables become available in the environment of the sourcing script. For example, git-sh-setup.sh often sources it to provide i18n capabilities to a wide range of Git commands implemented as shell scripts.

Upon sourcing, git-sh-i18n defines several crucial shell functions for internationalization:
gettext_init: Initializes the gettext text domain and locale for translations.
gettext_noop: A no-operation function used to mark strings for potential translation without actually translating them at that point.
eval_gettext: Translates a given string using the established text domain and then evaluates the result.
gettextln: Translates a string and prints it followed by a newline.
gettext_printf: Similar to printf, but translates the format string first.
These functions streamline the process of displaying localized messages within Git's shell-based commands.

git-sh-i18n is part of Git's ongoing efforts to enhance internationalization support for its command-line interface. It was integrated to provide a consistent and robust mechanism for translating messages across various Git shell components, ensuring that users can interact with Git in their preferred language.

git(1), git-sh-setup(1), gettext(1), locale(7)