msginit
creates a new PO file from a POT file
TLDR
Create PO file from POT
$ msginit -i [messages.pot] -o [de.po] -l [de_DE]
Create with specific locale$ msginit --input=[template.pot] --locale=[fr_FR.UTF-8]
Create without translator info$ msginit -i [messages.pot] -o [es.po] -l [es] --no-translator
Specify output directory$ msginit -i [messages.pot] -l [ja] -o [locale/ja/messages.po]
SYNOPSIS
msginit [options]
DESCRIPTION
msginit creates a new PO (Portable Object) file from a POT (PO Template) file. It initializes the PO file with proper headers for the specified locale.
This is typically the first step when starting a new translation.
PARAMETERS
-i, --input file
Input POT file.-o, --output-file file
Output PO file.-l, --locale locale
Target locale.--no-translator
Don't prompt for translator info.--no-wrap
Don't wrap lines.
WORKFLOW
$ 1. xgettext → messages.pot
2. msginit → de.po (new translation)
3. (translate strings)
4. msgfmt → messages.mo
2. msginit → de.po (new translation)
3. (translate strings)
4. msgfmt → messages.mo
EXAMPLE
$ # Create German translation
msginit -i messages.pot -o de.po -l de_DE.UTF-8
# Headers set automatically:
# Language: de
# Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
msginit -i messages.pot -o de.po -l de_DE.UTF-8
# Headers set automatically:
# Language: de
# Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
CAVEATS
POT file must exist first. Locale must be valid system locale. May prompt for translator email.
HISTORY
msginit is part of GNU gettext, the internationalization framework used by most open-source software for translation management.