# Translation Source Sync

> Synchronizes the UniGetUI English language file with source-code usage, identifies missing translation keys, removes unused entries, reports localization drift, and can reorder locale files to match the English key ordering. Use when the user asks to sync language files, missing translations, i18n drift, or align locale file ordering with English.

- Skill: `devolutions/translation-source-sync` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 4 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add devolutions/translation-source-sync`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/devolutions/translation-source-sync/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: devolutions (https://skillmd.com/u/devolutions)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/devolutions/translation-source-sync

---


# translation source sync

Use this skill when UniGetUI source code changed and you need to keep [src/Languages/lang_en.json](src/Languages/lang_en.json) aligned with the strings actually used by the application, or when you need downstream locale files reordered to match the English key ordering.

It scans supported C#, WinUI XAML, and Avalonia AXAML patterns, finds missing English keys, removes unused entries, reports translation-source warnings that still need manual cleanup, and can align locale file ordering to the English layout.

## Scope

- Extract literal translation keys from supported UniGetUI source patterns.
- Add new English keys missing from `lang_en.json`.
- Remove English keys that are no longer used.
- Reorder non-English locale files to match the English key ordering.
- Warn about interpolated `CoreTools.Translate($"...")` calls that are not synchronized automatically.
- Leave downstream language propagation to the existing translation diff workflow.

## Supported extraction sources

- `CoreTools.Translate("...")` in C#.
- `CoreTools.AutoTranslated("...")` in C#.
- `widgets:TranslatedTextBlock Text="..."` in WinUI XAML.
- `settings:TranslatedTextBlock Text="..."` in Avalonia AXAML.
- `{t:Translate Some text}` and `{t:Translate Text='A, B, C'}` in Avalonia AXAML.

## Out of scope for v1

- Interpolated translation calls such as `CoreTools.Translate($"Running {value}")`.
- Non-literal translation inputs passed through variables.
- CI enforcement.

## Scripts

- `scripts/sync-translation-sources.ps1`: Skill wrapper around the repository sync script.
- `scripts/set-translation-boundary-order.ps1`: Skill wrapper around the repository locale reordering script.
- `scripts/test-translation-source-sync.ps1`: Skill wrapper around the repository smoke test.
- `../../../../scripts/translation/Sync-TranslationSources.ps1`: Canonical repository implementation used by the wrapper.
- `../../../../scripts/translation/Set-TranslationBoundaryOrder.ps1`: Canonical repository implementation used by the wrapper.
- `../../../../scripts/translation/Test-TranslationSourceSync.ps1`: Canonical smoke test used by the wrapper.

## Usage

Synchronize the checked-in English language file in place:

```powershell
pwsh ./.agents/skills/translation-source-sync/scripts/sync-translation-sources.ps1
```

Check whether the English file is out of sync without writing changes:

```powershell
pwsh ./.agents/skills/translation-source-sync/scripts/sync-translation-sources.ps1 -CheckOnly
```

Reorder locale files to match the English key ordering:

```powershell
pwsh ./.agents/skills/translation-source-sync/scripts/set-translation-boundary-order.ps1
```

Preview whether locale files need reordering without writing changes:

```powershell
pwsh ./.agents/skills/translation-source-sync/scripts/set-translation-boundary-order.ps1 -CheckOnly
```

Run the smoke test:

```powershell
pwsh ./.agents/skills/translation-source-sync/scripts/test-translation-source-sync.ps1
```

## Recommended workflow

1. Run translation source sync after changing any translatable source string.
2. If `-CheckOnly` reports drift, run the full sync to rewrite `lang_en.json`.
3. Review warnings for interpolated translation calls and convert them to stable literals or add the missing English keys manually when needed.
4. Run `pwsh ./.agents/skills/translation-source-sync/scripts/set-translation-boundary-order.ps1` to align locale ordering with English.
5. Run `pwsh ./scripts/translation/Verify-Translations.ps1` to confirm the language files still validate cleanly.
6. Run `pwsh ./.agents/skills/translation-source-sync/scripts/test-translation-source-sync.ps1` if you changed the sync workflow itself.
7. Export changed work for translators with [translation-diff-export](../translation-diff-export/SKILL.md).

## Notes

- Existing English values are preserved for retained keys; newly added English entries default to `key == value`.
- The sync script preserves current key order for retained entries and appends newly discovered keys deterministically.
- The locale reorder script follows English as the canonical order and appends unmapped locale-only keys at the end.
- The smoke test uses a temporary synthetic repo so it does not mutate the checked-in language files.