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+Notes on the Free Translation Project
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+*************************************
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+
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+ Free software is going international! The Free Translation Project
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+is a way to get maintainers of free software, translators, and users all
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+together, so that will gradually become able to speak many languages.
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+A few packages already provide translations for their messages.
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+
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+ If you found this `ABOUT-NLS' file inside a distribution, you may
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+assume that the distributed package does use GNU `gettext' internally,
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+itself available at your nearest GNU archive site. But you do _not_
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+need to install GNU `gettext' prior to configuring, installing or using
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+this package with messages translated.
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+
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+ Installers will find here some useful hints. These notes also
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+explain how users should proceed for getting the programs to use the
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+available translations. They tell how people wanting to contribute and
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+work at translations should contact the appropriate team.
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+
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+ When reporting bugs in the `intl/' directory or bugs which may be
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+related to internationalization, you should tell about the version of
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+`gettext' which is used. The information can be found in the
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+`intl/VERSION' file, in internationalized packages.
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+
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+Quick configuration advice
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+==========================
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+
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+ If you want to exploit the full power of internationalization, you
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+should configure it using
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+
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+ ./configure --with-included-gettext
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+
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+to force usage of internationalizing routines provided within this
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+package, despite the existence of internationalizing capabilities in the
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+operating system where this package is being installed. So far, only
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+the `gettext' implementation in the GNU C library version 2 provides as
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+many features (such as locale alias, message inheritance, automatic
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+charset conversion or plural form handling) as the implementation here.
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+It is also not possible to offer this additional functionality on top
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+of a `catgets' implementation. Future versions of GNU `gettext' will
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+very likely convey even more functionality. So it might be a good idea
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+to change to GNU `gettext' as soon as possible.
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+
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+ So you need _not_ provide this option if you are using GNU libc 2 or
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+you have installed a recent copy of the GNU gettext package with the
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+included `libintl'.
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+
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+INSTALL Matters
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+===============
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+
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+ Some packages are "localizable" when properly installed; the
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+programs they contain can be made to speak your own native language.
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+Most such packages use GNU `gettext'. Other packages have their own
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+ways to internationalization, predating GNU `gettext'.
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+
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+ By default, this package will be installed to allow translation of
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+messages. It will automatically detect whether the system already
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+provides the GNU `gettext' functions. If not, the GNU `gettext' own
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+library will be used. This library is wholly contained within this
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+package, usually in the `intl/' subdirectory, so prior installation of
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+the GNU `gettext' package is _not_ required. Installers may use
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+special options at configuration time for changing the default
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+behaviour. The commands:
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+
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+ ./configure --with-included-gettext
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+ ./configure --disable-nls
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+
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+will respectively bypass any pre-existing `gettext' to use the
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+internationalizing routines provided within this package, or else,
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+_totally_ disable translation of messages.
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+
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+ When you already have GNU `gettext' installed on your system and run
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+configure without an option for your new package, `configure' will
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+probably detect the previously built and installed `libintl.a' file and
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+will decide to use this. This might be not what is desirable. You
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+should use the more recent version of the GNU `gettext' library. I.e.
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+if the file `intl/VERSION' shows that the library which comes with this
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+package is more recent, you should use
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+
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+ ./configure --with-included-gettext
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+
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+to prevent auto-detection.
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+
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+ The configuration process will not test for the `catgets' function
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+and therefore it will not be used. The reason is that even an
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+emulation of `gettext' on top of `catgets' could not provide all the
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+extensions of the GNU `gettext' library.
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+
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+ Internationalized packages have usually many `po/LL.po' files, where
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+LL gives an ISO 639 two-letter code identifying the language. Unless
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+translations have been forbidden at `configure' time by using the
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+`--disable-nls' switch, all available translations are installed
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+together with the package. However, the environment variable `LINGUAS'
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+may be set, prior to configuration, to limit the installed set.
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+`LINGUAS' should then contain a space separated list of two-letter
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+codes, stating which languages are allowed.
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+
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+Using This Package
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+==================
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+
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+ As a user, if your language has been installed for this package, you
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+only have to set the `LANG' environment variable to the appropriate
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+`LL_CC' combination. Here `LL' is an ISO 639 two-letter language code,
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+and `CC' is an ISO 3166 two-letter country code. For example, let's
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+suppose that you speak German and live in Germany. At the shell
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+prompt, merely execute `setenv LANG de_DE' (in `csh'),
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+`export LANG; LANG=de_DE' (in `sh') or `export LANG=de_DE' (in `bash').
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+This can be done from your `.login' or `.profile' file, once and for
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+all.
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+
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+ You might think that the country code specification is redundant.
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+But in fact, some languages have dialects in different countries. For
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+example, `de_AT' is used for Austria, and `pt_BR' for Brazil. The
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+country code serves to distinguish the dialects.
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+
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+ The locale naming convention of `LL_CC', with `LL' denoting the
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+language and `CC' denoting the country, is the one use on systems based
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+on GNU libc. On other systems, some variations of this scheme are
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+used, such as `LL' or `LL_CC.ENCODING'. You can get the list of
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+locales supported by your system for your country by running the command
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+`locale -a | grep '^LL''.
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+
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+ Not all programs have translations for all languages. By default, an
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+English message is shown in place of a nonexistent translation. If you
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+understand other languages, you can set up a priority list of languages.
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+This is done through a different environment variable, called
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+`LANGUAGE'. GNU `gettext' gives preference to `LANGUAGE' over `LANG'
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+for the purpose of message handling, but you still need to have `LANG'
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+set to the primary language; this is required by other parts of the
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+system libraries. For example, some Swedish users who would rather
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+read translations in German than English for when Swedish is not
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+available, set `LANGUAGE' to `sv:de' while leaving `LANG' to `sv_SE'.
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+
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+ In the `LANGUAGE' environment variable, but not in the `LANG'
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+environment variable, `LL_CC' combinations can be abbreviated as `LL'
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+to denote the language's main dialect. For example, `de' is equivalent
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+to `de_DE' (German as spoken in Germany), and `pt' to `pt_PT'
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+(Portuguese as spoken in Portugal) in this context.
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+
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+Translating Teams
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+=================
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+
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+ For the Free Translation Project to be a success, we need interested
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+people who like their own language and write it well, and who are also
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+able to synergize with other translators speaking the same language.
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+Each translation team has its own mailing list. The up-to-date list of
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+teams can be found at the Free Translation Project's homepage,
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+`http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/contrib/po/HTML/', in the "National teams"
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+area.
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+
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+ If you'd like to volunteer to _work_ at translating messages, you
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+should become a member of the translating team for your own language.
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+The subscribing address is _not_ the same as the list itself, it has
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+`-request' appended. For example, speakers of Swedish can send a
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+message to `sv-request@li.org', having this message body:
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+
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+ subscribe
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+
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+ Keep in mind that team members are expected to participate
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+_actively_ in translations, or at solving translational difficulties,
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+rather than merely lurking around. If your team does not exist yet and
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+you want to start one, or if you are unsure about what to do or how to
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+get started, please write to `translation@iro.umontreal.ca' to reach the
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+coordinator for all translator teams.
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+
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+ The English team is special. It works at improving and uniformizing
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+the terminology in use. Proven linguistic skill are praised more than
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+programming skill, here.
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+
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+Available Packages
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+==================
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+
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+ Languages are not equally supported in all packages. The following
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+matrix shows the current state of internationalization, as of July
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+2002. The matrix shows, in regard of each package, for which languages
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+PO files have been submitted to translation coordination, with a
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+translation percentage of at least 50%.
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+
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+ Ready PO files be bg ca cs da de el en eo es et fi fr
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+ +----------------------------------------+
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+ a2ps | [] [] [] [] |
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+ bash | [] [] [] [] |
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+ bfd | [] [] |
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+ binutils | [] [] |
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+ bison | [] [] [] [] |
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+ clisp | [] [] [] [] |
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+ clisp | |
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+ clisplow | |
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+ cpio | [] [] [] [] |
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+ darkstat | () |
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+ diffutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ enscript | [] [] |
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+ error | [] [] [] |
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+ fetchmail | [] () [] [] [] () |
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+ fileutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ findutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ flex | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ gas | [] [] |
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+ gawk | [] [] [] |
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+ gcal | [] [] |
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+ gcc | [] [] |
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+ gettext | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ gnupg | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ gprof | [] [] |
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+ gpsdrive | () () () () () |
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+ grep | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ gretl | [] |
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+ gthumb | () () () |
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+ hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ id-utils | [] [] [] |
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+ indent | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ jpilot | () [] [] [] |
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+ jwhois | [] [] |
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+ kbd | [] [] [] |
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+ ld | [] [] |
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+ libc | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ libiconv | [] [] [] [] |
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+ lifelines | () () |
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+ lilypond | [] [] [] |
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+ lingoteach | [] [] |
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+ lingoteach_lessons| () () |
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+ lynx | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ m4 | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ make | [] [] [] [] |
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+ man-db | [] () () [] () () |
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+ mysecretdiary | [] [] [] |
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+ nano | [] () [] [] [] [] |
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+ nano_1_0 | [] () [] [] [] [] |
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+ opcodes | [] [] [] |
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+ parted | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ ptx | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ python | |
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+ recode | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ sed | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ sh-utils | [] [] [] [] |
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+ sharutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ sketch | () [] () |
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+ soundtracker | [] [] [] |
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+ sp | [] |
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+ tar | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ texinfo | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ textutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ util-linux | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ vorbis-tools | [] |
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+ wastesedge | |
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+ wdiff | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ +----------------------------------------+
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+ be bg ca cs da de el en eo es et fi fr
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+ 0 2 19 10 30 44 9 1 12 45 16 3 53
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+
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+ gl he hr hu id it ja ko lv nb nl nn
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+ +-------------------------------------+
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+ a2ps | () () [] |
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+ bash | [] |
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+ bfd | [] |
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+ binutils | [] |
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+ bison | [] [] [] [] |
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+ clisp | [] |
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+ clisp | |
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+ clisplow | |
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+ cpio | [] [] [] [] |
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+ darkstat | () |
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+ diffutils | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ enscript | [] [] |
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+ error | [] |
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+ fetchmail | [] |
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+ fileutils | [] [] [] |
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+ findutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ flex | [] |
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+ gas | |
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+ gawk | [] |
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+ gcal | |
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+ gcc | [] |
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+ gettext | [] [] |
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+ gnupg | [] [] [] [] |
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+ gprof | |
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+ gpsdrive | [] () () |
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+ grep | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ gretl | |
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+ gthumb | () () |
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+ hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ id-utils | [] [] |
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+ indent | [] [] [] [] |
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+ jpilot | () () |
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+ jwhois | [] [] |
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+ kbd | |
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+ ld | |
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+ libc | [] [] [] [] |
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+ libiconv | [] [] [] |
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+ lifelines | |
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+ lilypond | [] [] |
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+ lingoteach | [] |
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+ lingoteach_lessons| |
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+ lynx | [] [] [] [] |
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+ m4 | [] [] [] [] |
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+ make | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ man-db | () () |
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+ mysecretdiary | [] |
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+ nano | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ nano_1_0 | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ opcodes | [] [] |
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+ parted | [] [] [] |
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+ ptx | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ python | |
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+ recode | [] [] [] |
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+ sed | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ sh-utils | [] [] [] |
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+ sharutils | [] [] [] |
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+ sketch | () |
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+ soundtracker | [] [] |
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+ sp | |
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+ tar | [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ texinfo | [] [] [] |
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+ textutils | [] [] [] |
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+ util-linux | () [] |
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+ vorbis-tools | |
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+ wastesedge | |
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+ wdiff | [] [] [] |
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+ wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] |
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+ +-------------------------------------+
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+ gl he hr hu id it ja ko lv nb nl nn
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+ 23 9 12 18 14 13 26 9 1 8 19 4
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+
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+ no pl pt pt_BR ru sk sl sv tr uk zh_TW
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+ +----------------------------------------+
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+ a2ps | () () () [] [] [] [] [] | 10
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+ bash | [] | 6
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+ bfd | [] [] | 5
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+ binutils | [] [] | 5
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+ bison | [] [] [] | 11
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+ clisp | | 5
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+ clisp | | 0
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+ clisplow | | 0
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+ cpio | [] [] [] [] | 12
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+ darkstat | [] () | 1
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+ diffutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 17
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+ enscript | [] [] [] [] | 8
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+ error | [] [] [] | 7
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+ fetchmail | () () [] | 6
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+ fileutils | [] [] [] [] [] | 13
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+ findutils | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] | 21
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+ flex | [] [] [] | 9
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+ gas | [] | 3
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+ gawk | [] [] | 6
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+ gcal | [] [] | 4
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+ gcc | [] | 4
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+ gettext | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 13
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+ gnupg | [] [] [] | 14
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+ gprof | [] [] | 4
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+ gpsdrive | [] [] () | 3
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+ grep | [] [] [] [] | 18
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+ gretl | | 1
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+ gthumb | () () [] | 1
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+ hello | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] | 28
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+ id-utils | [] [] [] [] | 9
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+ indent | [] [] [] [] [] | 14
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+ jpilot | () () [] | 4
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+ jwhois | [] () () [] [] | 7
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+ kbd | [] [] | 5
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+ ld | [] [] | 4
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+ libc | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 17
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+ libiconv | [] [] [] [] | 11
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+ lifelines | [] | 1
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+ lilypond | [] | 6
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+ lingoteach | [] [] | 5
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+ lingoteach_lessons| | 0
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+ lynx | [] [] [] [] | 13
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+ m4 | [] [] [] | 12
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+ make | [] [] [] [] | 14
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+ man-db | | 3
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+ mysecretdiary | [] [] [] | 7
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+ nano | [] [] [] [] | 15
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+ nano_1_0 | [] [] [] [] | 14
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+ opcodes | [] [] | 7
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+ parted | [] [] [] | 11
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+ ptx | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] | 19
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+ python | | 0
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+ recode | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 15
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+ sed | [] [] [] [] [] [] | 23
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+ sh-utils | [] | 8
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+ sharutils | [] [] [] [] | 13
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+ sketch | [] () [] | 4
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+ soundtracker | [] | 6
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+ sp | | 1
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+ tar | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] | 18
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+ texinfo | [] [] | 10
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+ textutils | [] [] [] [] [] | 13
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+ util-linux | [] [] [] | 10
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+ vorbis-tools | [] | 2
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+ wastesedge | | 0
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+ wdiff | [] [] [] [] [] | 14
|
|
|
+ wget | [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] | 24
|
|
|
+ +----------------------------------------+
|
|
|
+ 36 teams no pl pt pt_BR ru sk sl sv tr uk zh_TW
|
|
|
+ 67 domains 4 15 2 24 26 12 10 47 42 4 8 594
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
+ Some counters in the preceding matrix are higher than the number of
|
|
|
+visible blocks let us expect. This is because a few extra PO files are
|
|
|
+used for implementing regional variants of languages, or language
|
|
|
+dialects.
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
+ For a PO file in the matrix above to be effective, the package to
|
|
|
+which it applies should also have been internationalized and
|
|
|
+distributed as such by its maintainer. There might be an observable
|
|
|
+lag between the mere existence a PO file and its wide availability in a
|
|
|
+distribution.
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
+ If July 2002 seems to be old, you may fetch a more recent copy of
|
|
|
+this `ABOUT-NLS' file on most GNU archive sites. The most up-to-date
|
|
|
+matrix with full percentage details can be found at
|
|
|
+`http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/contrib/po/HTML/matrix.html'.
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
+Using `gettext' in new packages
|
|
|
+===============================
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
+ If you are writing a freely available program and want to
|
|
|
+internationalize it you are welcome to use GNU `gettext' in your
|
|
|
+package. Of course you have to respect the GNU Library General Public
|
|
|
+License which covers the use of the GNU `gettext' library. This means
|
|
|
+in particular that even non-free programs can use `libintl' as a shared
|
|
|
+library, whereas only free software can use `libintl' as a static
|
|
|
+library or use modified versions of `libintl'.
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
+ Once the sources are changed appropriately and the setup can handle
|
|
|
+to use of `gettext' the only thing missing are the translations. The
|
|
|
+Free Translation Project is also available for packages which are not
|
|
|
+developed inside the GNU project. Therefore the information given above
|
|
|
+applies also for every other Free Software Project. Contact
|
|
|
+`translation@iro.umontreal.ca' to make the `.pot' files available to
|
|
|
+the translation teams.
|
|
|
+
|
Karl DeBisschop