/wbTranslate — Practical

Two forms

/wbTranslate <file> # extract + translate all hardcoded strings
/wbTranslate <file> --new-only # only handle strings not yet keyed

When to run

• After the component's UI is stable (post-design, post-iteration).
• Before shipping a user-facing release that needs FR/AR coverage.
• When adding new user-facing strings to an already-translated component (use --new-only).

When not to run

• Mid-iteration, when copy is still changing. You'll re-translate every iteration.
• On a component without i18n setup. Command will refuse.
• On a component already fully translated (use --new-only instead).
• On developer-facing components that won't be shipped to users.

Prerequisites

• vue-i18n (or equivalent) configured in the app.
• src/i18n/{en,fr,ar}.json (or equivalent) exist.
• The component imports useI18n or has access to $t.

If any prerequisite is missing, the command refuses with setup steps.

Reading the output

• Extracted strings list — exactly what will become i18n keys.
• Skipped strings list — what was deliberately not extracted (CSS classes, events, URLs).
• Ambiguous strings — requires your disambiguation before proceeding.
• Three JSON additions — en, fr, ar. Each with cultural awareness.
• RTL note — Arabic-specific layout flags.

The translation review step

AI-generated translations are drafts. Review especially:

• Tone: formal vs. informal "you" (vous/tu, anta/anti).
• Brand voice: action verbs may differ ("Save" → "Enregistrer" vs. "Sauvegarder").
• RTL layout: Arabic strings may overflow; layout may need adjustment.
• Date/number formatting: not handled by /wbTranslate; uses i18n built-ins.

If you don't speak FR/AR, defer to native speakers before shipping. AI translations of common UI strings are decent; AI translations of nuanced messaging are guesses.

When /wbTranslate is the wrong command

• Pluralization rules → vue-i18n's plural syntax; AI can't fully infer.
• Locale-aware formatting (dates, currency) → use Intl APIs, not strings.
• Server-rendered text → translate server-side.
• A11y attributes (aria-label etc.) → these are user-facing; /wbTranslate should handle them. If it skips them, re-prompt.

Flags & shortcuts

Documented shortcuts are listed below.

Long form	Shortcut
--new-only	-n

-h, --h, and --help are accepted on every /wb* command and print the manual instead of executing.

---