About the Internationalization SIG

Owned by Peter Murray
Feb 06, 2017
2 min read

Purpose

Review user interface design, data storage, and OKAPI platform design for issues related to internationalization of the user interface and underlying data storage.  Internationalization is the process of designing a software application so that it can potentially be adapted to various languages and regions without engineering changes. Localization is the process of adapting internationalized software for a specific region or language by adding locale-specific components and translating text. The SIG ensures the FOLIO platform is ready for localization by developers and implementers, including translation of strings; bi-directional text display (left-to-right and right-to-left); localization of currency, date and time, number formatting, address, and telephone number formats; UNICODE support and display of stored data (when supplied in multiple languages); tokenization and sorting of strings; and coordinates internationalization efforts between modules.  Members of the SIG are also available to FOLIO developers and other SIGs for consultation on ensuring good internationalization practices are followed.

Commitments

  • SIG-I18N members will be called upon as experts to other FOLIO SIGs to make presentations, review documentation and code, and answer questions about internationalization needs.

  • When common internationalization requirements are found between modules, the SIG-I18N can coordinate the process of making changes to OKAPI, core modules, and third-party FOLIO modules.

  • A SIG member will serve as the convener of SIG-I18N (see definition in the Product Council SIG documentation), a SIG member will be asked to participate on the FOLIO Forum Facilitators SIG (details), and a SIG member will be asked to report progress to the Product Council.  One or more than one person may fill each of these roles, and a person may fill more than one role.

  • SIG-I18N participants are expected to have knowledge or access to knowledge about internationalization practices and regional requirements.

SIG Type

Topical Group (discussion group to take up a subject of interest)