strans

A command line translate tool written in Go with GNU Readline-like interactive mode (--repl) inspired by translate-shell

Features

• Non-interactive mode: A mode that can be used in the same way as a general command line tool
• Interactive mode: GNU Readline-like line editing mode for instant translation
• Read translated text aloud: The option to read the translated text aloud after performing the translation

Usage

Specifying languages for translations source and targets

To specify the translation source/target language, specify values for the arguments of the -s, --source and -t, --target options, or set values in the environment variable STRANS_SOURCE_LANG, STRANS_TARGET_LANG.

If you specify ? as the --source or --target option's value, a fzf-like menu will be displayed, allowing you to interactively select the language.

To check the list of languages, run the command with -S, --list-source or -T, --list-target options.

Non-interactive mode

If you specify text as a non-option argument, that text will be translated. Multiple arguments are allowed, and arguments are joined by spaces.

strans [OPTIONS] TEXT...

# e.g.
strans -s en -t ja "Hello, World" # => "こんにちは世界"

A non-option argument of - will read text from standard input and translate it. You can also output the translated text as speech.

strans [OPTIONS] -

# e.g.
echo "Hello, World" | strans -s en -t ja - # => "こんにちは世界"
strans -s en -t ja < README.md # => The contents of the README.md will translated.

Interactive mode

To use interactive mode, run the command with the -r, --repl flag. Enter your text and it will be translated instantly.

You can use GNU Readline-like line editing, scroll back (Ctrl-N, Ctrl-P) and incremental search (Ctrl-R) the execution history.

Empty inputs (just typing Enter) are ignored and no translation is performed.

Typing Ctrl-D exits interactive mode and returns you to the shell you were running from.

The history is kept in the file strans_history.txt in the OS temporary directory and can be recalled when executing the command again.

[you@your-computer]$ strans --repl -s ja -t en

[ja -> en]
> こんにちは世界
hello world

[ja -> en]
> bye

[you@your-computer]$ 

Read text as speech (beta)

Running the command with the --audio flag, after executing the translation, read the translated text aloud and you can check the pronunciation.

This feature is available in both interactive and non-interactive mode.

Options

Specify the source language name (e.g. en, ja, etc.) for --source option, and specify the target language name for --target option.

To change the instance, specify the hostname of the instance in the --instance option.

NAME:
   strans - a command line translate tool with GNU Readline like interactive mode

USAGE:
   strans [OPTIONS] TEXT...
   echo TEXT... | strans [OPTIONS] -
   strans [OPTIONS] - < FILE

VERSION:
   unknown-unknown

COMMANDS:
   help, h  Shows a list of commands or help for one command

GLOBAL OPTIONS:
   --source value, -s value, --from value  Source language to translate; specifying the value '?' will shows a selectable menu [$STRANS_SOURCE_LANG]
   --target value, -t value, --to value    Target language to translate; specifying the value '?' will shows a selectable menu [$STRANS_TARGET_LANG]
   --instance value, -i value              Instance host name of Lingva Translate [$STRANS_INSTANCE]
   --repl, -r                              Start interactive mode (default: false)
   --audio, -a                             Read translated text aloud (default: false)
   --list-source, -S                       Show a list of source languages (default: false)
   --list-target, -T                       Show a list of target languages (default: false)
   --help, -h                              show help (default: false)
   --version, -v                           print the version (default: false)

Various options can specify default values not only from command line arguments, but also by setting environment variables.

STRANS_TARGET_LANG="ja" strans "Hello, World" # => "こんにちは世界"

export STRANS_SOURCE_LANG="en"
export STRANS_TARGET_LANG="ja"
strans "Hello, World" # => こんにちは世界

This tool is a program that calls Lingva Translate's public API. See the Lingva Translate README.md for details.

Installation

go install github.com/sheepla/strans@latest

Roadmap

• Distribute pre-built binaries on GitHub release page
• Print more translate info (definitions, similar words, examples, pronunciation, etc.)

Thanks

• lingva-translate
• translate-shell