Gem for managing translations of database objects without any pain

In some translations project we used the globalize3 gem, but I wasn't really happy with it. The most annoying part is globalize3 create a table for each object you want to translate.

I've made this gem with theses rules in head:

You don't need to think about translation in your project until you begin the translation process. rails_db_localize doesn't modify your database schematic but instead just add a layer on it.

rails_db_localize add only one table to your project. All your translations are stored inside this table. This allow you to make without any pain a tool to manage a team of traductors for example.

Since everything is in the same table, one controller is enough to manage the translation process! About performance, rails_db_localize use some optimizations for fetching the rows (caching and hashing system).

Thanks to the caching system, rails_db_localize need only one query to retrieve all the translations of your current view (see below)

gem 'rails_db_localize'

You need to create a migration also, and put this inside:

  def change
    create_rails_db_localize_translations
  end

Note: the migration process is reversible

Then just declare the stuff you want to translate:

  #in your model.rb
  has_translations :name, :comment #and everything you want...

Your code is still working the same way, but your model have now theses methods:

  model.name_translated
  model.comment_translated

By default, rails_db_localize will use the I18n.locale to find the current locale. You can force to show a special locale:

  model.name_translated(:fr)

To create a new translation, you can use the setter with it:

  model.name_translated = "Name in current 'I18n.locale'"

or:

  model.name_translated = "Name in french", :fr

To avoid N+1 requests, please use the preloader on every array of models you want to use:

    @translatables = Translatable.all
    @categories = Category.all
    #Only one request per preload_translations_for call
    preload_translations_for(@translatables, @categories)

    #If you have only one set of data, you can use the model method:
    @categories.preload_translations

Each model having at least a translated field can use missing_translation and having_translation

Theses methods allow you to filters your models if they are translated or not.

You have a blog with articles in two languages but you don't translate all articles. To show articles from the current langage selected on your blog, you can use:

  def index
    @articles = Articles.having_translation(I18n.locale).all
  end

You have a team of translators:

• One can translate from english to french
• Another one can translate from french to spanish

You just have to filters the articles in your translation tool like this:

  Articles.having_translation(translator.from_language).missing_translation(translator.to_language)

Create two users with role translator with from/to_language "en/fr" and "fr/es". Et voilà!

• The gem is now compatible with postgresql

• Fix issues inside the gem.

• Add the rake task rails_db_localize:delete_orphans

This task allow you to delete the old translations which not belongs to any model and/or belongs to a field/model which isn't existing anymore.

Add methods having_translation, missing_translation and preload_translation

First commit

Apache 2. Use it, fork it, have fun!

Happy coding!