Localization is often seen as either expensive due to SaaS solutions or complex and painful to maintain when done in-house. This creates a barrier for developers and businesses who need to translate their UI strings efficiently and cost-effectively.
Pain Points
- High cost of using SaaS tools for localization
- Complexity and maintenance issues with in-house localization
- Privacy concerns with third-party servers handling sensitive content
- Lack of affordable and efficient localization solutions
I always assumed localization had to be either expensive SaaS or painful to maintain. So I built something in between. **What it is** Transloom is an open-source plugin for translating UI strings. It connects directly to your own LLM API key - no middleman servers, no subscription fees. You own the entire pipeline. Repo: \[[GitHub link](https://github.com/mnewlive/transloom)\] **The tradeoff** Setup is manual right now - you install via manifest and paste in your API key. That's by design. It means your content never touches a third-party server. 100% private. If you're a developer, this takes maybe 5 minutes. If you're not, it might feel like friction. **What surprised me** The cost per translation run is almost embarrassingly low compared to any flat-rate SaaS tool I've tried. I show the exact numbers in the video. **Looking for contributors** The core works well but there's a lot of room to improve - smoother setup, more provider support, better DX. If this scratches an itch for you, contributions are very welcome. What's your current approach to localization in side projects - paying for a tool, DIY, or just avoiding it altogether?
Transloom is an open-source plugin for translating UI strings. It connects directly to your own LLM API key, ensuring no middleman servers and no subscription fees. You own the entire pipeline, making it a private and cost-effective solution.