How to internationalize a handlebars + backbone view?

Question

I would like to be able to internationalize a backbone + Handlebars application but I am not clear what the best way to do it. Are there any specific best practices for internationalizing backbone + Handlebar views?

On the server side I am using SpringMVC and have access to standard java internationalization facilities.

Answer 1

Here are some very good resources on internationalization for the client side.

http://2012.jsconf.eu/speaker/2012/08/28/client-side-internationalization.html really worth watching it provides a good explanation of the issues with internationalization and is java-script focused.

http://alexsexton.com/blog/2012/03/the-ux-of-language/ Good article about the internationalization

JavaScript libraries for internationalization:

• https://github.com/SlexAxton/messageformat.js
• http://slexaxton.github.com/Jed/

Standards:

• http://userguide.icu-project.org/formatparse/messages (very useful read)
• http://cldr.unicode.org/ (more of a reference)

Answer 2

Currently I'm working with an app with (very limited) internationalization, and I mix in an object with the model before sending it to the template in the Backbone.Marionette.Renderer.render function. If you have a similar central function which renders your templates (which I assume you have) you can do this logic there. You could for instance mix the internationalized content (language preselected in) in a namespace, for instance

data = _.extend(model, {t: translations(:dutch))

Leaves how to get the translations from the backend to the frontend, but I don't know enough of SpringMVC to give you advise on that.