IMPORTANT NOTICE - Apr-30-2009:
This .NET implementation of Okapi is no longer actively developed.
Instead, a NEW JAVA IMPLEMENTATION IS AVAILABLE and is being actively developed.

The material on this Web site is for archive propose. Some applications of the old .NET implementation (e.g. Olifant) will be maintained to some degree until they have a replacement in the Java project.

Overview

The Okapi Framework is a set of interface specifications, format definitions, components and applications that provides an environment to build interoperable tools for the different steps of the translation and localization process.

The goal of the Okapi Framework is to allow tools developers and localizers to build new localization processes or enhance existing ones to best meet their needs, while preserving a level of compatibility and interoperability. It also provides them with a way to share (and re-use) components across different solutions. The project uses and promotes open standards, where they exist. For the aspects where open standards are not defined yet, the framework offers its own. The ultimate goal is to adopt the industry standards when they are defined and useable.

In short, the Okapi Framework aims at being a crucible where we forge common components that can be used in any localization and translation application, providing faster development time and better interoperability, but still allowing for the diversity of solutions.

[Okapi is pronounced o-ka-py (hear it)]

Examples of Okapi Tools

Here are some concrete examples of Okapi-made tools:

See the Components and Applications pages for more examples.

Participation

The Okapi project is hosted on SourceForge.net, a repository of open source software. Anyone is welcome to join and offer contributions. You can do this many different ways. For example, by:

In addition, if you have the appropriate skills for some of the current work being done, you can also participate directly in the development of Okapi libraries, components, and applications, or in developing help and documentation. For more information on this topic, please contact the Okapi Framework administrator.

See also the Credits section for more information on the contributions to Okapi.

Project Architecture

The Okapi Framework is organized around the following parts:

Licensing

The material developed under the Okapi Framework project is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License agreement (GNU LGPL). This is one of the licenses approved by the Free Software Foundation.

In summary, the GNU Lesser General Public License is designed to ensure that the code, as written by the author, must always remain free. However, the library where the code is contained in may be used and linked by non-free applications.

You can read the complete text of the license on the GNU Web site, and find more information on the Wikipedia's article on LGPL.

Credits

Open source software can exist only because of the resources provided by some people and companies: