generaledx

Modify the interface language

Open edX uses Transifex, an open source translation platform, to power the translation of edX software into different languages. All translations are hosted at Transifex.com, which provides a web application allowing translators to write, submit, and manage their translations.

In order to change the language, follow the steps below:

  • Sign up and join the edX platform Transifex project as a translator. See the Transifex documentation for help with Transifex.

  • Log in to the server console.

  • Install the GCC compiler.

    • On Debian/Ubuntu, run the commands below:

        $ sudo apt-get update
  $ sudo apt-get install gcc g++

    • On RHEL/CentOS, run the commands below:

        $ sudo yum group install "Development Tools"

  • Install Python dependencies:

      $ pip install transifex-client

  • Create the ~/.transifexrc file and set your credentials as follows:

      [https://www.transifex.com]
  hostname = https://www.transifex.com
  username = USER
  password = PASS
  token =

    NOTE: Remember to replace the USER and PASS placeholders in the previous example with your Transifex credentials.

  • Make sure that all languages you wish to download are present and uncommented in the /opt/bitnami/apps/edx/edx-platform/conf/locale/config.yaml.

  • Set the value of the LANGUAGE_CODE variable to the language you desire (for example, set it to “es_es” to translate it to Spanish) in the configuration files:

    • /opt/bitnami/apps/edx/conf/cms.yml
    • /opt/bitnami/apps/edx/conf/lms.yml
    • /opt/bitnami/apps/edx/edx-platform/lms/envs/common.py

  • Download the translations by running the commands below:

      $ cd /opt/bitnami/apps/edx/edx-platform
  $ sudo /opt/bitnami/apps/edx/bin/paver.edxapp i18n_robot_pull

  • Download the translation for the Forum by running the commands below:

      $ cd /opt/bitnami/apps/forum/cs_comments_service
  $ bundle install --with test
  $ bundle exec bin/rake i18n:pull

  • Restart the Apache server to load the changes.

You can find more information at the Open edX Internationalization and localization wiki page.

Last modification March 24, 2021