Documentation40k · #5416

vscode-ext-localization

Makes your agent adapt VS Code extensions for different languages. It ensures texts and messages are translated appropriately and following best practices.

What it does

This tool helps translate your VS Code extension into other languages. It ensures all user-facing text, such as settings, commands, and messages, is correctly adapted.

When to use it

✓When creating a new extension and wanting it to be usable in multiple languages.
✓When updating an existing extension and needing to add support for new languages.
✓When fixing text that appears incorrectly in a specific language.

Example of what to ask your AI

“How can I translate my extension's messages into Brazilian Portuguese?”

Want more? Open the sections below.

How to use

The easiest way: copy the message below and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any AI. It reads the skill and follows the instructions.

Skill link

https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/blob/main/skills/vscode-ext-localization/SKILL.md

Ready-to-paste message

Use this skill to help me: https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/blob/main/skills/vscode-ext-localization/SKILL.md Read the SKILL.md file at that link and follow its instructions for my task.

View on GitHub ↗Raw file

How it works

The tool organizes translations into separate files for each language. Depending on what you're translating (settings, text in Markdown files, or code), it suggests a specific file type to store these translations.

Installation

Easiest way: copy the skill link and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor asking it to follow the instructions.

In the terminal (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor), in your project folder:

npx skills add github/awesome-copilot --skill vscode-ext-localization

Or download just the file:

curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/github/awesome-copilot/main/skills/vscode-ext-localization/SKILL.md -o SKILL.md

Technical content (original SKILL.md)

Original text by the author, straight from GitHub.

VS Code extension localization

This skill helps you localize every aspect of VS Code extensions

When to use this skill

Use this skill when you need to:

Localize new or existing contributed configurations (settings), commands, menus, views or walkthroughs
Localize new or existing messages or other string resources contained in extension source code that are displayed to the end user

Instructions

VS Code localization is composed by three different approaches, depending on the resource that is being localized. When a new localizable resource is created or updated, the corresponding localization for all currently available languages must be created/updated.

Configurations like Settings, Commands, Menus, Views, ViewsWelcome, Walkthrough Titles and Descriptions, defined in package.json -> An exclusive package.nls.LANGID.json file, like package.nls.pt-br.json of Brazilian Portuguese (pt-br) localization
Walkthrough content (defined in its own Markdown files) -> An exclusive Markdown file like walkthrough/someStep.pt-br.md for Brazilian Portuguese localization
Messages and string located in extension source code (JavaScript or TypeScript files) -> An exclusive bundle.l10n.pt-br.json for Brazilian Portuguese localization

FAQ

What are 'contributed configurations'?

These are the settings your extension adds to VS Code, like options the user can adjust in the editor's settings.

What are 'string resources'?

These are all the texts your extension shows to the user, such as error messages, buttons, or descriptions.

Do I need to translate everything at once?

Whenever you add or modify something that needs translation, remember to create or update the translations for all languages you support.

Details

Original description by the author

Guidelines for proper localization of VS Code extensions, following VS Code extension development guidelines, libraries and good practices

repo: github/awesome-copilot

Popularity

GitHub stars: 40k
Ranking position: #5416
License: MIT
Updated: 10/15/2026

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