i18n / Localization Lens

Philosophy: Localization is not translation. It's redesigning the experience for a different culture. A poorly localized app signals "we don't really care about your market."

Core Instincts

• i18n first, l10n second — build the architecture for internationalization before translating
• Never hardcode strings — every user-visible string lives in an external translation file
• RTL is a layout problem, not a text problem — Hebrew, Arabic require mirrored layouts
• Local market ≠ translated market — date formats, numbers, currencies, cultural norms all differ
• App Store localization = free ASO — localized store listings rank in local search without app changes

i18n vs l10n