Bityi (translating code editor)

Source-code editor with transparent native-language display

Almost all programming is done in programming "languages" based on English. These are really codes, much less than languages, with a limited vocabulary. Still, it's a significant barrier for other-language programmers, especially young ones. A modern computer, even a cheap one, would have no trouble doing transparent, real-time translation into the user's natural language. For instance, on disk you'd have python "if ... else...", but on screen, you'd see (and write) "si... sino..." (spanish).

Current design thoughts...

are at Source-code editor with transparent native-language display/design.

Older discussion

has been moved to the talk page.

Name

The word "bityi" is drawn from John Wilkins's 1664 artificial language. It is the word for language number 42 (bi- discourse; t-5th of 9 subgenuses ; yi- 8th of 9 subspecies): in Douglas Adams's world of the babel fish, this would be the Final Answer Language. Obviously, such a linguistically triumphalistic name is meant ironically: Wilkins's language is best known as the butt of one of Borges's intricate jokes, and the "final answer" of 42 is no good to anyone without a question. I hope that this project will be successful, but it can only avoid the pitfalls of previous Grand Linguistic Plans if it focuses on being as useful and unobtrusive as possible and NOT on being a total solution for everything.

Status

A proof-of-concept based on IDLE is coming along decently at the git tree for idly-develop: //dev.laptop.org/git/projects/idly-develop .

• Translation works and tested
• Adding / removing multiple dictionaries (in the future, for multiple files) seems to work but is not well tested.
• File IO for dictionaries is implemented for single files, work is underway to update it to use one file per language after the first two (english and preferred)
• Using the actual IDLE (with syntax coloring) in another language works, for shell and files. Currently hardcoded to Spanish with a dictionary that includes only keywords.
• Dictionary changes with an open file are unimplemented.
• UI additions (tooltips and new menu items) are unimplemented, except for one menu item which toggles the window from English to Spanish (this breaks the syntax coloring, currently.)