Checkmk was born in Munich, Germany, and has embraced cultural and linguistic diversity from the very beginning. We currently offer official support for German and English versions of Checkmk and its documentation, but we are open to expanding into more languages.
We’ve recently reached an exciting milestone: you can now help us translate not only the Checkmk user interface but also the documentation — with the assistance of a Large Language Model (LLM) to make the process more efficient.
What Can I Help Translate?
Checkmk User Interface
You can help translate the graphical user interface of Checkmk!
The user interface consists of many shorter strings, making it challenging for LLMs to capture context accurately. Our German translation team continuously works on labeling these strings to provide more context. While LLMs can assist with translations, human review remains essential to ensure accuracy and clarity.
You can contribute by translating strings for either the latest stable version or the version in development — the translations will automatically sync across both versions.
Checkmk Documentation
For the first time, you can help us translate Checkmk documentation into your language!
With the support of a LLM, we can translate the bulk of the text efficiently. However, we still need your help to manually translate key terms (the dictionary), proofread the output, and flag any issues. This is especially important for non-European languages, where grammar and structure may differ significantly from English or German.
Your contributions will help ensure accurate and high-quality documentation for all users.
Where Can I Contribute?
We use Weblate, a popular open-source translation platform, to manage Checkmk translations. You can access our instance here: translate.checkmk.com
However, your first step should be the Checkmk Forum.
If your language isn’t listed on Weblate yet, create a thread to request it. This forum is also the place to discuss translation questions and collaborate with the community.
Once a team member adds your language, you’re ready to start translating!
Translating the glossary
Translation begins with the glossary — the dictionary of key terms used throughout the project. This glossary is essential for maintaining consistency, especially when translating documentation with the help of a language model.
The glossary needs to be translated manually to ensure accurate and context-aware translations. By establishing clear definitions upfront, you help maintain quality and uniformity across the entire translation process.
Translating the UI
At translate.checkmk.com, you’ll find components specifically related to the User Interface (UI) available for translation.
Because these interface strings are often short and lack context, even if they are translated automatically, careful manual review is essential to ensure accuracy and clarity.
How Do I Get Involved in Translation
If you initiate a translation request in the Checkmk Forum, you will become the main point of contact for that language. You’ll receive the necessary permissions to begin translating Checkmk.
Key points to know:
- Only translations that reach 95% completion or higher will be included in the user interface. Partially completed translations won’t be used.
- Our Community Manager, @Sara, will reach out to discuss whether you’d like to translate just the GUI or the documentation as well.
It’s perfectly fine to change your decision later — just keep us updated on the status of your translation.
We recommend teaming up with colleagues or other Checkmk users who speak your language. You can connect with potential collaborators in the Forum.
Whom to Contact
As always, if you have any questions, you can contact @Sara in the Forum or at community@checkmk.com