{"id":1797,"date":"2025-11-20T18:46:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T18:46:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/l10n\/?p=1797"},"modified":"2026-02-27T06:03:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T06:03:27","slug":"localizer-spotlight-robb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/l10n\/2025\/11\/20\/localizer-spotlight-robb\/","title":{"rendered":"Localizer Spotlight: Robb"},"content":{"rendered":"

About You<\/strong><\/p>\n

My profile in Pontoon is robbp<\/a>, but I go by Robb. I\u2019m based in Romania and have been contributing to Mozilla localization since 2018 \u2014 first between 2018 and 2020, and now again after a break. I work mainly on Firefox (desktop and mobile), Thunderbird, AMO, and SUMO. When I\u2019m not volunteering for open-source projects, I work as a professional translator in Romanian, English, and Italian.<\/p>\n

Getting Started<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: <\/em><\/strong>How did you first get interested in localization? Do you remember how you got involved in Mozilla localization?<\/em><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> I\u2019ve used Thunderbird for many years, and I never changed the welcome screen. I\u2019d always see that invitation to contribute somehow.<\/p>\n

Back in 2018, I was using freeware only \u2014 including Thunderbird \u2014 and I started feeling guilty that I wasn\u2019t giving back. I tried donating, but online payments seemed shady back then, and I thought a small, one-time donation wouldn\u2019t make a difference.<\/p>\n

Around the same time, my mother kept asking questions like, \u201cWhat is this trying to do on my phone? I think they\u2019re asking me something, but it\u2019s in English!\u201d My generation learned English from TV, Cartoon Network, and software, but when the internet reached the older generation, I realized how big of a problem language barriers could be. I wasn\u2019t even aware that there was such a big wave of localizing everything seen on the internet. I was used to having it all in English (operating system, browser, e-mail client, etc.).<\/p>\n

After translating for my mom for a year, I thought, why not volunteer to localize, too?<\/i> Mozilla products were the first choice \u2014 Thunderbird was \u201cin my face\u201d all day, all night, telling me to go and localize. I literally just clicked the button on Thunderbird\u2019s welcome page \u2014 that\u2019s where it all started.<\/p>\n

I had also tried contributing to other open-source projects, but Mozilla\u2019s Pontoon just felt more natural to me. The interface is very close to the CAT tools I am used to.<\/p>\n

Your Localization Journey<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q:<\/strong> What do you do professionally? How does that experience influence your Mozilla work and motivate you to contribute to open-source localization?<\/em><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> I\u2019ve been a professional translator since 2012. I work in English, Romanian, and Italian \u2014 so yes, I type all the time.<\/p>\n

In Pontoon, I treat the work as any professional project. I check for quality, consistency, and tone \u2014 just like I would for a client.<\/p>\n

I was never a writer. I love translating. That\u2019s why I became a translator (professionally). And here\u2026 I actually got more feedback here than in my professional translation projects. I think that\u2019s why I stayed for so long, that\u2019s why I came back.<\/p>\n

It is a change of scenery when I don\u2019t localize professionally, a long way from the texts I usually deal with. This is where I unwind, where I translate for the joy of translation, where I find my translator freedom.<\/p>\n

Q:<\/strong> At what moment did you realize that your work really mattered?<\/em><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> When my mom stopped asking me what buttons to click! Now she just uses her phone in Romanian. I can\u2019t help but smile when I see that. It makes me think I\u2019m a tiny little part of that confidence she has now.<\/p>\n

Community & Collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q:<\/strong> Since your return, Romanian coverage has risen from below 70% to above 90%. You translate, review suggestions, and comment on other contributors\u2019 work. What helps you stay consistent and motivated?<\/em><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> I set small goals \u2014 I like seeing the completion percentage climb. I celebrate every time I hit a milestone, even if it\u2019s just with a cup of coffee.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t realize it was such a big deal until the localization team pointed it out. It\u2019s hard to see the bigger picture when you work in isolation. But it\u2019s the same motivation that got me started and brought me back \u2014 you just need to find what makes you hum.<\/p>\n

Q:<\/strong> Do you conduct product testing after you localize the strings or do you test them by being an active user?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> I\u2019m an active user of both Firefox and Thunderbird \u2014 I use them daily and quite intensely. I also have Firefox Nightly installed in Romanian, and I like to explore it to see what\u2019s changed and where. But I\u2019ll admit, I\u2019m not as thorough as I should be! Our locale manager gives me a heads-up about things to check which helps me stay on top of updates. I need to admit that the testing part is done by the team manager. He is actively monitoring everything that goes on in Pontoon and checks how strings in Pontoon land in the products and to the end users.<\/p>\n

Q:<\/strong> How do you collaborate with other contributors and support new ones?<\/em><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> I\u2019m more of an independent worker, but in Pontoon, I wanted to use the work that was already done by the \u201cveterans\u201d and see how I could fit in. We had email conversations over terms, their collaboration, their contributions, personal likes and dislikes etc. I think they actually did me a favor with the email conversations, given I am not active on any channels or social media and email was my only way of talking to them.<\/p>\n

This year I started leaving comments in Pontoon \u2014 it\u2019s such an easy way to communicate directly on specific strings. Given I was limited to emails until now, I think comments will help me reach out to other members of the team and start collaborating with them, too.<\/p>\n

I keep in touch with the Romanian managers by email or Telegram. One of them helps me with technical terms, he helped get the Firefox project to 100% before the deadline. He contacts me with information on how to use options (I didn\u2019t know about) in Pontoon and ideas on wording (after he tests and reviews strings). Collaboration doesn\u2019t always mean meetings; sometimes it\u2019s quiet cooperation over time.<\/p>\n

Mentoring is a big word, but I\u2019m willing for the willing. If someone reaches out, I\u2019ll always try to help.<\/p>\n

Q:<\/strong> Have you noticed improvements in Pontoon since 2020? How does it compare to professional tools you use, and what features do you wish it had?<\/em><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> It\u2019s fast \u2014 and I love that.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no clutter \u2014 and that\u2019s a huge<\/i> plus. Some of the \u201cmuch-tooted\u201d professional tools are overloaded with features and menus that slow you down instead of helping. Pontoon keeps things simple and focused.<\/p>\n

I also appreciate being able to see translations in other languages. I often check the French and Italian versions, just to compare terms.<\/p>\n

The comments section is another great feature \u2014 it makes collaboration quick and to the point, perfect for discussing terms or string-specific questions. Machine translation has also improved a lot across the board, and Pontoon is keeping pace.<\/p>\n

As for things that could be better \u2014 I\u2019d love to try the pre-translation feature, but I\u2019ve noticed that some imported strings confirm the wrong suggestion out of several options. That\u2019s when a good translation-memory cleanup becomes necessary. It would be helpful if experienced contributors could trim the TM, removing obsolete or outdated terms so new contributors won\u2019t accidentally use them.<\/p>\n

Pontoon sometimes lags when I move too quickly through strings \u2014 like when approving matches or applying term changes across projects. And, unlike professional CAT tools, it doesn\u2019t automatically detect repeated strings or propagate translations for identical text. That\u2019s a small but noticeable gap compared to professional tools.<\/p>\n

Personal Reflections<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q:<\/strong> Professional translators often don\u2019t engage in open-source projects because their work is paid elsewhere. What could attract more translators \u2014 especially women \u2014 to contribute?<\/em><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> It\u2019s tricky. Translation is a profession, not a hobby, and people need to make a living.<\/p>\n

But for me, working on open-source projects is something different \u2014 a way to learn new things, use different tools, and have a different mindset. Maybe if more translators saw it as a creative outlet instead of extra work<\/i>, they\u2019d give it a try.<\/p>\n

Involvement in open source is a personal choice. First, one has to hear about it, understand it, and realize that the software they use for free is made by people \u2014 then decide they want to be part of that.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a women\u2019s thing. Many come and many go. Maybe it\u2019s just the thrill at the beginning. Some try, but maybe translation is not for them\u2026<\/p>\n

Q:<\/strong> What does contributing to Mozilla mean to you today?<\/em><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> It\u2019s my way of giving back \u2014 and of helping people like my mom, who just want to understand new technology without fear or confusion. That thought makes me smile every time I open Firefox or Thunderbird.<\/p>\n

Q:<\/strong> Any final words\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> I look forward to more blogs featuring fellow contributors and learning and being inspired from their personal stories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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