Localization Content Overview

Build Information

Current documentation based on build version: 676042 Last updated: 2025-06-21

System Purpose

The Localization Content system encompasses all modules responsible for managing text localization, content presentation, and multi-language support in Don't Starve Together. This comprehensive category combines content management, string handling, and translation infrastructure to enable global accessibility and rich content experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage comprehensive game content including cosmetic catalogs and procedural generation
• Provide complete string localization infrastructure with multi-language support
• Handle translation workflows with POT file generation and PO file processing
• Support theatrical performance systems with full script management
• Enable content discovery and documentation through scrapbook systems
• Coordinate between content presentation and localization requirements

System Scope

This category includes content management, string localization, translation infrastructure, and text presentation systems but excludes core gameplay mechanics (handled by Game Mechanics) and character-specific functionality (handled by Character Systems).

Architecture Overview

System Components

The localization content system is organized into three major subsystems that work together to provide comprehensive content and localization support.

Data Flow

Content Definition → String Tables → Translation Processing → Localized Presentation
        ↓               ↓               ↓                    ↓
   Static Content → Global STRINGS → Language Files → User Interface
        ↓               ↓               ↓                    ↓
Procedural Generation → POT Files → Translated Strings → Multi-language Support

Integration Points

• User Interface: All text content and cosmetic item presentation
• Character Systems: Character names, quotes, and cosmetic integration
• Game Mechanics: Achievement content and progression text
• Platform Systems: Multi-platform localization and content delivery

Recent Changes

Build	Date	Component	Change Type	Description
676042	2025-06-21	Content Systems	stable	Game content and procedural generation
676042	2025-06-21	String Management	stable	Core string tables and localization tools
676042	2025-06-21	Translation Infrastructure	stable	Translation utilities and processing

Major Subsystem Categories

Content Systems

Complete content management including cosmetic catalogs, procedural generation, and theatrical performances.

Subsystem	Status	Description	Key Components
Item Catalogs	stable	1,044+ cosmetic items across 8 categories	Emojis, loading screens, character customization
Procedural Generation	stable	Dynamic text generation systems	Context-aware descriptions
Theatrical Systems	stable	Complete stage play infrastructure	Multi-act performances, character scripts
Musical Content	stable	Audio integration and musical data	Guitar tablature, note sequences
Discovery Systems	stable	Content tracking and documentation	Comprehensive prefab registry

String Management

Foundation for all text content with comprehensive localization infrastructure.

Subsystem	Status	Description	Key Components
Global Strings	stable	Central string table with all user-facing text	Character data, UI text, action descriptions
Translation Tools	stable	POT file generation and workflow management	Multi-platform support, UTF-8 compliance
Pre-localized Content	stable	Ready-to-use multi-language UI text	23 language support
Cosmetic Localization	stable	Auto-generated strings for cosmetic items	Character quotes, skin descriptions

Translation Infrastructure

Core translation processing and specialized transformation utilities.

Subsystem	Status	Description	Key Components
Core Translation	stable	PO file processing and string translation	Multi-language support, escape handling
Transformation Utilities	stable	Game mechanics with localization integration	Progressive effects, announcements

Common Integration Patterns

Content and Localization Integration

-- Access localized cosmetic item data
local MISC_ITEMS = require("misc_items")
local item_data = MISC_ITEMS.emoji_abigail
local item_name = STRINGS.SKIN_NAMES[item_data.skin_id] -- Localized name

-- Generate procedural content with localization
local signgenerator = require("signgenerator")
local description = signgenerator(inst, player) -- Context-aware, localized

Multi-language Content Management

-- String table access with translation support
local char_name = STRINGS.CHARACTER_NAMES.wilson
local translated_name = LanguageTranslator:GetTranslatedString("STRINGS.CHARACTER_NAMES.WILSON")

-- Generate translation files for content updates
POT_GENERATION = true
CreateStringsPOTv2("languages/strings.pot", "STRINGS", STRINGS)

Theatrical Content with Localization

-- Execute localized stage performances
local fn = require("play_commonfn")
local general_scripts = require("play_generalscripts")

-- Get character performance with localized dialogue
local script = general_scripts.WILSON1
for _, line in ipairs(script.lines) do
    local localized_line = LanguageTranslator:GetTranslatedString(line)
    actor.components.talker:Say(localized_line)
end

Content Discovery and Documentation

-- Track discoverable content with localized descriptions
local scrapbook_prefabs = require("scrapbook_prefabs")
if scrapbook_prefabs["wilson"] then
    local description = STRINGS.SCRAPBOOK_DATA.WILSON.DESCRIPTION
    player.scrapbook:RecordDiscovery("wilson", description)
end

System Dependencies

Required Core Systems

• Fundamentals: Basic entity and data structures for content
• Data Management: Content loading, caching, and persistence
• System Core: Platform detection and file system access

Dependent Systems

• User Interface: Text display and content presentation
• Character Systems: Character-specific content integration
• Game Mechanics: Achievement content and progression text
• Networking: Multiplayer content synchronization

Performance Considerations

Content System Performance

• Item catalogs use efficient lookup tables for 1,044+ items
• Procedural generation operates on-demand to minimize memory usage
• Theatrical systems batch operations for smooth performance
• Musical data provides precise timing for audio synchronization

Localization Performance

• String lookups use O(1) hash table operations
• Translation caching minimizes file system access
• POT generation tools efficiently process large string volumes
• Multi-language switching optimizes memory usage

Scaling Considerations

• Content catalogs support thousands of entries with minimal performance impact
• String tables handle comprehensive game text without degradation
• Translation systems scale linearly with language count
• Integration patterns accommodate expanding content libraries

Development Guidelines

Content Development Best Practices

• Use data-driven approaches for all content definitions
• Implement efficient lookup patterns for large catalogs
• Design procedural systems with configurable parameters
• Test content integration across multiple languages
• Validate all content references before runtime use

Localization Best Practices

• Always use global STRINGS table for user-facing text
• Generate POT files using v2 format for modern workflows
• Test UI layouts with longest available translations
• Handle UTF-8 encoding properly for international content
• Validate translation existence before display

Integration Best Practices

• Coordinate content updates with translation workflows
• Test cosmetic items across different language settings
• Verify theatrical performances with localized dialogue
• Ensure procedural content respects language settings
• Validate content discovery with translated descriptions

Common Integration Challenges

Content-Localization Coordination

• Synchronizing content updates with translation cycles
• Managing cosmetic item descriptions across languages
• Coordinating theatrical content with dialogue translations
• Ensuring procedural generation respects language settings

Performance Optimization

• Balancing content richness with memory efficiency
• Optimizing translation lookups in performance-critical paths
• Managing large content catalogs without impacting load times
• Coordinating multi-language content loading

Quality Assurance

• Validating content accuracy across all supported languages
• Testing complex content interactions with translation systems
• Ensuring consistent presentation across different languages
• Verifying content accessibility in all supported regions

Quality Assurance Standards

Content Integrity

• All content references must exist in game systems
• Cosmetic items must have corresponding localization entries
• Theatrical scripts must reference valid string paths
• Procedural content must generate appropriate outputs

Localization Quality

• All user-facing text must use centralized string systems
• Translation files must generate without errors
• Multi-language support must be validated across platforms
• Character encoding must be verified for all languages

Integration Standards

• Content and localization updates must be synchronized
• Performance impact must be monitored during content expansion
• Cross-system dependencies must be clearly documented
• Error handling must support graceful degradation

Troubleshooting Guide

Content Issues

Issue	Symptoms	Solution
Missing content entries	Items not appearing	Check content catalog registration
Procedural generation failures	Empty or invalid output	Validate input parameters
Theatrical script errors	Performance interruptions	Verify character and string references
Discovery system problems	Missing scrapbook entries	Check prefab registry

Localization Issues

Issue	Symptoms	Solution
Missing translations	English text in localized game	Verify PO file loading and string paths
Content not localized	Mixed language display	Check content-string integration
Performance degradation	Slow text updates	Optimize translation lookup patterns
Platform compatibility	Different behavior across platforms	Validate platform-specific configurations

Maintenance Procedures

Regular Content Maintenance

• Update item catalogs with new cosmetic content
• Validate procedural generation quality and variety
• Test theatrical performance sequences for completeness
• Verify musical data accuracy and timing
• Clean up deprecated content references

Localization Maintenance

• Regenerate POT files when string content changes
• Update translation files with new content additions
• Validate multi-language functionality across platforms
• Test translation integration with new content types
• Monitor performance impact of localization changes

Integration Maintenance

• Verify content-localization synchronization
• Test cross-system dependencies
• Update integration documentation
• Monitor system performance under load
• Validate error handling and recovery

Future Development

Content System Evolution

• Expand cosmetic item categories and types
• Enhance procedural generation algorithms
• Develop new theatrical content and performance types
• Integrate additional musical and audio content
• Extend discovery and documentation systems

Localization Enhancement

• Add support for new languages and regions
• Improve translation workflow efficiency
• Enhance real-time language switching capabilities
• Optimize performance for large-scale content
• Expand platform-specific localization features

Integration Improvements

• Streamline content-localization workflows
• Enhance cross-system performance optimization
• Improve error handling and recovery mechanisms
• Expand mod compatibility and support
• Enable community content and translation contributions

Related Documentation

Core System Integration

• Character Systems: Character-specific content and localization
• User Interface: Content presentation and text display
• Game Mechanics: Achievement and progression content
• Data Management: Content storage and caching

Development Resources

• Development Tools: Content testing and validation tools
• System Core: Platform and infrastructure support
• Fundamentals: Core systems and data structures

Contributing Guidelines

Content Contributions

1. Follow established data structures and patterns
2. Ensure all content has appropriate localization entries
3. Test content across multiple languages and platforms
4. Document content integration requirements
5. Validate performance impact of new content

Localization Contributions

1. Use standardized string table organization
2. Generate POT files using approved tools and formats
3. Test translations across all supported platforms
4. Validate character encoding and display
5. Coordinate with content development cycles

Integration Review Checklist

• Content follows established data patterns
• All text content uses centralized string systems
• Multi-language support is properly implemented
• Performance impact is acceptable across platforms
• Integration documentation is complete and accurate
• Error handling supports graceful degradation
• Cross-system dependencies are properly managed