Summary Report - Nov 3, 2011

Survey: Mozilla L10N Documenation Survey

Which Mozilla localization community do you belong to?

Count

Response

1

Afrikaans and the group of African and other languages helped by Translate.org.za

1

Argentina's

1

Catalan

1

Croatian

1

Estonian

1

Firefox

1

Frenchmozilla

1

Galician

1

German

1

German-speaking

1

Hebrew

1

Hindi

1

Italian

1

Japanese

1

Kazakh

1

Mozilla Italia

1

Poland

1

Punjabi

1

Romanian

1

Romansh

1

Scottish Gaelic (gd)

1

South African

1

Sri Lanka (si and ta-LK)

1

danish

1

el

1

es-AR

1

es-ES

1

http://groups.google.com/group/calendar-ptbr

1

ja

1

localizer

1

pl

1

sl

What is your role in the community?

Value

Count

Percent %

Community leader

16

50%

Product localizer

11

34.4%

Web content translator

4

12.5%

Other

1

3.1%


Statistics

Total Responses

32



How long have you been a community member?

Value

Count

Percent %

6 months - 1 year

1

3.1%

1 - 5 years

12

37.5%

More than 5 years

19

59.4%


Statistics

Total Responses

32

Sum

18.0

Average

1.4

StdDev

1.33

Max

6.0

Which best describes your professional or educational background and experience level?

 

No exp.

< 1 yr

1 - 5 yrs

> 5 yrs

Total

Computer programming

13.8%

4

6.9%

2

24.1%

7

55.2%

16

100%

29

Web design

22.2%

6

11.1%

3

18.5%

5

48.1%

13

100%

27

Translation

10.3%

3

3.4%

1

27.6%

8

58.6%

17

100%

29

Localization

9.7%

3

3.2%

1

29.0%

9

58.1%

18

100%

31

General IT

12.9%

4

0.0%

0

12.9%

4

74.2%

23

100%

31

Other

21.4%

3

0.0%

0

14.3%

2

64.3%

9

100%

14

If you selected "Other" above, please tell us about your professional or educational background in five words or less.

Count

Response

1

Chemist

1

Coordinator of an Office of Free Software at the University

1

Electronic Engineer

1

M.Sc in Computer Networking

1

Professor in science

1

Server administration

1

civil engineering

1

physics

1

proofreadings

1

Journalism, I was by profession a journalist for more than five and then I got a chance to move in Red Hat to lead the localization work in Hindi language. So I have a great experince of dealing with the journalism filed.

Which Mozilla projects are you currently engaged in? Check all that apply.

Value

Count

Percent %

Firefox desktop

24

75%

Firefox mobile

15

46.9%

Thunderbird

20

62.5%

Calendar

18

56.3%

SeaMonkey

10

31.3%

Fennec

12

37.5%

MDN

7

21.9%

Mozilla websites and engagement projects

22

68.8%

SUMO

13

40.6%

AMO

10

31.3%

Individual add-ons

8

25%

Songbird

1

3.1%

Other

4

12.5%


Statistics

Total Responses

32



If you selected "Other" above, please tell us which Mozilla project you are engaged in that was not listed above.

Count

Response

1

Frenchmozilla Transvision

1

bluegriffon

1

hacks.mozilla.org, Songbird etc.

1

kompozer

When you run into problems while localizing for a Mozilla project, what is the first resource you turn for help?

Value

Count

Percent %

The l10n newsgroups

4

12.9%

A fellow contributor from your community

7

22.6%

The l10n drivers (or Pike)

8

25.8%

IRC channels

7

22.6%

L10n wiki documentation

1

3.2%

I work it out myself

3

9.7%

Other

1

3.2%


Statistics

Total Responses

31



If you selected "Other" above, please tell us about where you turn to for help with l10n.

Count

Response

1

A single choice is inappropriate here. "work it out myself", "irc", and "mailing list"

What normally prompts you to visit the l10n documentation?

Value

Count

Percent %

Learn about the l10n process and workflow

2

6.5%

Keep up-to-date with Mozilla l10n

10

32.3%

Troubleshoot problems

9

29%

Find step-by-step instructions on how to use a l10n tool

4

12.9%

Other

6

19.4%


Statistics

Total Responses

31



If you selected "Other" above, please tell us about why you use the l10n documentation.

Count

Response

1

I don't look at the documentation

1

I don't read l10n documentation since starting my work

1

I don't visit

1

I use it so rarely and I find it more confusing then helpful

1

None

1

no more need to visit l10n documentation, instead I'm writting documents for ja contributers

Do you have any wiki pages bookmarked or listed on your awesome bar?

Value

Count

Percent %

Yes

13

41.9%

No

18

58.1%


Statistics

Total Responses

31



If so, please list the pages that you have bookmarked or that appear in your awesome bar with links.

Count

Response

1

dashboard, mozilla wiki, team page, tinderbox etc

1

dashboard, sumo

1

http://developer.mozilla.org/En/L10n_on_Mercurial

1

https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n:Teams

1

many of them

1

weekly updates, testplans

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Mercurial_FAQ https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Mercurial https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Mercurial_basics https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Compare-locales

1

https://wiki.mozilla.org/Releases http://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n:MozillaTranslator https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n:Localizing_Overview https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Localization_notes https://developer.mozilla.org/en/XUL_Accesskey_FAQ_and_Policies

1

https://l10n-stage-sj.mozilla.org/dashboard/, http://hg.mozilla.org/l10n-central/kk/, https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Uplifting_a_Localization_from_central_to_aurora

1

https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n http://developer.mozilla.org/en/L10n_on_Mercurial and many other pages (tens of bookmarks).

1

http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/What_every_Mozilla_translator_should_know, https://developer.mozilla.org/en/L10n_on_Mercurial

How do you most often use the l10n documentation?

Value

Count

Percent %

As a reference for certain tasks only.

21

67.7%

As a teaching tool for new community members.

2

6.5%

Other

8

25.8%


Statistics

Total Responses

31



If you selected "Other" above, please describe how you tend to use the l10n documentation.

Count

Response

1

I currently don't use it

1

I don't use it

1

I write by myself for ja contributers. No need to read english one these days.

1

Never use Mozilla l10n documentation

1

Not using it

1

i dont

1

neither

1

Use my notes. I'm new and I do very few things. Basically keep up to date translations of all the projects you have open the Galician team. I have to organize the team, because now I'm doing almost everything by myself.

Which pages in the l10n documentation do you refer to the most?

Value

Count

Percent %

Those pertaining to builds and repositories.

15

65.2%

Those pertaining to tools.

8

34.8%

Those pertaining to starting a new localization.

3

13%

Those pertaining to joining an existing localization.

2

8.7%

The l10n community dashboards.

8

34.8%


Statistics

Total Responses

23



How often do you refer people to the l10n documentation?

Value

Count

Percent %

Weekly

2

6.7%

Monthly

6

20%

Hardly ever

22

73.3%


Statistics

Total Responses

30



Which l10n pages do you refer people to the most? Please provide links.

Count

Response

1

How to start new localizations

1

None

1

https://dev.mozilla.jp/l10n/

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Create_a_new_localization

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/L10n_on_Mercurial and related links

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Uplifting_a_Localization_from_central_to_aurora

1

https://l10n-stage-sj.mozilla.org/dashboard/

1

https://l10n-stage-sj.mozilla.org/dashboard/?locale=es-AR

1

https://l10n-stage-sj.mozilla.org/shipping/dashboard?locale=da

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Mercurial_FAQ https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Mercurial https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Mercurial_basics https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Compare-locales

Why would you not refer someone to the Mozilla l10n documentation?

Count

Response

1

Because some pages are too technical for beginers

1

Because they nornally know what to do

1

I always would.

1

Most pages aren't up to date.

1

No particular reason, simply I never needed to do it

1

Not easy to understand for beginers to mozilla l10n.

1

The only guy helping me knows l10n way more than me

1

To complicte structure

1

when the process is too complicated

1

I actually create my own ones for newcomers, directly translated in Catalan and more focused on the process we are folloing.

1

I wouldn't refer someone 'green' to an specific documentation page that contains advanced technical stuff that might confuse that person even more

1

All our contributor have worked on Mozilla for a long time, when they need something specific they usually take the quick route (ask me)

1

It is so massively confusing, that I really don't know where to send people. The tools page are more confusing then helpful. And it means new localisers needing to face the myriad of Mozilla speak: mercurial, checkout, repo, release, branch, driver, etc. Absolutely nothing of which has anything to do with localisation

1

To non-technical people (e.g. translators) it's so obscure it might as well be written in Sumerian Cuneiform

1

Are difficult to follow for people who have no technical skills. Should be clearer. More step by step explanations to the footer.

Which Mozilla l10n wiki do you most frequently refer to?

Value

Count

Percent %

MDN

12

66.7%

WikiMo

6

33.3%


Statistics

Total Responses

18



Why do you most frequently refer to that wiki?

Count

Response

1

Because there are the info I usually need

1

Fixing/understanding issues

1

I always use MDN. I alway refer people to MDN.

1

I'm looking for understanding functions proseses

1

It contains info which is good enough to move with l10n process

1

Just ticked one, I'm not aware of the difference

1

More up to date?

1

The content is more up to date

1

To show them that there ae too few people in Kazakh l10n community of Mozilla

1

i don't prefer one over the other, but i think most often the stuff i need is on that wiki

1

montly

Have you encountered incomplete or obsolete information on any of the l10n documentation wiki pages?

Value

Count

Percent %

Yes

11

47.8%

No

12

52.2%


Statistics

Total Responses

23



If so, please list those pages using links.

Count

Response

1

Don't remember

1

I don't keep a list

1

I'm afraid it is often too long ago.

1

It was not very recently, can't remember

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/En/Developer_Guide/Source_Code/Mercurial

1

It starts here: https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n («information on upcoming Firefox 3.1 release», «Firefox 3 Web Services Review»,...)and affects almost all pages

1

i don't remember, but you could search wikimo for sethb, and I think you will see a lot of obsolete stuff

Have you been able to find all localization-related material that you've searched for in the wikis?

Value

Count

Percent %

Yes

13

59.1%

No

9

40.9%


Statistics

Total Responses

22



If not, which topics were you searching for?

Count

Response

1

lately: how to incorporate a new localization of SeaMonkey into the repository

1

In general: the current way of doing something, instead of the 3 obsolete ways of doing it, all still marked as draft.

1

For example, information on how to create en-US from central or aurora so that it looks like the other locales

If there were three topics you most wished the l10n documentation wikis covered and currently do not, what would they be?

Count

Response

1

-

1

A comprehensive index of L10n documentation

1

Don't know

1

I like more information "for dummies". Not every l10n volunteer has technical background.

1

None really. Things should be simplified so that minimal documentation is needed.

1

There is none.

1

creating langupack for fennec and testing with it on an android device

1

1) Maybe general FAQ if it does not exist for most common issues (like forgetting to checkout over ssh)

1

Pootle (although they might be covered), Priorities for localistion, What is required to get anything in or past a milestone stage - this is so vague at the moment a wiki page might make this more concrete and clear

If there were three topics you most wished the l10n documentation wikis covered in more detail, which would they be?

Count

Response

1

L10n on Mercurial, L10n Checks (https://developer.mozilla.org/en/L10n_Checks)

1

No idea

1

Where to get files, where to send files and where each string belongs in the actual app

1

hg branches

1

how to create language pack (current how-to is too complex for beginners)

1

I don't want more detail as such, what the documentation needs is keeping up to date and rewriting so normal people can understand it

1

I don't think coverage is bad really, it can be a little tedious to find the right page at times though

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Create_a_new_localization, https://developer.mozilla.org/en/L10n_on_Mercurial

1

1. better release schedule page, 2. how to join existing l10n teams, 3. getting started pages for fresh locale leaders

1

Please delete the pages that ask people to use text editors to localise, nobody should suffer that punishement :). One page to tell me where all the important resources are, I only find some things because I bookmarked them in the past. Using Pootle for localisation

1

One place of refernence for everything: product, websites, buttons, campaigns, ad-hoc stuff, google snippets, etc.

Which resource(s) to you turn to first to find accurate and up-to-date information on Mozilla l10n projects?

Value

Count

Percent %

MDN L10n Wiki Pages

4

30.8%

L10n Dashboards

9

69.2%


Statistics

Total Responses

13



How often do you use the l10n documentation found on https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Localization?

Value

Count

Percent %

Weekly

2

8%

Monthly

5

20%

Hardly ever

18

72%


Statistics

Total Responses

25



What do you feel is most helpful about the l10n documentation on the MDN?

Count

Response

1

In.depth

1

It is more updated and structured than WikiMo

1

Starting with mercurial

1

Tagged with "Localization"

1

Technical details

1

The fact this it exists at all.

1

The new localization info.

1

XUL Planet was clearer

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Create_a_new_localization#Configuring_Mercurial

1

some basic things answered well

What do you feel is least helpful about the l10n documentation on the MDN?

Count

Response

1

Lack of some technical details

1

No idea

1

Not always current

1

The number of articles

1

XUL Planet was clearer

1

faq

1

MDN should be a web developer wiki, not a localizer's wiki. All of this should be moved to WikiMo.

1

Since I don't use this a lot, but based on the types of errors I see in localisable strings I feel that we are clearly missing communication with programmers to produce better localisation. The famously split strings just aren't worth debating anymore. When programmers do that I realise that their localisation understanding is very poor.

1

I'm not sure if MDN is the right place for documentation for localisers. Level of technical expertise expected to be able to read things and do it. Doesn't lead people to Pootle which is one of the ways of localising Firefox.

Which l10n pages do you feel are the best pages in the MDN wiki? Please provide links.

Count

Response

1

I don't know

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Create_a_new_localization

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Creating_en-X-dude

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/L10n_on_Mercurial

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Localization_and_Plurals

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/L10n_on_Mercurial, https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Mercurial_FAQ

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Introduction#Find_a_bug_we%27ve_identified_as_being_good_for_newcomers

Why do you feel that these are the best pages? Select all that apply.

Value

Count

Percent %

They contain the most accurate and pertinent information.

6

85.7%

The format is easy to navigate and scan.

2

28.6%

The language is understandable and not filled with too much technical jargon.

3

42.9%

The tone is enjoyable and makes the topics easy to read.

1

14.3%

They best apply to me and the l10n work that I contribute.

3

42.9%


Statistics

Total Responses

7



Which l10n pages do you feel are the worst pages in the MDN wiki? Please provide links.

Count

Response

1

-

1

Don't know

1

I don't know

1

No idea

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/Special:Tags?tag=Localisation

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Compare-locales

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/L10n_Checks

Why do you feel that these pages are the worst pages? Select all that apply.

Value

Count

Percent %

The information is outdated and inaccurate.

1

33.3%

It's too difficult to navigate or scan through to find pertinent information.

1

33.3%

The language is filled with technical jargon that I can't follow.

1

33.3%


Statistics

Total Responses

3



How do you feel about the tone, or voice, of the MDN l10n wiki?

Value

Count

Percent %

It makes reading the documentation enjoyable!

2

16.7%

It's dry and lacks character.

2

16.7%

It's relatable and makes technical topics easy to understand.

8

66.7%

It's too technical and difficult to understand.

2

16.7%


Statistics

Total Responses

12



On a scale from one to five, what is your overall opinion of the l10n MDN documentation?

Value

Count

Percent %

2

2

11.8%

3

9

52.9%

4

5

29.4%

5 (Amazing!)

1

5.9%


Statistics

Total Responses

17

Sum

56.0

Average

3.3

StdDev

0.75

Max

5.0



How often do you use the l10n documentation found on https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n:Home_Page?

Value

Count

Percent %

Monthly

5

23.8%

Hardly ever

16

76.2%


Statistics

Total Responses

21



What do you feel is most helpful about the l10n documentation on WikiMo?

Count

Response

1

-

1

Information on de-betaing localization

1

No clue

1

Schedules

1

https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n:Localization_Process

What do you feel is least helpful about the l10n documentation on WikiMo?

Count

Response

1

-

1

Outdated thingsm like "Firefox 3 requirements"

1

Sometimes outdated information

1

There are a lot of historical and out-of date results when you're searching for a page

1

https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox3/L10n_Requirements

Which l10n pages do you feel are the best pages in WikiMo? Please provide links.

Count

Response

1

-

1

Not sure

1

https://developer.mozilla.org/En/L10n_on_Mercurial

2

https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n:Localization_Process

Why do you feel that these are the best pages? Select all that apply.

Value

Count

Percent %

They contain the most accurate and pertinent information.

2

66.7%

The format is easy to navigate and scan.

2

66.7%

The language is understandable and not filled with too much technical jargon.

1

33.3%


Statistics

Total Responses

3



Which l10n pages do you feel are the worst pages in WikiMo? Please provide links.

Count

Response

1

-

1

https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox3/L10n_Requirements

1

https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n:Home_Page

1

https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n:Localizing_Overview

1

Not sure, I haven't really used it much recently, the very basics of l10n are something I don't forget any longer

Why do you feel that these pages are the worst pages? Select all that apply.

Value

Count

Percent %

The information is outdated and inaccurate.

3

100%

It's too difficult to navigate or scan through to find pertinent information.

1

33.3%

The tone is too dry, boring, and hard to read.

1

33.3%


Statistics

Total Responses

3



How do you feel about the tone, or voice, of the l10n WikiMo documentation?

Value

Count

Percent %

It's dry and lacks character.

1

16.7%

It's relatable and makes technical topics easy to understand.

5

83.3%


Statistics

Total Responses

6



On a scale from one to five, what is your overall opinion of the l10n WikiMo documentation?

Value

Count

Percent %

2

2

14.3%

3

9

64.3%

4

3

21.4%


Statistics

Total Responses

14

Sum

43.0

Average

3.1

StdDev

0.59

Max

4.0



How often do you use the l10n dashboards found on https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n/Community?

Value

Count

Percent %

Weekly

5

41.7%

Monthly

1

8.3%

Hardly ever

6

50%


Statistics

Total Responses

12



What do you feel is most helpful about the l10n dashboards?

Count

Response

1

-

1

Comparison and statistics

1

L10n team info

1

Provide current status of L10n

1

You get up-to-date information on current status

1

the status

1

translation status info

What do you feel is least helpful about the l10n dashboards?

Count

Response

1

-

1

Probably too technical for newcomers

1

dl4.0

1

https://l10n-stage-sj.mozilla.org/dashboard/?locale=et takes long time to load

1

other languages (g)

How do you most often use the l10n dashboards?

Value

Count

Percent %

As a reference for certain tasks only.

5

83.3%

As a teaching tool for new community members.

1

16.7%


Statistics

Total Responses

6



If you selected "Other" above, please describe how you tend to use the l10n dashboards.

Count

Response

1

I dont use it

Why do you visit the l10n dashboard pages? Select all that apply.

Value

Count

Percent %

They contain the most accurate and pertinent information.

6

100%

The format is easy to navigate and scan.

2

33.3%

The tone is enjoyable and makes the topics easy to read.

3

50%

They best apply to me and the l10n work that I contribute.

5

83.3%


Statistics

Total Responses

6



If you do not use the l10n dashboards, why not? Select all that apply.

Value

Count

Percent %

They don't apply to me or the l10n work that I contribute.

4

100%


Statistics

Total Responses

4



On a scale from one to five, what is your overall opinion of the l10n dashboards?

Value

Count

Percent %

2

2

20%

3

4

40%

4

4

40%


Statistics

Total Responses

10

Sum

32.0

Average

3.2

StdDev

0.75

Max

4.0