Hello everyone!
Those who know me are aware of how much I love the Japanese language and how dedicated I am to self-studying it. They also know that I can never sit still. For this reason, I developed Wakaruyo, a browser extension that is currently in the experimental phase.
This extension allows you to translate selected text on a webpage from Japanese to the language set in your browser, which is automatically detected.
Main features include:
1. Text Selection and Translation
When a user selects text on a webpage, the extension automatically detects if the text is in Japanese and initiates a translation request via API. The translation is then displayed in a floating "overcard" next to the selected text. The functionality also supports Japanese text within images.
2. Translation Caching
Translations are stored locally in the browser to reduce API calls and speed up repeated translations of the same text. The cache is managed through localStorage and has an expiration time to ensure continuous updates.
3. Retry Mechanism
If an API request fails due to network issues or other reasons, the extension will automatically retry up to three times, with a delay between each attempt.
4. Romanization Support
The extension can also convert Japanese text into Romanji (the transcription of Japanese into the Latin alphabet). Users can easily toggle between the translation and Romanji with a simple click.
5. Translation Requests with Debounce
To prevent overloading the API with too many requests, the extension uses a debounce function that only sends the translation request after the user has finished selecting the text, with a short delay.
Video preview on X.com:
🚀 I created Wakaruyo, a browser extension to automatically translate Japanese! Select text on a webpage and instantly get the translation in your browser's language. Supports romanization, cache, retry, and more! 🌐 #Tech #Japanese #BrowserExtension pic.twitter.com/tSwpKDpY53
— Matteo Santoro Dev (@matteosant_dev) January 8, 2025
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