---
name: vscode-ext-localization
description: 'Guidelines for proper localization of VS Code extensions, following VS Code extension development guidelines, libraries and good practices'
---
# VS Code extension localization
This skill helps you localize every aspect of VS Code extensions
## When to use this skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- Localize new or existing contributed configurations (settings), commands, menus, views or walkthroughs
- Localize new or existing messages or other string resources contained in extension source code that are displayed to the end user
# Instructions
VS Code localization is composed by three different approaches, depending on the resource that is being localized. When a new localizable resource is created or updated, the corresponding localization for all currently available languages must be created/updated.
1. Configurations like Settings, Commands, Menus, Views, ViewsWelcome, Walkthrough Titles and Descriptions, defined in `package.json`
-> An exclusive `package.nls.LANGID.json` file, like `package.nls.pt-br.json` of Brazilian Portuguese (`pt-br`) localization
2. Walkthrough content (defined in its own `Markdown` files)
-> An exclusive `Markdown` file like `walkthrough/someStep.pt-br.md` for Brazilian Portuguese localization
3. Messages and string located in extension source code (JavaScript or TypeScript files)
-> An exclusive `bundle.l10n.pt-br.json` for Brazilian Portuguese localization
