adjusting widget text for non-English language sites

[NicoledeGreef]

We are building 2 French language sites that, for the most part, have French text throughout. There are some exceptions noted by the business area that it's believed are part of the core SMK (cannot be controlled by map configuration).

[NicoledeGreef]

A more thorough list of things that could be adjusted to French language text is attached. Looking to discuss options for implementation.

french_widget_asks.docx

[qqnluaq]

One way to handle this would be to external-ize all user-facing text in SMK via configuration. Keep the existing text as the default, but provide a way to override any text in the configuration blob.

I'd estimate 3 days for this work

[NicoledeGreef]

given that there is not a super high demand for multi-language sites in our region, i do not want to commit that amount of effort to externalizing all user-facing text. i am wondering if we could fork the SMK (smk-fr) and adjust the text in that and have the index.html reference the deployed 'smk-fr'. thoughts on benefits/drawbacks/alternatives?

Pros of deploying and using an 'smk-fr':

• allows us to achieve what client would ideally like to see in relatively short order
• lower cost to implement

Cons of deploying and using an 'smk-fr':

• divergent code base; site would not be able to take advantage of latest, greatest features without some effort (e.g. merging smk-fr changes into latest code base each time an upgrade is desired); not sure upgrades would be a requirement but it's a consideration for sure
• not a step toward "internationalization" of product but this was not an initial goal

[qqnluaq]

Another alternative is to externalize the text in SMK only for the tools that are used by the francophone app, which are:
"type": "toolbar",
"type": "list-menu",
"type": "shortcut-menu",
"type": "pan",
"type": "zoom",
"type": "about",
"type": "layers",
"type": "baseMaps",
"type": "identify",
"type": "search",
"type": "bespoke",
"type": "query",

This is about the same amount work of forking smk and making a fr localized version.
Estimate 2 days