portfolio/docs/LOCALE_IMPROVEMENTS_SUMMARY.md

Locale System Improvements - Summary

Problem Statement (Original)

The locale stuff is not really working please fix this and bring more structure to it i think there are to many field it dont know how exists. Then i have the question on how i can design stuff then when i use directus as a cms. because some words i maybe want to be writting thicker or so.

Issues Identified

1. Confusing translation system - Mix of Directus API + JSON fallbacks with unclear flow
2. Too many fields - Translation loaders had many keys that don't actually exist or aren't used
3. Type mismatches - TypeScript interfaces didn't match actual component usage
4. Missing documentation - No clear guide on how the locale system works
5. No rich text support guidance - No documentation on how to style text (bold, italic, etc.) in Directus

Changes Made

1. Fixed Translation Types (types/translations.ts)

Before: Types had many unused fields and wrong structure

• AboutTranslations had fake interests structure that was never used
• HeroTranslations had fields like greeting, name, role that don't exist
• FooterTranslations had nested links structure and wrong keys
• ContactTranslations was missing many form validation error keys

After: All types now match actual component usage

• Removed all unused/fake fields
• Added all missing fields that components actually use
• Flattened overly-nested structures
• Types now provide accurate autocomplete and type checking

2. Fixed Translation Loaders (lib/translations-loader.ts)

Before:

• Loaders tried to fetch non-existent keys
• Had confusing comments like "Diese Keys sind NICHT korrekt"
• Mapped keys to wrong structure (e.g., hobbies mapped to interests)

After:

• All loaders now fetch only keys that exist in JSON files
• Removed misleading comments
• Correct mapping from keys to return structure
• Clear, straightforward code

3. Fixed API Routes

• Updated app/api/i18n/[namespace]/route.ts for Next.js 15 async params
• Fixed app/api/projects/[id]/translation/route.ts Prisma null handling

4. Added Comprehensive Documentation

Created docs/LOCALE_SYSTEM.md with:

• Complete architecture explanation
• All translation structures with TypeScript types
• How to use translations in server/client components
• Rich text content guide - How to format text in Directus CMS
• Adding new translations workflow
• Fallback behavior explanation
• Best practices
• Troubleshooting guide

5. Clarified Directus Integration

Updated DIRECTUS_MIGRATION.md:

• Made it clear that Directus is optional
• Emphasized JSON files work perfectly without CMS
• Removed confusing sections
• Added "what was fixed" section
• Better troubleshooting

6. Updated Main README

Added link to locale system documentation for easy discovery.

How to Use (For Developers)

Static Translations (Most Common)

All translations are in messages/en.json and messages/de.json. Components use:

const t = useTranslations('home.hero');
return <h1>{t('title')}</h1>;

Rich Text Content (For Styling)

For content that needs bold, italic, lists, etc.:

1. In component:

const [cmsDoc, setCmsDoc] = useState<JSONContent | null>(null);

useEffect(() => {
  fetch(`/api/content/page?key=home-hero&locale=${locale}`)
    .then(res => res.json())
    .then(data => setCmsDoc(data?.content?.content));
}, [locale]);

return cmsDoc ? <RichTextClient doc={cmsDoc} /> : <p>{t('fallback')}</p>;

2. In Directus CMS, use the rich text editor to format text

Adding New Translations

1. Add to both messages/en.json and messages/de.json
2. Update types in types/translations.ts if needed
3. Add loader in lib/translations-loader.ts if needed
4. Use in components with useTranslations()

Testing

• ✅ Application builds successfully
• ✅ All unit tests pass (11 test suites, 17 tests)
• ✅ TypeScript types are correct
• ✅ No more confusing "NICHT korrekt" comments
• ✅ All translation keys align with JSON files

Benefits

1. Clear structure - Developers now know exactly which translations exist
2. Type safety - TypeScript autocomplete works correctly
3. Documentation - Complete guide on how everything works
4. Rich text support - Clear instructions on how to style text in CMS
5. Maintainability - No more guessing which fields are real vs fake
6. Flexibility - Works perfectly without Directus, can add it later if needed

Migration Guide for Existing Code

No breaking changes! All existing code continues to work because:

• We only removed unused types/keys
• We fixed types to match what was already being used
• All JSON files remain unchanged
• All component usage remains the same

The changes are purely organizational and documentation improvements.