---
name: "Dist::Zilla::App::Command::msg_init"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "libdist-zilla-localetextdomain-perl"
version: "0.91-3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Dist::Zilla::App::Command::msg_init"
---

# Dist::Zilla::App::Command::msg\_init(3pm)

Add language translation catalogs to a dist

## Name

Dist::Zilla::App::Command::msg\_init - Add language translation catalogs to a dist

## Synopsis

In *dist.ini*:

```
  [LocaleTextDomain]
  textdomain = My-App
  lang_dir = po
```

On the command line:

```
  dzil msg-init fr
```

## Description

This command initializes and adds one or more GNU gettext \<http://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/\>-style language catalogs to your distribution. It can either use an existing template file (such as can be created with the `"msg-scan"` command) or will scan your distribution's Perl modules directly to create the catalog. It relies on the settings from the `"LocaleTextDomain"` plugin for its settings, and requires that the GNU gettext utilities be available.

### Options

*"--xgettext"*

The location of the `"xgettext"` program, which is distributed with GNU gettext \<http://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/\>. Defaults to just `"xgettext"` (or `"xgettext.exe"` on Windows), which should work if it's in your path. Not used if `"--pot-file"` points to an existing template file.

*"--msginit"*

The location of the `"msginit"` program, which is distributed with GNU gettext \<http://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/\>. Defaults to just `"msginit"` (or `"msginit.exe"` on Windows), which should work if it's in your path.

*"--encoding"*

The encoding to assume the Perl modules are encoded in. Defaults to `"UTF-8"`.

*"--pot-file"*

The name of the template file to use to generate the message catalogs. If not specified, `"$lang_dir/$textdomain.pot"` will be used if it exists. Otherwise, a temporary template file will be created by scanning the Perl sources.

*"--copyright-holder"*

Name of the application copyright holder. Defaults to the copyright holder defined in *dist.ini*. Used only to generate a temporary template file.

*"--bugs-email"*

Email address to which translation bug reports should be sent. Defaults to the email address of the first distribution author, if available. Used only to generate a temporary template file.

## Author

David E. Wheeler \<david@justatheory.com\>

## Contributor

Charles McGarvey \<ccm@cpan.org\>

## Copyright and License

This software is copyright (c) 2012-2017 by David E. Wheeler.

This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as the Perl 5 programming language system itself.