Grant Application - CoW Swap Internationalization System
Author(s)
@bleu @ribeirojose @mendesfabio @luizakp
Team:
- Luiza - Software Engineer
- Bibiana - Product Designer
Experiences and qualifications
bleu collaborates with companies and DAOs as a web3 technology and user experience partner. We’re passionate about bridging the experience gap we see in blockch n and web3. We bring substantial expertise in building user-centric solutions, having successfully completed multiple projects with CoW Protocol, and additional experience from internationalization projects.
Some of our work related to CoW so far:
- [CoW] Python SDK: we’re helping CoW put together a Python SDK to provide for developers to query on-chain data, managing orders, and integrating with the CoW Protocol’s smart contracts
- [CoW] Frame Agnostic CoW SDK (in progress): we’re helping CoW refactor the typescript SDK to a frame-agnostic structure, making it suitable for ethersv5, ethersv6, viem and wagmi
- [CoW] Hooks dApps: development of hooks that integrate several actions on swap, such as liquidity pools management, vesting contracts withdraw / creation, and airdrop claiming
- [Morpho] CoW Hooks (in progress): development of hooks to manage Morpho lending positions with supply, borrow, repay and withdraw operations
Additional i18n expertise:
- Luiza (Software Engineer - GitHub): Led the internationalization of a large retailer’s loyalty program, with the following technical implementation:
- Built i18n system in React/TypeScript with browser language detection and fallback to default locale
- Developed language persistence across sessions with URL-based routing support
- Created country-language mapping system with intelligent matching for partial specifications
- Integrated localized email system matching user’s selected language
- Implemented translated page metadata for SEO optimization across markets
Grant Description
Purpose
This project aims to implement a comprehensive internationalization (i18n) system for the CoW Swap app to support multiple languages and make it accessible to non-English speakers. We propose delivering a solution that addresses DeFi terminology considerations, cultural adaptations, and provides a solid foundation for future expansion.
Objectives
- Implement robust i18n infrastructure: Upgrade and optimize the existing Lingui setup to v5, ensuring scalable language support with proper fallbacks and performance optimization
- Create intuitive language switching: Develop a language selector with automatic detection and user preference persistence
- Address DeFi terminology challenges: Handle technical terms that shouldn’t be translated by creating a hybrid approach with educational tooltips and contextual explanations
- Dynamic translations with variables: Support dynamic translations with variables, allowing phrases like “You will receive 25 DAI” to be translated naturally into different languages. This approach uses interpolation to insert values such as token names, currencies, and amounts directly into translated strings, ensuring messages remain grammatically correct, readable, and localized (even when the content is generated in real time)
- Implement cultural localization: Add region-appropriate number formatting, currency references, and cultural adaptations beyond text translation. Currency can still be changed manually
- Improve accessibility and error messaging: Translate all user-facing content including error messages, accessibility attributes (alt text, ARIA labels, form descriptions), and interactive elements with culturally appropriate language to ensure full accessibility compliance and reduce user confusion during critical interactions.
- Enable continuous improvement: Create mechanisms for user feedback and quality monitoring
- Deliver expansion-ready framework: Provide comprehensive documentation and tools for seamless addition of future languages
Key Features & Approach
1. Robust i18n Infrastructure
- Upgrade to Lingui v5 to support modular, scalable language integration with automatic fallback logic.
- Optimize performance by lazy-loading only required translation files.
- Set up Crowdin and GitHub Actions for automated translation syncing and validation workflows.
2. Intuitive Language Switching
- Develop a language selector with:
- Automatic locale detection based on browser settings.
- User preference persistence (local storage or profile-level).
- Smart defaulting to English when a translation is unavailable.
3. Hybrid DeFi Terminology System
- Maintain critical DeFi terms (e.g., slippage, MEV) in English when translation would reduce clarity.
- Add contextual tooltips in the user’s language to explain retained terms.
4. Dynamic Translations with Variables
- Use interpolation for dynamic content like token names, amounts, and currencies.
- Ensure translated strings remain grammatically and semantically correct across supported languages.
5. Cultural Localization
- Apply automatic locale-based number and currency formatting (e.g., 1,000.50 vs 1.000,50).
- Support region-specific language variants (e.g., Brazilian vs European Portuguese) when relevant.
- Manual currency selection remains available for user control.
6. Accessibility & Error Messaging
- Translate all user-facing content, including:
- Error messages
- ARIA labels
- alt text
- form descriptions
- Ensure translations use culturally appropriate language to reduce friction in critical user flows.
7. Quality Assurance & Feedback
- Implement user-facing feedback prompts (“Is this translation clear?”) to collect translation insights.
- Use automated validation scripts to catch layout breaks or missing keys.
- Conduct manual review of high-impact content or flagged issues to maintain quality and tone.
8. Expansion Toolkit
- Provide complete documentation to streamline new language additions:
- Language Integration Guide with clear, step-by-step instructions for adding new locales to the system.
9. AI-Assisted Implementation
- Use AI to:
- Accelerate the initial translation process
- Automate repetitive refactoring tasks (e.g., wrapping strings with translation functions)
- Maintain manual review by qualified team members for all production-ready content
Expected Outcomes
- Immediate: Complete i18n infrastructure with Russian as test language to validate the system
- Short-term: Improved user experience for non-English speakers and foundation for expansion
- Long-term: Scalable framework enabling rapid addition of new languages based on market demand
The successful execution will benefit users by removing language barriers, enhance the community by enabling global participation, and provide CoW Protocol with a solid foundation for international growth.
Type of Grant
Milestones-based.
Milestones
| Milestone | Title | Due Date | Funding Request (15,000 xDAI + 15,000 COW vested token) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milestone 1 | Design & Strategy Phase | 2 days | 2,500 xDAI |
| Milestone 2 | Technical Architecture & Tool Setup | 3 days | 3,000 xDAI |
| Milestone 3 | Implementation | 10 days | 6,500 xDAI |
| Milestone 4 | Testing & Feedback Systems | 3 days | 1,500 xDAI |
| Milestone 5 | Documentation & Handover | 2 days | 1,500 xDAI |
Milestone 1: Design & Strategy Phase
Tasks & Deliverables:
- Create comprehensive UI mockups for the language switcher in both light and dark modes
- Design the terminology tooltip system
- Create feedback mechanism design (discrete, non-intrusive user feedback collection)
- Present complete high-fidelity designs to CoW Swap Frontend team for approval
Outcomes:
- Approved designs that addresses both functional and cultural requirements
- Clear visual guidelines for terminology tooltips and educational elements
Mockups:
Milestone 2: Technical Architecture & Tool Setup
Tasks & Deliverables:
- Comprehensive technical evaluation of Lingui v5 vs current implementation
- Set up Crowdin project with automated workflows
- Design and document the hybrid terminology system architecture
- Establish CI/CD pipeline for automated translation updates
- Create feature flag system for controlled rollout
Outcomes:
- Complete technical documentation approved by Frontend team
- Automated translation pipeline ready for deployment
Milestone 3: Implementation
Tasks & Deliverables:
- Upgrade Lingui to v5 and resolve all configuration issues
- Implement automatic language detection with smart fallbacks
- Complete comprehensive string extraction and macro implementation
- Develop and integrate the hybrid terminology system with tooltips
- Implement dynamic translations with variables
- Implement cultural localization features (number formatting, currency references)
- Generate and integrate Russian translations with quality validation
- Adjust UI components to accommodate Russian text expansion and Cyrillic characters
- Implement user preference persistence system
Outcomes:
- Fully functional language support
- Intelligent terminology system operational
- Cultural adaptations implemented and tested
- UI properly adjusted for different text lengths and character sets
Milestone 4: Testing & Feedback Systems
Tasks & Deliverables:
- Implement feedback collection mechanism
- Conduct comprehensive testing across different browsers and devices
- Validate translation quality and cultural appropriateness
- Test automated translation pipeline end-to-end
Outcomes:
- Thoroughly tested system ready for production deployment
- Feedback system operational for continuous improvement
- All bugs identified and resolved
Milestone 5: Documentation & Handover
Tasks & Deliverables:
- Create comprehensive International Expansion Kit including:
- Step-by-step guide for adding new languages
- Provide complete technical handover to CoW Swap team
Outcomes:
- Complete documentation enabling independent language additions
- CoW Swap team fully equipped to manage and expand the system
- Clear processes for maintaining translation quality
- Established foundation for community-driven translation efforts
Length
Total Duration: 20 days (approximately 3.5 weeks)
Estimated Start Date: Aug. 1st
The timeline doesn’t account for Frontend team review cycles and buffer time for feedback incorporation and refinement.
Funding Request
Total Funding: 15,000 xDAI + 15,000 COW vested tokens
The budget includes the hourly rates of a developer and product designer during the execution and a project manager on a need basis. The xDAI part of the budget shall be paid after each milestone’s completion and the COW shall be vested over 6 months to cover diluted maintenance and related costs for the same period.
Gnosis Chain Address
0x5D40015034DA6cD75411c54dd826135f725c2498
Other Information
- All the code will be open-source from day 0. We’re open to feedback during PRs as well;
- We’re happy to answer any questions and are open to feedback about this proposal;
Terms and Conditions
By submitting this grant application, I acknowledge and agree to be bound by the CoW DAO Participation Agreement and the CoW DAO Grant Agreement Terms.