Grant Application - CoW Swap Internationalization System

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 blockchain 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 and provides a solid foundation for future expansion.

Objectives

  1. Implement robust i18n infrastructure: Upgrade and optimize the existing Lingui setup to v5, ensuring scalable language support with proper fallbacks and performance optimization
  2. Create intuitive language switching: Develop a language selector with automatic detection and user preference persistence
  3. Address DeFi terminology challenges: Handle technical terms that shouldn’t be translated by creating a hybrid approach with educational tooltips and contextual explanations
  4. 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)
  5. 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.
  6. 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. 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.

6. Quality Assurance

  • 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.

7. 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.

8. 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 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

Type of Grant

Milestones-based.

Milestones

Milestone Title Due Date Funding Request (13,250 xDAI + 13,250 COW vested token)
Milestone 1 Design & Strategy Phase Week 1 1,500 xDAI
Milestone 2 Technical Architecture & Tool Setup Week 1 3,000 xDAI
Milestone 3 Implementation Weeks 2 & 3 6,000 xDAI
Milestone 4 Testing Week 3 1,250 xDAI
Milestone 5 Documentation & Handover Week 3 1,500 xDAI

Milestone 1: Design & Strategy Phase

Tasks & Deliverables:

  • Create comprehensive UI mockups for the language switcher in both light and dark modes and mobile
  • Design the terminology tooltip system
  • 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
  • Generate and integrate Russian translations with quality validation
  • Adjust UI components to accommodate Russian text expansion and Cyrillic characters
  • Implement user preference system

Outcomes:

  • Fully functional language support
  • Intelligent terminology system operational
  • UI properly adjusted for different text lengths and character sets

Milestone 4: Testing & Feedback Systems

Tasks & Deliverables:

  • 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
  • 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: 3 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: 13,250 xDAI + 13,250 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.

2 Likes

Hi @bleu team,

Thank you for the proposal. After comparing it carefully with the original RFP, we noticed a few features included that go beyond the requested scope:

  • Cultural localization elements (e.g., locale-based number/currency formatting, regional language variants)
  • User feedback prompts for translation quality
  • Currency selector.

These additions aren’t part of the current RFP.

Could you please update the proposal to remove those features and reevaluate the cost and timeline accordingly? We’d be happy to reassess once aligned with the defined scope.

Thanks

Hi @le_zhy, thanks for the feedback!

We’ve updated the proposal to remove the features you mentioned. The timeline was adjusted from 3.5 to 3 weeks, and the budget was reduced to 13,250 DAI + 13,250 CoW.

Those items were initially considered as “nice to have” additions for extra value, but we fully understand the need to stay aligned with the RFP scope.

Besides that, we’re looking forward to contributing to the project, especially as it builds on areas we’ve worked on before, both in terms of internationalization and familiarity with CoW’s codebase.

Happy to clarify anything else if needed.

1 Like