Send Java Around the World
By Michiel de Bruijn
As far as multiple computing platforms are concerned, Java pretty much lives up to its "write once, run anywhere" slogan. When it comes to supporting applications that have to run anywhere on the planet, though, things didn't always look so great.
Java's native mechanism for localization—resource bundles—is very awkward. And though it has been around since early versions of the Java Development Kit (JDK), support for the feature by mainstream IDEs is still quite limited. You can try to avoid resource bundles by maintaining separate source code for each language version, but you'll run into version and feature control nightmares. So, having strong localization support in or near your IDE is really the only way to deal seriously with the issue.
But just as localization tools for the Microsoft and Apple platforms were quick to appear on the market, plenty of third-party help is now available for Java developers. Two products that take distinctly different approaches to the issue are the Java Internationalization and Localization Toolkit (or JILT to its friends) from Sun's China Technical Development Center, and the Multilizer Java edition from Finland-based Multilizer, Ltd.
100-Percent Pure Globalization
As the name already implies, JILT is pretty much a one-stop shop for making your applications work outside the U.S. Consisting of five components, it offers both a Swing-based user interface and full command-line functionality for use in automated processes.<>
