Desktop interface language
The desktop application shows its interface in English or Simplified Chinese. The terminal stays English whatever LANG, LC_ALL or LANGUAGE says. The desktop runs Circle’s core as its runtime and starts it with CIRCLE_DESKTOP_RUNTIME_HOME, and in Chinese with LANG and LANGUAGE in Chinese. Only there do the few messages the window shows as the core wrote them follow that language: the database-busy and missing-API-key errors (desktopText in src/locale.ts). Everything else the window says is its own t('…').
The first start follows the system language: any Chinese system language gives Chinese, everything else English. Settings → appearance → language changes it (follow system, English, 简体中文). The choice is kept in the window’s local storage. Menus, system dialogs and notifications follow the window: the renderer tells the main process its language.
Checks and the packaged-app tests run with a test profile, and then the window is English on any machine. CIRCLE_WORKBENCH_LANGUAGE (for example en-US or zh-CN) sets the language for a run.
Compaction state is projected per session from the shared runtime, including manual operations that have no assistant turn. Its status labels and persistent outcomes use t('…'); provider and user text remain unchanged. Progress uses the existing ordered delta channel without copying conversation history. A renderer refresh reads the authoritative operation snapshot.
npm --prefix apps/desktop run test:compaction exercises the native main process, preload, worker and renderer against a scripted model. It uses an isolated profile and a hidden window; CIRCLE_WORKBENCH_BACKGROUND_TEST=1 is honored only with an explicit test profile. The test covers both development and packaged executables, cancellation and the normal worker-restart lease delay.
How a text is translated
English is the key. In the renderer (apps/workbench/src):
import { t, tn } from '../i18n';
t('allow once');
t('allow “{prefix}” commands', { prefix });
tn(count, '{n} file', '{n} files');
Each English text has its Chinese in one of the files under apps/workbench/src/i18n/zh-CN/, one per area of the source. The main process keeps its few words in apps/desktop/src/native-text.ts.
- Keep the text a string literal at the call.
apps/workbench/test/i18n.test.tsscans the sources fort('…')andtn(n, '…', '…')and fails when one has no translation, when a translation loses a{placeholder}, or when two areas translate the same English differently. - Translate interface words only. What the model, a tool, a file or a command says stays as it is, and so do tool names (
edit_file), commands, model ids, paths, keys and code. - A text shown only in the preview runtime (
runtime.mode !== 'live') may stay English; the preview is development tooling. - English interface words stay short and lowercase, as in the terminal. Chinese ones are short too: no full stop after a label, full-width punctuation in sentences.
- Dates use the interface language (
dateLocale()).
Words
| English | 中文 |
|---|---|
| session | 会话 |
| workspace | 工作区 |
| folder | 文件夹 |
| model | 模型 |
| thinking, thinking depth | 思考，思考深度 |
| context | 上下文 |
| compact | 压缩 |
| approval, approve | 审批，批准 |
| allow, reject | 允许，拒绝 |
| manual / accept edits / plan / auto | 手动 / 自动接受编辑 / 计划 / 自动 |
| read-only | 只读 |
| request | 请求 |
| tool, tool call | 工具，工具调用 |
| command (shell) | 命令 |
| slash command, prompt command | 斜杠命令，提示命令 |
| skill | 技能 |
| hook | 钩子 |
| extension | 扩展 |
| MCP server | MCP 服务器 |
| job | 任务 |
| subagent, agent | 子代理，代理 |
| steering | 插话 |
| follow-up | 追加消息 |
| queue, queued | 队列，排队中 |
| fork, clone | 分叉，克隆 |
| branch, tree | 分支，会话树 |
| label (checkpoint) | 标签 |
| export, import, share | 导出，导入，分享 |
| trust, trusted | 信任，已信任 |
| settings | 设置 |
| theme | 主题 |
| connection, endpoint | 连接，端点 |
| API key | API 密钥 |
| secret | 密钥 |
| token | token |
| cost | 费用 |
| cache | 缓存 |
| diff, change | 差异，改动 |
| inspector | 检查器 |
| panel | 面板 |
| attach, attachment | 附加，附件 |
| draft | 草稿 |
| shortcut, key binding | 快捷键，按键绑定 |
| runtime | 运行时 |
The home composer calls a folder a project (项目). Its trust prompt uses the same word: 项目信任, 信任项目, 项目已信任. Opening a folder on disk says 文件夹. Other workspace words stay 工作区.
The sidebar’s recent list is 最近. A row shows only the session title. Hovering or focusing it shows the folder, when there is one, then how long ago (刚刚, 分钟前, 小时前, 天前) and the full time. Choosing no project on the home composer is 不选择项目.
When the same English word needs a distinct noun label, an explicit context keeps the English unchanged: t('knowledge', undefined, 'item') looks up knowledge (item) for Chinese. The page remains knowledge → 知识库; the item tag is 知识.