Ding Dong Translate

Ding Dong Translate is a simple VS Code extension that translates selected text using LibreTranslate.

Features

• Translate selected text using LibreTranslate.
• Show translated result in a VS Code notification popup.
• Support custom LibreTranslate API URL.
• Support configurable source and target languages.
• Default translation direction: English to Vietnamese.

Requirements

You need a running LibreTranslate server.

Default local API URL:

http://localhost:5000

This extension only sends requests to LibreTranslate. It does not include LibreTranslate inside the extension package.

LibreTranslate Source

This extension uses LibreTranslate as the translation API.

Official LibreTranslate source code:

git clone https://github.com/LibreTranslate/LibreTranslate

Repository:

https://github.com/LibreTranslate/LibreTranslate

For normal usage, you do not need to clone the LibreTranslate source code. Running LibreTranslate with Docker Compose is enough.

Clone the source code only if you want to:

• Read LibreTranslate source code.
• Modify LibreTranslate behavior.
• Debug LibreTranslate locally.
• Build your own LibreTranslate image.

Run LibreTranslate with Docker Compose

Create a docker-compose.yml file:

services:
  libretranslate:
    container_name: libretranslate
    image: libretranslate/libretranslate:latest
    ports:
      - "5000:5000"
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - LT_UPDATE_MODELS=true
      - LT_LOAD_ONLY=en,vi
      - LT_REQ_LIMIT=1000
    healthcheck:
      test: ['CMD-SHELL', './venv/bin/python scripts/healthcheck.py']
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 4s
      retries: 4
      start_period: 5s
    volumes:
      - libretranslate_models:/home/libretranslate/.local:rw

volumes:
  libretranslate_models:

Start LibreTranslate:

docker compose up -d

Check running containers:

docker ps

Open LibreTranslate in browser:

http://localhost:5000

Check supported languages:

curl http://localhost:5000/languages

Stop LibreTranslate:

docker compose down

Do not use this command unless you want to remove downloaded models:

docker compose down -v

The -v option removes Docker volumes, so LibreTranslate may need to download models again.

Extension Settings

This extension contributes the following settings:

Example VS Code settings.json:

{
  "dingDongTrans.apiUrl": "http://localhost:5000",
  "dingDongTrans.sourceLanguage": "en",
  "dingDongTrans.targetLanguage": "vi"
}

Usage

1. Start LibreTranslate.
2. Open VS Code.
3. Select text in the editor.
4. Open Command Palette with Ctrl + Shift + P.
5. Run:

Ding Dong Translate: Translate Selection

6. The translated result will appear in a VS Code notification popup.

Example popup:

ding-dong-translate: Xin chào

Development

Install dependencies:

npm install

Compile TypeScript:

npm run compile

Run the extension in development mode:

1. Open this project in VS Code.
2. Press F5.
3. A new Extension Development Host window will open.
4. Select text and run Ding Dong Translate: Translate Selection.

If you change TypeScript source code, run:

npm run compile

If you only change VS Code settings, you do not need to compile again.

Package Extension

Install VSCE:

npm install -g @vscode/vsce

Build package:

vsce package

This will generate a .vsix file, for example:

ding-dong-translate-0.0.1.vsix

Install the extension from .vsix:

code --install-extension ding-dong-translate-0.0.1.vsix

Or install manually in VS Code:

Extensions → ... → Install from VSIX...

Troubleshooting

Cannot connect to LibreTranslate

Make sure the container is running:

docker ps

Restart LibreTranslate:

docker compose restart

Check the API URL in VS Code settings:

{
  "dingDongTrans.apiUrl": "http://localhost:5000"
}

Too many requests

If you get a rate limit error, increase LT_REQ_LIMIT in docker-compose.yml:

environment:
  - LT_REQ_LIMIT=1000

Then restart LibreTranslate:

docker compose down
docker compose up -d

Model loading is slow

The first startup may take longer because LibreTranslate needs to download translation models.

This volume keeps models after restart:

volumes:
  - libretranslate_models:/home/libretranslate/.local:rw

Notes

This extension currently does not use API keys by default.

If you enable API key protection in LibreTranslate, you must update the extension code to send api_key in the request body.

Do not set this value if the extension does not send API keys:

LT_REQ_LIMIT=0

LT_REQ_LIMIT=0 blocks requests without API keys.

Release Notes

0.0.1

Initial release.