l10n: add a new feature disable_i18n to disable l10n

Author: sylvestre

Cargo.lock

@@ -59,6 +59,12 @@ feat_selinux = [
   "selinux",
   "stat/selinux",
 ]
+# "disable_i18n" == disable translations and embed English strings directly into the binary (by using `--features disable_i18n`)
+# NOTE:
+# * This reduces binary size and removes runtime dependency on .ftl files
+# * All utilities will use hardcoded English strings regardless of system locale
+# * Automatically disables uucore's default i18n feature
+disable_i18n = ["uucore/disable_i18n"]
 ##
 ## feature sets
 ## (common/core and Tier1) feature sets
@@ -378,6 +384,7 @@ digest = "0.10.7"
 
 # Fluent dependencies
 fluent = "0.17.0"
+fluent-bundle = "0.16.0"
 unic-langid = "0.9.6"
 fluent-syntax = "0.12.0"
 

Cargo.toml

@@ -184,3 +184,43 @@ Fluent default (disabled here):
 ```
     "\u{2068}Alice\u{2069}"
 ```
+
+---
+
+## 🚫 Disabling Translations
+
+For minimal deployments or English-only environments, translations can be completely disabled:
+
+```bash
+    cargo build --features disable_i18n
+```
+
+This feature:
+- **Embeds English strings** directly into the binary at compile time
+- **Removes runtime dependency** on `.ftl` files
+- **Ignores system locale** — always uses English
+
+All `translate!()` calls work identically, but use embedded strings instead of Fluent bundles.
+
+### ⚠️ Pluralization Limitation
+
+**Important**: When `disable_i18n` is enabled, Fluent plural expressions are resolved at compile time by selecting one variant. This means:
+
+- Messages like `{ $count -> [one] 1 record *[other] 2 records }` become static strings
+- The system prefers the `*[other]` variant when available for better grammar at count > 1
+- Tests expecting proper pluralization (e.g., `test_truncated_record`) may fail
+- Runtime pluralization is not available in this mode
+
+Example:
+```fluent
+dd-progress-truncated-record = { $count ->
+    [one] { $count } truncated record
+   *[other] { $count } truncated records
+}
+```
+
+In `disable_i18n` mode, this becomes: `"{ $count } truncated records"` (always plural form).
+
+This is an inherent limitation of compile-time string embedding and is accepted as a trade-off for reduced binary size.
+
+Useful for embedded systems, containers, or when size/performance matters more than localization.

docs/src/l10n.md

@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ fn find_prefixed_util<'a>(
 fn setup_localization_or_exit(util_name: &str) {
     locale::setup_localization(get_canonical_util_name(util_name)).unwrap_or_else(|err| {
         match err {
+            #[cfg(not(feature = "disable_i18n"))]
             uucore::locale::LocalizationError::ParseResource {
                 error: err_msg,
                 snippet,

fuzz/Cargo.lock

@@ -72,10 +72,11 @@ icu_decimal = { workspace = true, optional = true, features = [
 icu_locale = { workspace = true, optional = true, features = ["compiled_data"] }
 icu_provider = { workspace = true, optional = true }
 
-# Fluent dependencies
+# Fluent dependencies (always available, but only used when disable_i18n is not set)
 fluent = { workspace = true }
 fluent-syntax = { workspace = true }
 unic-langid = { workspace = true }
+fluent-bundle = { workspace = true }
 thiserror = { workspace = true }
 [target.'cfg(unix)'.dependencies]
 walkdir = { workspace = true, optional = true }
@@ -101,6 +102,8 @@ utmp-classic = { workspace = true, optional = true }
 
 [features]
 default = []
+# disable_i18n disables translations and embeds English strings directly
+disable_i18n = []
 # * non-default features
 backup-control = []
 colors = []

src/bin/coreutils.rs

@@ -389,6 +389,9 @@ mod tests {
         }
         let _ = locale::setup_localization("uptime");
         assert_eq!("0 users", format_nusers(0));
+        #[cfg(feature = "disable_i18n")]
+        assert_eq!("1 users", format_nusers(1)); // With disable_i18n, plural form is always used
+        #[cfg(not(feature = "disable_i18n"))]
         assert_eq!("1 user", format_nusers(1));
         assert_eq!("2 users", format_nusers(2));
     }

src/uucore/Cargo.toml

@@ -179,17 +179,19 @@ macro_rules! bin {
             use uucore::locale;
             // suppress extraneous error output for SIGPIPE failures/panics
             uucore::panic::mute_sigpipe_panic();
-            locale::setup_localization(uucore::get_canonical_util_name(stringify!($util)))
-                .unwrap_or_else(|err| {
-                    match err {
-                        uucore::locale::LocalizationError::ParseResource {
-                            error: err_msg,
-                            snippet,
-                        } => eprintln!("Localization parse error at {snippet}: {err_msg}"),
-                        other => eprintln!("Could not init the localization system: {other}"),
-                    }
-                    std::process::exit(99)
-                });
+            locale::setup_localization_with_common(uucore::get_canonical_util_name(stringify!(
+                $util
+            )))
+            .unwrap_or_else(|err| {
+                match err {
+                    uucore::locale::LocalizationError::ParseResource {
+                        error: err_msg,
+                        snippet,
+                    } => eprintln!("Localization parse error at {snippet}: {err_msg:?}"),
+                    other => eprintln!("Could not init the localization system: {other}"),
+                }
+                std::process::exit(99)
+            });
 
             // execute utility code
             let code = $util::uumain(uucore::args_os());