Set up continuous localization for the GitHub Action, GitLab CI/CD, Bitbucket Pipelines, or the standalone CLI. These all run the Lingo.dev CLI in your pipeline, so the setup is the same three steps: configure the CLI, add your API key, and choose a workflow.
Setting up the GitHub App instead?
The GitHub App doesn't use this flow - there's no local CLI, i18n.json, or API key secret. You install the app once and add a .lingo/config.json to the repository. Follow the GitHub App guide instead.
Prerequisites
You need a working CLI setup with an i18n.json file and the ability to run npx lingo.dev@latest run locally before adding CI/CD.
Step 1. Configure the CLI#
If you haven't already, follow the CLI Setup guide. You should end up with:
- An
i18n.jsonfile in your project root - An API key (either
LINGO_API_KEYfor Lingo.dev Engine or a provider key likeOPENAI_API_KEY) - The ability to generate translations locally with
npx lingo.dev@latest run
Step 2. Add your API key as a CI secret#
Store your API key in your CI platform's secret management:
- Navigate to Settings > Secrets and variables > Actions
- Click New repository secret
- Name:
LINGODOTDEV_API_KEY, Value: your API key - Click Add secret
Step 3. Choose a workflow and add the config#
Pick the workflow that fits your team, then follow the platform-specific guide:
| Workflow | Best for |
|---|---|
| Commit to main | Small teams that want zero-friction, invisible translation updates |
| PR from main | Teams that want to review translations before they land on main |
| Commit to feature branch | Teams with long-lived feature branches |
| PR from feature branch | Teams that want maximum control over every translation change |
Not sure which to pick? Start with "Commit to main" - it's the simplest. You can switch later without changing your i18n.json.
For platform-specific setup instructions and workflow examples, see:
Verify the setup#
After configuring your CI workflow, push a change to trigger it. The integration should:
- Run the translation pipeline
- Commit translations or open a PR (depending on your workflow)
- Update the
i18n.lockfile
To verify translations are complete in CI without generating new ones, use the --frozen flag:
npx lingo.dev@latest run --frozenThis exits with a non-zero status if any content is untranslated - useful as a deployment gate. See Advanced Patterns for examples.
