[QUERY] Guidelines for starting pt_BR documentation translations

[QUERY] Guidelines for starting pt_BR documentation translations

[Daniel Pereira]

Hello everyone,

My name is Daniel and I am a Linux instructor and systems engineer
from Brazil. I've noticed that the Linux Kernel documentation
currently lacks a pt_BR (Brazilian Portuguese) translation directory.

I have started translating the 'howto.rst' file and I intend to
maintain the pt_BR translation tree. However, before submitting any
patches, I would like to ask for guidance on the proper procedure:

1. Should I first submit a patch creating the
Documentation/translations/pt_BR directory along with the first
translated file?
2. Is there a specific coordinator for Portuguese translations I
should reach out to, or should I send patches directly to the
documentation maintainers?
3. Regarding the MAINTAINERS file, should I include myself as the
maintainer for this new section in the same patch as the translation?

I want to ensure I follow the community's best practices from the start.

Best regards,

Daniel

Re: [QUERY] Guidelines for starting pt_BR documentation translations

[Jonathan Corbet]

Daniel Pereira <danielmaraboo@gmail.com> writes:

[Responding to the public post rather than the private email]

> My name is Daniel and I am a Linux instructor and systems engineer
> from Brazil. I've noticed that the Linux Kernel documentation
> currently lacks a pt_BR (Brazilian Portuguese) translation directory.

That is true; nobody has shown interest (until now) in creating or
maintaining such a thing.

I have become a little leery of translation efforts; they tend to be
started with a lot of enthusiasm.  But keeping documentation up to date
is a real treadmill of a job, and that enthusiasm tends to fade over
time, especially if it's a single-person effort.

Nonetheless, if you want to make a try at it, we can certainly accept
it.

> I have started translating the 'howto.rst' file and I intend to
> maintain the pt_BR translation tree. However, before submitting any
> patches, I would like to ask for guidance on the proper procedure:
>
> 1. Should I first submit a patch creating the
> Documentation/translations/pt_BR directory along with the first
> translated file?

It seems you have already done that :)  That is a good first step.  Your
timing is not ideal, though, in that the merge window starts in a week.
I'll not be able to accept a new translation until the merge window
ends.

> 2. Is there a specific coordinator for Portuguese translations I
> should reach out to, or should I send patches directly to the
> documentation maintainers?

The coordinator for Portuguese translations, I think, will be you...
yes, send patches to me, please.

> 3. Regarding the MAINTAINERS file, should I include myself as the
> maintainer for this new section in the same patch as the translation?

Yes, or as a separate patch in the series.

Thanks,

jon

Re: [QUERY] Guidelines for starting pt_BR documentation translations

[Daniel Pereira]

Hello Jonathan,

Thank you very much for your detailed response and the guidance. It's
great to know we can move forward!

I'd like to inform you that while I was waiting, I also translated the
submitting-patches.rst file. I held off on sending it because I was
waiting for your reply to ensure the initial procedure was correct.

I am also pleased to share that I have a community of about 200
students (I am a Linux instructor and systems engineer) who are
willing to collaborate and maintain the pt_BR translation tree. This
reinforces our commitment to ensuring the documentation remains
up-to-date.

My current question is regarding your observation about the merge
window: Since I have already sent the first file (howto.rst), and with
submitting-patches.rst ready, should I send the patch with the
submitting-patches.rst translation now, or should I wait until the
merge window is over, as you mentioned?

Thank you again for your assistance.

Thanks,

Daniel

On Mon, Feb 2, 2026 at 12:51 PM Jonathan Corbet <corbet@lwn.net> wrote:
>
> Daniel Pereira <danielmaraboo@gmail.com> writes:
>
> [Responding to the public post rather than the private email]
>
> > My name is Daniel and I am a Linux instructor and systems engineer
> > from Brazil. I've noticed that the Linux Kernel documentation
> > currently lacks a pt_BR (Brazilian Portuguese) translation directory.
>
> That is true; nobody has shown interest (until now) in creating or
> maintaining such a thing.
>
> I have become a little leery of translation efforts; they tend to be
> started with a lot of enthusiasm.  But keeping documentation up to date
> is a real treadmill of a job, and that enthusiasm tends to fade over
> time, especially if it's a single-person effort.
>
> Nonetheless, if you want to make a try at it, we can certainly accept
> it.
>
> > I have started translating the 'howto.rst' file and I intend to
> > maintain the pt_BR translation tree. However, before submitting any
> > patches, I would like to ask for guidance on the proper procedure:
> >
> > 1. Should I first submit a patch creating the
> > Documentation/translations/pt_BR directory along with the first
> > translated file?
>
> It seems you have already done that :)  That is a good first step.  Your
> timing is not ideal, though, in that the merge window starts in a week.
> I'll not be able to accept a new translation until the merge window
> ends.
>
> > 2. Is there a specific coordinator for Portuguese translations I
> > should reach out to, or should I send patches directly to the
> > documentation maintainers?
>
> The coordinator for Portuguese translations, I think, will be you...
> yes, send patches to me, please.
>
> > 3. Regarding the MAINTAINERS file, should I include myself as the
> > maintainer for this new section in the same patch as the translation?
>
> Yes, or as a separate patch in the series.
>
> Thanks,
>
> jon

Re: [QUERY] Guidelines for starting pt_BR documentation translations

[Jonathan Corbet]

Daniel Pereira <danielmaraboo@gmail.com> writes:

> Hello Jonathan,
>
> Thank you very much for your detailed response and the guidance. It's
> great to know we can move forward!

Next bit of guidance: avoid top-posting on kernel mailing lists; that
will irritate people quickly.

> I'd like to inform you that while I was waiting, I also translated the
> submitting-patches.rst file. I held off on sending it because I was
> waiting for your reply to ensure the initial procedure was correct.
>
> I am also pleased to share that I have a community of about 200
> students (I am a Linux instructor and systems engineer) who are
> willing to collaborate and maintain the pt_BR translation tree. This
> reinforces our commitment to ensuring the documentation remains
> up-to-date.
>
> My current question is regarding your observation about the merge
> window: Since I have already sent the first file (howto.rst), and with
> submitting-patches.rst ready, should I send the patch with the
> submitting-patches.rst translation now, or should I wait until the
> merge window is over, as you mentioned?

It's up to you; if you do send it, I'll end up stashing it aside for the
next few weeks.

Thanks,

jon