Translate Like Me

Product Introduction

1. Definition: Translate Like Me is a native macOS menu bar application (a utility app) that performs in-place, AI-powered text translation and stylistic rewriting. It functions as a system-level productivity tool, leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) via official CLI tools or direct API calls to replace selected text directly within any application window.
2. Core Value Proposition: It exists to eliminate the friction of traditional translation workflows—copying, switching apps, pasting, and recopying results. Its core value is seamless, contextual translation that preserves the user's personal writing style, directly within their existing workflow, using AI models they already have access to.

Main Features

1. In-Place Translation with Global Hotkeys: The app uses macOS Accessibility APIs to programmatically simulate Cmd+C and Cmd+V keystrokes. Users select text in any app (browser, document, email client) and press a configurable global shortcut (e.g., Option+Cmd+F). The app captures the selection, sends it for processing, and immediately replaces the original text with the translation, maintaining the application's focus.
2. Automatic Language Direction & Multi-Pair Management: For each configured language pair (e.g., English ↔ Spanish), the app automatically detects the source language of the selected text and translates to the other. It supports up to three independent pairs, each with its own dedicated global shortcut and optional custom writing style, allowing for context-specific translation (e.g., formal vs. casual tone).
3. Bring-Your-Own-Engine (BYOE) Architecture: It does not rely on a proprietary translation engine. Instead, it integrates with:
   • Subscription Mode: Uses the official Anthropic (claude), OpenAI (codex), or xAI (grok) command-line interfaces (CLIs). It executes these binaries as subprocesses, leveraging the user's existing paid subscription (Claude Pro/Max, ChatGPT Plus, grok.com) without requiring an API key or per-token costs.
   • API Key Mode: For Claude and ChatGPT, it can call the providers' HTTP endpoints (POST /v1/messages, POST /v1/chat/completions) directly using a user-supplied API key, offering lower latency.
4. Per-Pair Writing Style Customization: Beyond literal translation, each language pair can be configured with a free-text "writing style" prompt. This style guide is appended to the LLM's system instructions, teaching it to mimic the user's specific tone, formality, and phrasing, making translations sound authentically personal.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Disruptive, multi-step translation processes that break concentration and workflow. Traditional methods involve interrupting work to switch between applications, dealing with generic, non-contextual translations that don't match the user's voice.
2. Target Audience:
   • Bilingual Professionals & Academics: Writers, researchers, and analysts who consume and produce content in multiple languages daily.
   • Multilingual Communicators: Individuals managing personal or business communications across language barriers who need translations that sound native and personal.
   • Developers & Technical Writers: Those documenting code or writing technical content for international audiences who require precise, in-context translation.
   • Power Users on macOS: Users who prioritize deep system integration, keyboard shortcuts, and menu-bar utilities to optimize their desktop efficiency.
3. Use Cases:
   • Replying to International Emails/Messages: Quickly translate a draft reply written in your native language directly within Mail or Slack.
   • Research & Content Consumption: Instantly translate a paragraph from a foreign-language article or PDF while reading, without leaving the document viewer.
   • Content Localization Drafting: Write a social media post or blog section in one language and generate stylistically consistent drafts in another.
   • Code Comment Translation: Translate code comments or documentation snippets within an IDE like Xcode or VS Code.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unlike browser extensions or standalone translation apps (e.g., DeepL, Google Translate web interface), Translate Like Me is deeply integrated into the macOS desktop, operating at the system level with global hotkeys. Unlike other menu-bar translators, it uniquely supports multiple AI backends via official CLIs, avoiding token limits and leveraging existing subscriptions.
2. Key Innovation: Its "subscription mode" is a novel technical approach. Instead of reverse-engineering or token-extraction, it respectfully uses the official, supported CLIs (claude, codex, grok) as subprocesses. This complies with provider terms of service while granting users the full power of their paid plans (like Claude Sonnet/Opus or GPT-4o) for translation, a use case often constrained in web interfaces.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is Translate Like Me free to use? Yes, the macOS application itself is free and open-source software. However, to perform translations, you must provide access to an AI engine, which may incur costs. You can use a paid subscription (Claude Pro, ChatGPT Plus, grok.com) via the official CLI tools at no extra per-use charge, or use your own API key which is billed per token by Anthropic or OpenAI.
2. How does the "writing style" feature work technically? The text you enter in the "Edit Style" field is injected into the system prompt sent to the LLM (Claude, ChatGPT, or Grok). It instructs the model to adapt the translation's tone, syntax, and word choice to match your description (e.g., "concise and professional," "casual and friendly like a blog post"). This is applied per language pair.
3. Why does macOS require Accessibility permission for this app? The permission is mandatory for the app's core function. It allows the application to programmatically read the currently selected text (simulating Copy) and to paste the translated result back into the frontmost application (simulating Paste), all without manual intervention. This is a standard macOS security requirement for automation tools.
4. Can I use it with free AI models like ChatGPT 3.5 or Claude Haiku? Yes. In API key mode, you can use any model your API key has access to. In subscription mode, the model list is pulled dynamically from the CLI. If your claude CLI is configured to use Haiku by default, or your codex CLI uses a GPT-3.5 model, the app will use that model when set to "Default."
5. What happens if I translate text in a read-only field? The app's error handling detects when it cannot write to the original text field. In this case, it places the translation onto the system clipboard and displays a transient notification near the cursor with a "Copy" button, ensuring the translated text is not lost and can be manually pasted.