Getting Started
Learn how to set up your account and get started with MovaBase
Getting Started
Welcome to MovaBase, your comprehensive translation management system. This guide will walk you through setting up your account, creating your first organization, and launching your first translation project.
What is MovaBase?
MovaBase is a modern translation management platform designed for developers and teams who need to manage application translations across multiple languages and platforms. Whether you're building a web application, mobile app, or any software product that requires internationalization, MovaBase provides the tools to streamline your translation workflow.
MovaBase supports exporting translations in multiple formats including JSON, PO with .mo files, .strings for iOS, and .xml for Android, making it platform-agnostic and suitable for any tech stack.
Key Benefits
- Centralized Translation Management: Keep all your translations in one place with real-time collaboration features
- Multi-Platform Support: Export to JSON, PO (with compiled .mo), iOS .strings, and Android .xml formats
- Real-Time Collaboration: Work together with your team with live presence indicators and conflict prevention
- Bitbucket Integration: Automatically sync translations via pull requests to your repository
- Flexible Organization: Choose between file-based or language-based download modes to match your project structure
Who is MovaBase For?
- Developers who need to manage translations across different platforms
- Product Teams working on international products
- Translation Agencies managing multiple client projects
- Startups preparing for global market expansion
Account Setup
Creating Your Account
Sign In
Sign in using your Google account:
Set Up Your Profile
After signing in, you can customize your profile:
- Full Name: Update your display name that will be visible to team members
- Profile Picture: Automatically imported from your Google account if using Google authentication
- Email: Your email address is used for notifications and account management
You can delete your account at any time from the Profile page, but this action is irreversible and will permanently remove all your data.
Understanding Your Workspace
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When you first log in, you'll see the main dashboard. Here's what you need to know about the interface:
Navigation Structure
- Dashboard: Your home page showing all organizations you have access to
- Organization Cards: Each organization is displayed as a card with its icon, name, and project count
- Create Organization: A dashed card option to create new organizations
- Profile: Access your account settings and profile information
Account and Organization Concepts
MovaBase uses a two-level hierarchy:
| Level | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Account | Your personal login and settings | Your email, profile, preferences |
| Organization | Collection of projects with shared team and billing | Company name, department, client account |
| Project | Translation project for a specific application or product | Mobile app, website, documentation |
A single account can belong to multiple organizations, and each organization can contain multiple translation projects. This structure allows you to manage both personal and team projects in the same account.
Creating Your First Organization
An organization serves as a container for your translation projects. It allows you to manage billing, team members, and access control for a group of related projects.
Organization Overview
Organizations help you:
- Separate Projects: Group projects by client, department, or product line
- Manage Teams: Invite team members with appropriate access levels
- Control Billing: Handle subscriptions and usage at the organization level
- Share Resources: Maintain consistent settings across related projects
Creating an Organization
Basic Information
Click the "Create Organization" card and fill in:
- Icon: Choose an emoji to represent your organization
- Organization Name: A descriptive name (e.g., "Acme Inc.")
- Description: Optional description to provide context
The icon appears throughout the interface to help you quickly identify different organizations.
Choose a Plan
Select the plan that best fits your needs:
| Plan | Price | Projects | Users | Translation Keys | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | €69.99/mo | 3 | 3 | 5,000 | 14 days |
| Unlimited | €99.99/mo | 10 | 10 | Unlimited | 14 days |
Both plans include a 14-day free trial. You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time from your organization settings. Additional user seats are available for €15.00/month.
Complete Setup
After selecting a plan:
- Review your organization details
- Start your 14-day free trial
- Complete the checkout process
- Your organization will be ready to use
Once created, you'll be redirected to your organization's project dashboard where you can start creating translation projects.
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Organization Settings
After creating an organization, you can access various settings:
- Edit Organization: Update the name, description, or icon
- Manage Team: Invite team members and assign roles
- Billing: View and manage your subscription and usage
- Delete Organization: Remove the organization and all its projects
Team Collaboration Basics
Organizations support team collaboration with role-based access control:
| Role | Permissions |
|---|---|
| Owner | Full control over organization, billing, and all projects |
| Admin | Manage projects, team members, and organization settings |
| Developer | View and edit translations in assigned projects |
| Viewer | Read-only access to view translations |
Creating Your First Project
A project is where you manage translations for a specific application, product, or component. Each project can have multiple languages and files.
Project Concept and Purpose
Projects in MovaBase represent a distinct translation effort. Common examples include:
- A web application (e.g., company website)
- A mobile application (e.g., iOS and Android app)
- A documentation site
- A component library
Each project maintains its own set of languages, translations, and export settings, making it easy to manage multiple products within the same organization.
Creating a New Project
Access Project Creation
From your organization dashboard, click the "Create Project" card. This will open the project creation dialog.
Basic Project Information
Fill in the project details:
- Project Name: A descriptive name for your project (e.g., "Mobile App")
- Description: Optional description to provide context
- Icon: Choose an emoji to represent your project
Choose a clear, descriptive name that helps team members quickly identify the project's purpose.
Configure Languages
Add the languages you need for your project:
- Default Language: Select your primary/source language (e.g., English)
- Additional Languages: Add all target languages (e.g., Spanish, French, German)
- Custom Languages: Create custom language definitions if needed
You can always add or remove languages later from the project's language management section.
Set Up File Structure
Configure how your translations will be organized:
- File Name: Name for your first translation file (e.g., "common")
- Project Mode: Choose how files are organized
You'll select a download mode that determines how your translations are structured when exported.
Complete Creation
After filling in all required information:
- Review your project configuration
- Click "Create Project"
- Your project will be created with the initial language and file
- You'll be redirected to the project dashboard
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Project Settings and Configuration
Once your project is created, you can configure various settings:
Configure project information and export settings:
- Project Details: Edit name, description, and icon
- Export Format: Choose download mode (file-based or language-based)
- Linked Project: Connect to share translations with another project
Connect your project with external services:
- Bitbucket Integration: Sync translations via pull requests using OAuth
- OAuth Configuration: Set up authentication for Bitbucket
- Repository Settings: Configure branch, path, and export format options
Manage API access for programmatic integration:
- API Keys: Create and manage authentication keys
- Key Usage: Track last used and creation dates
- Security: Revoke keys when no longer needed
Understanding Download Modes
Download modes determine how your translations are structured when exported. MovaBase offers two modes:
| Mode | Structure | Best For | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| File-based | Organized by namespace/folder | Projects with multiple translation files | /en/common.json, /en/auth.json |
| Language-based | Single file per language | Simple projects with one translation file per language | en.json, es.json, fr.json |
You can change the download mode at any time from the project settings. The choice depends on your project structure and personal preference.
File-Based Mode
In file-based mode, translations are organized into separate files, similar to how you might structure them in your application:
/
├── en/
│ ├── common.json
│ ├── auth.json
│ └── dashboard.json
├── es/
│ ├── common.json
│ ├── auth.json
│ └── dashboard.json
└── fr/
├── common.json
├── auth.json
└── dashboard.jsonThis mode is ideal when your application has different translation files for different sections or features.
Language-Based Mode
In language-based mode, each language has a single translation file containing all translations:
/
├── en.json
├── es.json
└── fr.jsonThis mode is simpler and works well for smaller projects or when you prefer a flat structure.
If you're unsure which mode to choose, start with language-based mode for simplicity. You can always switch to file-based mode later if your project grows and requires more organization.
Next Steps
Congratulations! You've now set up your MovaBase account, created your first organization, and launched your first project. You're ready to start managing translations.
Recommended next steps:
- Add More Languages: Expand your project's reach by adding additional languages
- Create Translation Files: Organize your translations into logical files
- Import Existing Translations: Upload your current translation files to get started quickly
- Invite Team Members: Collaborate with your team by inviting them to your organization
Continue to the next section to learn about core concepts and advanced features.
Part 1 of 14 • Getting Started Complete
Next: Core Concepts