Translate Like a Pro | 11250 — Renovate CLI Localization: Dependency Updates, Managers, Dry Runs, Pull Requests and Unicode QA

How do you translate Renovate CLI configuration, dependency-update pull requests, package-manager diagnostics and automated release messages without breaking a software repository? This practical Renovate localization guide explains the command-line vocabulary, self-hosted settings, repository configuration, managers, presets, schedules, dry-run behavior and multilingual quality checks. It is for international maintainers, technical translators, DevOps engineers and documentation teams who need instructions that work, rather than prose that merely sounds fluent.

Renovate searches supported dependency declarations, looks up available releases and can propose changes through branches and pull requests. A localized guide must separate the human-readable explanation from configuration fields, semantic version constraints, repository identifiers and executable command arguments. It must also explain what is not happening: a dependency being detected does not mean an update was approved, a proposed pull request does not guarantee a safe upgrade, and a dry run does not publish changes.

Start by identifying the platform and the repository’s actual policy. Keep keys, package names, versions, image references, URLs, expressions and secret names unchanged; translate explanatory text, review instructions and human-facing release notes carefully. Then check the precise manager, update category, schedule and intended action. The sections below provide a quick checklist, workflow model, examples, detailed failure cases, a translation glossary and answers to common Renovate CLI questions.

Quick checklist: safe Renovate localization

Identify whether the reader is using the hosted Renovate app, a self-hosted runner or a local diagnostic command.
Never translate JSON keys, CLI flags, environment-variable names, package coordinates, repository paths, version constraints or preset references.
Distinguish global administrator configuration from repository-level Renovate configuration.
Check the difference between scanning dependencies, looking up newer versions and actually proposing PRs.
Explain `dryRun` modes accurately: extract, lookup and full are not identical.
Preserve credentials as secret values; never paste live tokens into examples, screenshots or translator notes.
Review PR titles, release notes, status descriptions and dependency names separately.
Check Unicode paths, mixed-script messages, terminal readability and copy-paste integrity.

What Renovate does, and where translation belongs

Renovate is a dependency maintenance system. A typical run examines a repository, recognizes package and infrastructure manifests, resolves the current dependency references, consults registries or other data sources, and decides whether updates fit configured policy. It may then create or refresh branches and pull requests. That outline contains several different meanings that are often confused in translation. Recognition is not approval, availability is not compatibility, and a generated change is not a finished release.

Most repository teams meet Renovate through a configuration file, a pull request, a status report or an automated issue. Some self-hosted teams also work with the executable directly. Each audience needs different language. Maintainers need clear explanations of what will change; administrators need accurate definitions of platforms, tokens and execution modes; reviewers need evidence about dependency versions and the risk of the proposed update.

The best localization does not turn a machine-readable setting into a translated approximation. It preserves the exact operational object while explaining its purpose in natural language. For example, a package name remains a package name even if it contains an English noun; a label shown in an explanatory screenshot may be described in another language, but a literal value referenced by repository automation must remain byte-for-byte stable unless the whole integration has been intentionally updated.

The configuration boundary: administrator settings versus repository policy

Self-hosted Renovate has administrative settings for the platform connection and runner behavior. Repository configuration typically describes dependency-update policies such as managers, groups and schedules. These layers must not be merged simply because they share the word configuration. An administrator may set the repository list, allowed credentials and runtime controls; a project maintainer may define which dependencies should receive pull requests. Translating both as a single undifferentiated file conceals who has authority to change what.

Many options accept specific tokens, regular expressions, booleans, arrays or enumerated strings. Their values are not prose. A translated tutorial should say that `true` enables a behavior, not replace `true` with a localized affirmative word inside JSON. Similarly, `extends` can load named presets, and `packageRules` can match dependencies according to precise conditions. A translated paragraph is safe; rewriting the token that a parser expects is not.

Before publishing localized instructions, compare each shown setting against the maintained documentation for the version used. Identify whether an option belongs in a global config, an environment variable or repository config. Official reference: https://docs.renovatebot.com/self-hosted-configuration/ . A false location can produce a confusing rejection or an ignored setting, leaving readers to believe the translation caused the wrong action.

Managers, package files and datasources are different concepts

A manager identifies and extracts dependency references from particular ecosystems or file formats. An npm package manifest, Dockerfile, GitHub Actions workflow and Terraform declaration do not expose dependencies in exactly the same way. A datasource is concerned with obtaining package or release information; a versioning scheme decides how versions are interpreted. These roles can interact without being interchangeable. The term manager should not be flattened into administrator when it refers to dependency extraction.

The same repository may contain a JavaScript application, a Docker build, deployment charts and CI workflows. A scan that recognizes the npm manifest but ignores a custom deployment file may be working as configured. When translating troubleshooting material, ask whether the dependency was discovered, whether lookup succeeded and whether an update matched policy. This separation is more useful than calling every missing PR a scan failure.

Package paths, registry hosts, images, Git tags, version ranges and lockfiles are evidence. Translators should preserve their spellings, punctuation and capitalization. A language-specific explanation may describe a package’s function, but it should not replace the literal package coordinate in commands or configuration. A single accented character inserted into a path can turn a valid example into a different reference.

First useful CLI commands: inspect before you change

renovate --help
renovate-config-validator
# Example self-hosted diagnostic environment:
RENOVATE_DRY_RUN=lookup LOG_LEVEL=debug renovate <owner/repository>

The help command is a safe starting point because CLI options and defaults can change across releases. The configuration validator is a separate executable distributed with Renovate that checks configuration at documented locations or a specified file. A localized article should keep command names and flags exact while translating what the output means. If readers see a validation warning, explain which configuration layer it applies to before suggesting that they change anything.

In the illustrative dry-run command, the repository name and environment values are examples, not guaranteed credentials or a universal command for every platform. A self-hosted installation requires its own platform details and access. The value `lookup` indicates a diagnostic stage, not a promise that an update can be merged. For instructions involving the global token or a production account, begin with a restricted test repository and an appropriate access policy.

Do not invent a flag to make the translated command appear tidier. If a demonstration needs a version-sensitive option, show the exact source documentation and the expected output shape. Official validation reference: https://docs.renovatebot.com/config-validation/ . A short correctly executable example helps readers more than a complicated script that combines unrelated configuration settings.

Three dry-run modes require three different explanations

`extract` is primarily about finding dependency references. It is useful when the question is whether Renovate recognizes the file, manager and dependency declaration. `lookup` moves further by consulting sources for available versions. `full` exercises a broader dry-run path while logging rather than creating or updating real branches and pull requests. These stages are intentionally distinct; a translator should preserve the words when they are literal configuration values.

Suppose a translated guide says that a lookup dry run will show exactly which PRs the bot will publish. That is too strong. Policy, credentials, limits, timing and later checks can affect the outcome. The explanatory wording should describe what the mode evaluates and what it cannot prove. Do not turn diagnostic success into an assurance of a safe production upgrade.

The official documentation also notes that important diagnostic information may appear at debug logging level. When localizing troubleshooting advice, explain log levels without encouraging readers to publish sensitive logs openly. Registry URLs, private repository names and credential-bearing headers may appear in operational material. The safe practice is to redact secrets, preserve the structure needed to diagnose the issue and exchange logs only through an approved support channel.

Update categories: major, minor, patch and digest

SemVer-compatible projects often distinguish a major change from minor and patch updates, although not every ecosystem follows SemVer strictly. A major upgrade may require code changes; a patch release may still contain regressions. Translating major as big or patch as security fix is misleading. The category describes a version relationship, not a universal risk grade or guarantee about vulnerability remediation.

Container image digests introduce a different idea: an immutable content identifier. A digest update may keep a familiar tag while selecting a different build. If a generated PR displays a new digest, do not translate the hash or shorten it in copyable commands. Readers need to compare which artifact will run, not merely whether an English release title looks equivalent.

Where update policy groups minor and patch versions together, explain that this is a repository choice. The grouping label may be localized if it is only reader-facing text, but the configuration patterns and version conditions need exact preservation. The quality test is whether a non-English reader can predict what will appear in a PR and whether they can verify the same dependency identity in the manifest.

Schedules, time zones and the meaning of a due update

Renovate schedules can restrict when a repository is eligible for particular update activity. This is different from a host scheduler deciding when the bot process starts. A localized description should not promise an update will occur at an exact minute merely because the repository allows it at that time. The runner must execute, credentials must work, and any applicable limits or settings still have to be satisfied.

Time expressions are especially vulnerable to translation errors. Preserve the literal syntax and accompanying time-zone context. Spell out the business interpretation in an adjacent sentence: what days are allowed, whether windows cross midnight and whether local office time or a fixed zone is intended. A schedule presented to a global audience without a named zone can lead teams in different countries to disagree over whether a run was late.

When documentation says an update is delayed, distinguish schedule exclusions from minimum release ages, dependency dashboard approvals or other policy. Each mechanism has a different practical remedy. Translators should avoid collapsing them into generic waiting language, because a person may otherwise change a schedule when the real issue is an approval gate.

Pull request titles, labels and commit messages

Generated PR titles, commit messages and labels straddle human and machine audiences. Some words are simply explanatory; other fragments are consumed by automation, branch protections or release-note parsers. A team may choose readable localized text for the prose portion while preserving package identifiers, scope tokens and placeholders. Do not assume that a familiar English phrase is safe to translate everywhere it appears.

Consider a title such as `chore(deps): update dependency example to v2`. The words around the dependency can have repository-specific conventions. If another tool classifies the `chore` prefix, changing it can affect the release process. Explain the commit type in a nearby sentence if needed. Keep parseable prefixes and the literal dependency name unless the project has reviewed and implemented a coordinated convention change.

A good review checks the real generated text rather than an isolated translation memory entry. Compare an example PR in the source language with its localized counterpart, confirm link targets and version changes, then check how the title renders in email and mobile notifications. A meaningful localized message is not useful if it breaks a parser or hides the exact package that changed.

Dependency dashboards, approvals and grouping

A dependency dashboard can present a consolidated view of pending changes or approvals, depending on configuration. It is not the same thing as a PR list, and selecting a checkbox in a dashboard is not necessarily equivalent to merging code. Translate UI instructions with the actual workflow in mind: the reader must know whether a click requests generation, changes scheduling or authorizes an update.

Grouping combines multiple dependency updates into one review unit. This can reduce noise but increases the amount of change that a reviewer must evaluate together. Translate group names as names only when they are human-facing; keep matching rules, regular expressions and package identifiers exact. A localized explanation should help a reviewer understand why updates were grouped, not imply that all packages in a group carry the same risk.

Approvals are evidence of a policy decision, not test results. A safe guide distinguishes approval to propose changes from approval to merge. When reviewing a localized screen, look for terms that overstate authority, such as phrases implying automatic deployment where the tool merely opens a proposal.

Release notes, changelogs and registry metadata

Renovate may refer readers to upstream releases, changelogs and comparison pages. These are not all equivalent sources of truth. A version listing says a release exists; a changelog describes selected changes; a registry page identifies a published artifact. If a localized summary claims that a breaking change is fixed or that a package is ready for every platform, check the underlying source rather than extrapolating from a heading.

When no reliable localized upstream note exists, keep the original link and provide a carefully marked summary. Never fabricate a security guarantee. Preserve version strings, issue identifiers, CVE identifiers, URLs and technical names. A non-English reader should be able to click through and find exactly the same release that an English reader sees.

Changelog translation also requires a distinction between technical status and editorial tone. `Deprecated`, `removed`, `unsupported` and `experimental` describe different states. Treat each as a decision-affecting status, not a stylistic synonym. Test whether a translated warning causes the reader to perform the correct migration or safety check.

Branch names, file paths and regular expressions

Branch names, glob patterns and regular expressions often look like fragments of language. They are operational symbols. A branch with a localized space, an escaped slash removed from a regular expression or a translated file extension may no longer match its intended target. Even when users want local-language examples, any literal inside a command or configuration should be a tested value, not a prose rendering.

Paths may also contain legitimate Unicode characters. The correct rule is not to ban non-ASCII filenames; it is to preserve actual paths exactly and verify byte-safe copying. On systems with different Unicode normalization behavior, two visually similar filenames can fail to compare as the same sequence. Translators should avoid retyping filenames from screenshots and should use copy-paste from the source repository when it is trustworthy.

Teach the difference between a display label and a match expression. A label displayed in a review can be translated in a managed workflow; a regular expression matching a package path must continue matching. When a user reports that nothing updates after translation, inspect the literal pattern and its test cases before blaming the registry or the language pack.

Secrets, platform credentials and private package registries

Self-hosted Renovate operates with platform access and may also need credentials to read private dependency registries. These credentials are not translation strings. Any instructional example should use conspicuous placeholders and explain where authorized secrets belong without printing real values. An environment-variable name is an interface contract; localizing its letters makes the variable disappear from the program’s perspective.

Permissions should match the required action and least-privilege policy. Reading metadata, creating PRs and writing repository branches may require different levels of access. A translated support article should not casually recommend a broad administrator token to repair an unclear 401 error. First verify the repository, endpoint, token scope, expiry and whether the credential is allowed for that registry.

Logs and screenshots sometimes disclose hostnames or package coordinates that are confidential even if the token is hidden. Review external-facing examples for both secrets and business-sensitive metadata. Explain errors in ordinary language but keep relevant status codes, command names and the authentication boundary visible so an administrator can diagnose the right system.

Unicode and terminal rendering tests

CLI output crosses several encodings and rendering surfaces: terminal emulators, logs, CI annotations, Markdown PR bodies, email notifications and browser pages. A message that looks correct in an editor may wrap badly in a narrow terminal or lose a character in a plain-text log. Test realistic paths with accents, non-Latin scripts and mixed English package identifiers, not just a single translated heading.

Right-to-left languages deserve explicit attention. Version numbers, slashes, hexadecimal hashes and package scopes can reorder visually when surrounded by bidirectional text. Keep the logical data intact, use appropriate direction handling in rendered documentation and test copy-paste behavior. A visual change that makes a hash appear reversed must not become a changed hash in the underlying command.

Different writing systems require enough line space and a font capable of displaying their glyphs. Screenshots should not be the only instructional medium. Supply selectable text, accessible labels and examples that can be verified. If a generated PR body includes Markdown tables, check alignment and line wrapping in the actual hosting platform.

Review examples as evidence, not promises

A sample PR is useful when readers can inspect its dependency name, current version, target version and exact files changed. It is less useful when it shows a polished green status with no explanation of the tests involved. Describe what an example demonstrates and what remains uncertain. A test suite passing does not prove the absence of runtime regressions, while a PR description alone does not prove a package was actually published.

Use small, repeatable examples before advanced examples. For a version update, include the original manifest line, the proposed line and the review question. For a configuration example, state which layer it belongs to and whether the shown value is literal or a placeholder. For a dry run, explain the difference between the output and actual repository modifications.

Good localization can improve technical learning by making these contrasts explicit. The reader should not need prior knowledge of every English GitHub label to understand the sequence: find a dependency, establish available updates, apply policy, create a proposal, review evidence, merge if appropriate and observe downstream deployment separately.

Troubleshooting practice: ten realistic cases

Manager does not detect a dependency

A team adds a custom configuration file but the bot reports no dependency. Determine whether a supported manager parses that file and whether file matching rules include its path. The reader should not change version wording until extraction has been confirmed.

Describe the diagnostic result as a discovery problem rather than a registry outage. Show the original path exactly, compare the selected manager’s documented syntax, and use an extraction-focused dry run. A translated guide that says every YAML file is automatically understood would mislead the team.

Update exists but no PR appears

The registry shows a newer version, yet the repository has no proposal. Check schedule windows, ignored versions, grouping, minimum-age rules, PR limits and approval settings before concluding the bot is broken.

Explain availability, eligibility and proposal creation as separate stages. Preserve the configured version range and any relevant rule name. Use a lookup dry run to examine availability, then an appropriate broader preview for policy decisions; never promise that lookup alone creates a PR.

Major version is grouped with patches

Reviewers see a grouped update whose title looks routine, but one dependency has an API-breaking major release. A translation that describes the entire group as minor maintenance suppresses a key review fact.

List each version transition separately. Identify whether the grouping is intentional, check the release notes and tests for the major update, and avoid interpreting the group label as an assessment of safety. The localized heading must not hide different risk levels.

A translated environment variable stops working

A translator changes the spelling of a variable that passes the platform credential. The executable cannot read it and begins returning authentication failures. The value could be valid even though the name no longer matches.

Restore the exact environment-variable identifier and move the explanation outside the configuration snippet. Never ask a reader to paste the secret into a public issue as proof. Explain that executable identifiers are contracts, not natural-language sentences.

Registry returns authorization errors

A repository can read a public dependency but fails on an internal package. The problem may be registry credentials or access policy, not missing translation. The error must retain its status code and endpoint context.

Record the failing package coordinates, redacted host and the exact operation being attempted. Ask an administrator to check least-privilege registry access. Translate the narrative of the failure while preserving machine data used to identify the endpoint.

GitHub label is used by another workflow

A translated PR label sounds clearer, but an automation rule matches the original label text exactly. PRs stop entering a downstream release queue after the change.

Distinguish display text from a literal integration key. Verify any configured string comparisons before renaming labels. Document an intentional coordinated change across all consumers rather than presenting an isolated translation as harmless.

Cross-midnight schedule confuses teams

A team in two countries reads a repository schedule as local office hours. One team believes the bot failed when it actually ran according to a different zone.

Preserve the literal schedule and state the reference time zone prominently. Where a window crosses midnight, include a worked date example. Explain that allowed processing time and actual bot execution time are not necessarily identical.

Lockfile changed more than expected

A proposed change touches a lockfile containing numerous transitive packages. A reviewer assumes only the direct dependency in the PR title changed.

Explain that lockfiles record resolved dependency graphs and can include transitive movement. Preserve the file contents, inspect the diff and verify installation under the expected package-manager version. Translate the review notes, not the dependency graph.

Right-to-left PR title misreads a digest

An Arabic or Hebrew summary places a container digest next to right-to-left prose. The visual order is confusing, and a reviewer copies an apparently altered string.

Keep the digest as a protected literal and test direction handling in the final browser view. Provide a copyable line in a monospaced block. Teach readers to compare the underlying identifier rather than reconstructing it from visual layout.

Release note says fixed but source says mitigated

An upstream security note states that a risk is mitigated only in certain configurations. A simplified translation claims complete remediation.

Correct the status to match the source, include relevant version and configuration conditions, and link to the upstream advisory. The difference between mitigated, fixed and not affected can alter deployment decisions and must survive localization.

Terminology that should stay precise

manager

Component that extracts dependencies from a supported file type; not the repository administrator. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

datasource

Source of release or version information; not the file parser itself. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

versioning

Rules used to compare versions; not automatically a security-risk assessment. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

preset

Reusable configuration referenced by name; preserve any literal `extends` identifier. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

packageRules

Configuration key that controls conditional update policy; do not translate the key. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

lockfile

Resolved dependency record that may include transitive versions; not a changelog. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

registry

Repository of published packages or images; may require separate credentials. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

schedule

Eligibility window for actions; not a guarantee of an exact process start time. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

dryRun

Diagnostic mode; the literal `extract`, `lookup` and `full` values have different reach. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

dependency dashboard

Consolidated review surface; it does not inherently mean a PR has been merged. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

digest

Content-based artifact identifier whose bytes must remain unchanged. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

PR limit

Policy controlling how many update PRs may be active; not necessarily a scanner error. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

groupName

Reader-facing group name; can be localized only after checking other consumers. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

branch name

Operational reference in Git; a translated display sentence must not rename it. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

major version

Version relationship that may require migration; not synonymous with dangerous. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

patch version

Usually a small-version increment under SemVer; not proof of a security fix. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

ignored version

Version excluded by policy; distinguish from unavailable releases. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

debug log

Detailed operational trace; redact tokens and private repository data before sharing. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

configuration validator

Independent executable that checks Renovate settings; not the update bot’s full run. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

release note

Human-readable change summary; verify claims with the actual upstream release. In localized documentation, show the original term beside the translation on first use when misunderstanding could change an action. Then use the chosen translation consistently in review checklists and examples, while leaving literal configuration values untouched.

Frequently asked questions

Should I translate the file `renovate.json`?

Translate its explanatory prose in a separate document. Do not translate the filename, configuration keys, booleans, regular expressions or package identifiers. A repository might have custom readable descriptions, but those should be changed only after confirming what reads them.

Is `renovate-config-validator` the same as a dry run?

No. Validation checks configuration structure and values; a dry run inspects aspects of repository processing. Valid configuration does not prove a package is discoverable or an update would pass tests.

Does a successful dry run guarantee a pull request?

No. The mode, current policy, credentials, schedule, rate limits and subsequent repository state matter. Explain what was evaluated and what remains to be confirmed by an actual authorized run.

Can I localize package names in a proposed PR?

Package coordinates and exact version strings should remain literal. You can add a translated explanation of what the package does and why its change is relevant, provided the original identity is still visible.

Why is the bot not seeing a newer version?

Start with the manager, datasource and versioning rules. Then inspect registry accessibility, package constraints and applicable ignore settings. A translation cannot fix a missing version lookup by changing the words in a PR template.

What is the best way to translate a security-related update?

Preserve the advisory ID, affected versions and precise mitigation status. Distinguish a new patch from a verified fix. Link the relevant upstream advisory and avoid guaranteeing security based on a version number alone.

How do I check right-to-left and Unicode output?

Render a real PR title and Markdown body with mixed scripts, hashes, file paths and version numbers. Check visual order, selection and copy-paste; compare the copied identifiers to the source values.

Where should international teams begin?

Start with a small repository and a written policy identifying literal keys, translatable descriptions and reviewer responsibilities. Validate configuration, observe a diagnostic run and review an actual proposed diff before broad rollout.