TraduCode

What is it?

TraduCode was designed to be a tool to empower non-english speaking students trying to learn programming. It is a Chrome extension designed to translate programming syntax into the language chosen by the user in real-time, leveling the playing field so learning to code doesn’t require fluency in English first.

" Availability and Accessibility are NOT the same, and they're not interchangeable. If a course is available but not in your language, the process for learning is different. It can be taxing and even physically exhausting."

- De Jesús, Carnegie Mellon University

Bridging the Gap

Inspired by Alex, a student navigating the dual barriers of a new language and programming, TraduCode began as a tool to support Spanish-speaking learners by instantly translating coding keywords from English to Spanish. Today, it's evolved into a versatile Chrome extension capable of supporting multiple languages, including French, Mandarin, and Portuguese. TraduCode empowers diverse learners worldwide, significantly reducing cognitive overload and creating an inclusive, accessible environment for learning programming concepts. With its intuitive, context-aware translations and lightweight, offline-first design, TraduCode ensures seamless learning without linguistic barriers.

Research & Impact

Research Poster Presentation

Project Abstract

In 2021, one out of four students in public schools came from immigrant-headed households, highlighting the rapid growth of multilingual student populations. English learners, primarily Hispanic students, represent one of the fastest-growing demographics, yet educational resources remain insufficient. TraduCode addresses the linguistic challenges Spanish-speaking students face when learning programming by translating Python keywords into Spanish in real-time, reducing cognitive load and boosting student confidence. The extension aims to expand across more platforms and languages to further bridge educational accessibility gaps.

View Full Abstract

"Barriers range from cognitive to affective to social: Needing to mentally translate concepts into one’s native language...increases extraneous cognitive load and decreases comprehension. "

- UC San Diego, 2018 Study

TraduCode Highlights

Instant Keyword Translation

Hover over any Python snippet and see core syntax words translated in real time—no page reloads required.

Context-Aware Tooltips

TraduCode identifies code vs. comments and translates only relevant parts. Tooltips offer beginner-friendly hints without clutter.

Multi-Language Expansion

Started with Spanish, now expanding to French, Mandarin, and Portuguese via pluggable translation dictionaries.

Client-Side & Secure

Everything runs in the browser with no network calls, ensuring privacy. The extension stays lightweight—under 60 KB.

Modular Chrome Architecture

Popup, background, and content scripts communicate through clean message passing, ensuring maintainability and flexibility.

Scalable Design Patterns

Built using Strategy, Observer, Adapter, and Singleton patterns for a robust, testable, and extensible codebase.

"About 15 percent of U.S. residents are native Spanish speakers, and that percentage has grown 40 percent year-over-year since 2009. Educational programs celebrate enrolling these diverse students, yet barriers to learning remain."

- Carnegie Mellon University

Under the Hood (safe version)

Languages: modern JavaScript, bundled—no bulky runtime libs
Security: all logic stays in the browser
Performance: average tooltip render < 2 ms
Privacy: zero network calls, zero telemetry
IP: core parsing & translation tricks are confidential