How to make .po files up to date with the current sources? 1. intltool-update -m This will check POTFILES.in for missing or unavailable files. Missing files are list in 'missing' file and unavailable files in 'notexist' file. 2. intltool-update --pot This creates a pot file. 3. make merge Will update all the locale files. How to add a new locale? 1. xgettext -fPOTFILES --foreign-user -C -onew.po -k_ 2. edit Makefile.am first line: add your locale to the "languages" variable How to add a new source file that contains gettext macros? 1. edit POTFILES and add your file there (or check with intltool-update -m) 2. make merge