Lightrans

Project Overview

Lightrans is a lightweight AI translation extension for browsers, developed from the EdgeTranslate codebase to give Chrome and Firefox seamless translation. A compact AI model handles whole-page, selection and PDF translation, with API support provided by SiliconFlow and an online web edition ready to use.

Translation as light as refreshing a page.

Key Features

• Cross-browser support: one extension codebase covering both Chrome and Firefox
• AI-driven translation: lightweight AI models deliver accurate, natural translations
• Whole-page translation: translate an entire page in one click for smoother foreign-language reading
• Right-click quick translate: context menu integration translates selected text on demand
• PDF translation: process and translate PDF documents
• Multi-language UI: English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Japanese
• Web edition: Lightrans_web is online for installation-free experience

Target Audience

• Browser users needing everyday web translation
• Students and researchers reading foreign materials
• Readers translating PDF literature
• Geeks preferring an open, hackable solution
• Users who want translation without heavyweight plugins

Quick Start

1. Get the Chrome or Firefox extension build from the repository
2. Load the unpacked extension in Chrome developer mode, or temporarily add it in Firefox
3. Right-click selected text to translate, or use whole-page and PDF translation

Core Advantages

• Lightweight: focused on translation without feature bloat
• AI-powered: better output than template-based machine translation
• Open and hackable: MIT licensed with fully public source

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
Browsers	Chrome and Firefox
Translation service	Public relay API by default; your own SiliconFlow key optional

Notes

• The default relay API and the web service are not part of this project's open-source scope; bring your own key for important use
• Firefox's temporary loading needs to be repeated after each browser restart
• The project is a modified fork of EdgeTranslate, following its original open-source lineage