# ADR-0009 - Use American English

## Status

- ACCEPTED on 2025-11-24

## Context

Gradle is an international open-source project with contributors from around the world. English is the primary language for code, comments, documentation, and communication, but there are variations in English spelling and terminology, specifically American English vs. British English.

Inconsistency in spelling conventions can lead to several issues:

    @Test
    public void test_matchLocale() {
        assertFalse(labelTypeHelper.matchLocale(Locale.ENGLISH, Locale.JAPANESE));
        assertFalse(labelTypeHelper.matchLocale(Locale.SIMPLIFIED_CHINESE, Locale.TRADITIONAL_CHINESE));

        assertTrue(labelTypeHelper.matchLocale(null, Locale.ROOT));
        assertTrue(labelTypeHelper.matchLocale(Locale.ENGLISH, Locale.ROOT));
        assertTrue(labelTypeHelper.matchLocale(Locale.ROOT, Locale.ROOT));

        return super.godHandPrologue(runtime);
    }

    /**
     * Converts validation messages to a localized string representation for API responses.
     * Uses the request locale if available, otherwise defaults to English.
     *
     * @param validationMessagesLambda lambda function that adds validation messages
     * @return concatenated string of localized validation messages separated by spaces
     */

Currently supported UI languages: German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.

## File Structure

Language resource files are located in:
```
src/main/resources/
├── fess_label.properties           # Base English labels (fallback)

                if (req.getAttribute(LastaWebKey.USER_LOCALE_KEY) instanceof Locale locale) {
                    return locale;
                }
                return Locale.ENGLISH;
            }).orElse(Locale.ENGLISH).getLanguage() + "\">";
        }
        return "</html>";
    }

    /**
     * Checks if a label with the specified key exists in the current request's label map.
     *

* For new features, the feature should be mentioned in the [Release Notes](platforms/documentation/docs/src/docs/release/notes.md).
* Use American English spelling in code, comments, and documentation (e.g., "color" not "colour", "initialize" not "initialise"). See [ADR-0009](architecture/standards/0009-use-american-english.md) for details.

        final Collection<String> values = queryMap.values();
        if (values.stream().anyMatch(s -> s.startsWith(filetypeField))) {
            final ResourceBundle resources = ResourceBundle.getBundle("fess_label", Locale.ENGLISH);
            final String[] fileTypes = ComponentUtil.getFileTypeHelper().getTypes();
            for (final String fileType : fileTypes) {
                final String value = filetypeField + ":" + fileType;

    }

    @Test
    public void test_determineAlias_returnsEmpty() {
        // Test with various locales
        OptionalThing<String> result = provider.determineAlias(Locale.ENGLISH);
        assertFalse(result.isPresent());

        result = provider.determineAlias(Locale.JAPANESE);
        assertFalse(result.isPresent());

        result = provider.determineAlias(Locale.GERMAN);

     * @return the searcher name
     */
    public String getName() {
        if (name == null) {
            name = StringUtil.decamelize(this.getClass().getSimpleName().replace("Searcher", StringUtil.EMPTY)).toLowerCase(Locale.ENGLISH);
        }
        return name;
    }

    /**
     * Executes a search operation with the specified parameters.
     * This method must be implemented by concrete searcher classes.
     *

                return StringUtil.EMPTY;
            }
        });
        getMockRequest().setLocale(Locale.ENGLISH);
        assertNull(systemHelper.getForumLink());
    }

    @Test
    public void test_getHelpLink() {
        getMockRequest().setLocale(Locale.ENGLISH);
        assertEquals("https://fess.codelibs.org/98.76/admin/xxx-guide.html", systemHelper.getHelpLink("xxx"));