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sujato edited this page Jun 15, 2026 · 1 revision

Welcome to the Bilara wiki! Here we will build a Users Guide for Bilara.

what is Bilara?

Bilara is a Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) app for the web designed and built by SuttaCentral. We use it mostly for translating early Buddhist texts, but it can be used for any kind of translation. It is especially focused on translating texts, although we also use it for UIs.

We decided to build our own CAT because existing software did not suit our needs. This is the second generation software, which is rebuilt from the ground up using modern web technologies.

why is it called “Bilara”?

Bilara means “cat” in Pali. 😺

how does it work?

Once you’re logged in (see below), simply write your translation for each segment of Pali text and press Enter. Revise as you like. When you’re ready, press “Publish” and your work will go live on SuttaCentral.

That’s all you really need to know; everything else is added for your convenience.

first steps

If you haven’t already, approach the SuttaCentral team on Discourse and make your proposal.

https://discourse.suttacentral.net

We appreciate it if you can share with us details like:

  • Name and Github handle
  • Experience and qualifications
  • Target language
  • Aims of project (eg. improve accuracy over existing translations, or make translations available for the first time, etc.)
  • Scope of project (eg. “Dhammapada” or “everything!”)
  • Anything else you think is relevant or irrelevant. We want to get to know you.

Once we’re all in agreement, we’ll add you to Bilara using your Github handle.

  • We prefer people use their real names as a Github handle, but it is not mandatory.

Now you’re ready to log in to Bilara at bilara.suttacentral.net. Make sure you are already logged in to Github, as we use their authentication.

Bilara is for humans

Just as cats like to snuggle up to their human, Bilara likes the human touch. It’s not for AI, so don’t use it.

No AI is permitted in any way, shape, or form:

  • Not for drafting
  • Not for ideas
  • Not for “fact checking”
  • Not for grammar
  • Not for anything at all

If you use AI at all in any stage of developing your translation, we will ban you. SuttaCentral’s work is 100% AI free, and we intend to safeguard this in perpetuity.

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