How do I set up OpenAI translation in Easydict?

You need to obtain an API key from OpenAI's website, then enter it in Easydict's settings. Once configured, the app will include OpenAI translations in its aggregated results, often providing more natural or context-aware outputs.

Is Easydict better than Bob for Mac?

Easydict is inspired by Bob and offers similar features but aggregates more translation services and includes offline OCR. However, Bob might have different UI customizations or specific plugin support; try both to see which aligns better with your workflow.

Can Easydict translate text from scanned documents?

Yes, using its OCR screenshot feature, Easydict can capture text from images or scans and translate it. However, it doesn't directly integrate with document scanners or handle multi-page documents automatically.

Does Easydict work without an internet connection?

The OCR recognition works offline, but most translation services require internet access. Only Apple System Dictionary might be available offline; services like Google or DeepL need a connection to function.

How to customize shortcut keys in Easydict?

Shortcut keys can be changed in the app's settings or preferences menu. The default shortcuts are listed in the usage table, and you can modify them to avoid conflicts with other macOS applications you use.

Is Easydict completely free to use?

Easydict is free and open-source, but services like OpenAI, DeepL, and Gemini may require paid API keys for extensive use. Free tiers often have limits, so costs can add up depending on your translation volume.

What if a translation service updates its API and breaks Easydict?

Since Easydict depends on external APIs, changes can cause issues until the maintainer or community updates the integration. This risk is common with service-dependent tools, and the busy maintainer schedule might slow fixes.

Open-Awesome

Easydict

GPL-3.0Swift2.21.0

A concise and elegant macOS dictionary and translation app with OCR, supporting 20+ services including Apple Dictionary, OpenAI, and DeepL.

GitHub

13.4k stars670 forks0 contributors

What is Easydict?

Easydict is a macOS application that functions as a dictionary and translator, allowing users to look up words and translate text through various methods including input, selection, and OCR. It solves the problem of fragmented translation tools by aggregating results from over 20 services like Apple Dictionary, OpenAI, and DeepL into one convenient interface.

Target Audience

Mac users, students, researchers, translators, and anyone who frequently needs to look up words or translate text while working or studying on their computer.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Easydict for its elegant integration with macOS, out-of-the-box functionality, support for offline OCR, and the ability to compare results from a wide array of premium and free translation services simultaneously.

Overview

一个简洁优雅的词典翻译 macOS App。开箱即用，支持离线 OCR 识别，支持有道词典，🍎 苹果系统词典，🍎 苹果系统翻译，OpenAI，Gemini，DeepL，Google，Bing，腾讯，百度，阿里，小牛，彩云和火山翻译。A concise and elegant Dictionary and Translator macOS App for looking up words and translating text.

Use Cases

Best For

Quickly looking up word definitions while reading or writing on a Mac
Translating text snippets from screenshots or images using OCR
Comparing translation results across multiple services like Google, DeepL, and OpenAI
Getting audio pronunciations for words in different languages
Translating selected text with a keyboard shortcut without switching apps
Using macOS system dictionary and translation services in a unified tool

Not Ideal For

Teams or individuals using Windows or Linux operating systems
Projects requiring batch translation of entire documents or large files
Environments with strict internet restrictions where most translation services are inaccessible
Users who prefer lightweight browser extensions over standalone desktop applications

Pros & Cons

Pros

Seamless macOS Integration

Integrates natively with macOS shortcuts like ⌥ + A for input translate and supports Apple System Dictionary and Translation, providing a frictionless workflow as shown in the usage table and documentation.

Extensive Service Aggregation

Queries over 20 translation and dictionary services simultaneously, including premium options like OpenAI, DeepL, and Google, allowing users to compare results in one interface, as listed in the README.

Offline OCR Capability

Can capture and recognize text from images without an internet connection for translation, demonstrated by the silent screenshot OCR feature that copies results to the clipboard.

Multiple Input Methods

Supports text input, mouse selection, shortcut selection, and OCR screenshot translation, catering to diverse user preferences with detailed GIF examples in the README.

Cons

macOS Platform Lock-in

Only available for macOS 13.0 and above, with older systems requiring a legacy version, limiting cross-platform use and excluding users on other operating systems.

Manual API Configuration Required

To use services like OpenAI, Gemini, and DeepL, users must obtain and configure their own API keys, adding setup complexity and potential cost, as implied by the extensive service list.

Limited Maintainer Support

The maintainer admits to being busy and only triaging issues on weekends, which could delay bug fixes and feature updates, as noted in the issue/PR triage section.

No Built-in Document Translation

Designed for word or snippet translation via input or OCR, not for processing entire documents or files in bulk, which limits scalability for heavy translation tasks.

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