Pot: The Ultimate Cross-Platform Translation & OCR Tool

Pot: Your All-in-One Cross-Platform Translation and OCR Solution

In today's interconnected world, efficient language translation and text recognition are more crucial than ever. Enter Pot, a robust open-source desktop application designed to streamline these processes across all major operating systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux. Pot stands out as a highly versatile tool, offering instant word-by-word translation and advanced Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capabilities.

Key Features That Set Pot Apart:

Pot is packed with innovative features that cater to a wide range of users, from language enthusiasts to professionals handling multilingual content:

  • Word-by-Word Translation: Simply highlight text, and Pot provides instant translations, making reading foreign-language content effortless.
  • Input Translation: A dedicated translation window allows you to type or paste text for quick and accurate translations.
  • Screenshot Translation & OCR: Capture any part of your screen, and Pot will not only recognize the text (OCR) but also translate it, a game-changer for working with image-based documents or non-selectable text.
  • Clipboard Monitoring: Activate clipboard listening for automatic translation of copied text, enhancing productivity for repetitive translation tasks.
  • Multi-Engine Support: Pot isn't limited to a single service. It supports an impressive array of translation engines, including:
    • AI-powered: OpenAI, Zhipu AI, Gemini Pro, Ollama (offline)
    • Commercial APIs: Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent, DeepL, Google, Bing, Youdao, Volcano, NiuTrans, Cambridge Dictionary, Yandex.
  • Extensive OCR Capabilities: Beyond general OCR, Pot integrates with:
    • System OCR: Leveraging native Windows, Apple Vision, and Tesseract OCR for offline recognition.
    • Cloud OCR: Baidu, Tencent.
    • Specialized: Simple LaTeX, OCRSpace (plugin), Rapid (offline plugin), Paddle (offline plugin).
  • Voice Synthesis: Select text and have Pot read it aloud using various voice synthesis engines.
  • Vocabulary Export: Seamlessly export new words to popular vocabulary management tools like Anki, Youdao, and Shanbay.
  • Plugin System: Pot's true power lies in its extensible plugin system. Users can install external plugins to add new translation services, OCR engines, or even custom functionalities, ensuring the software evolves with your needs.
  • External API Calls: For advanced users and developers, Pot offers a comprehensive HTTP API, allowing integration with other applications and custom workflows.
  • Wayland Support: With community-driven solutions, Pot can even be configured for optimal performance on newer Wayland display servers, addressing common issues like hotkey and screenshot functionality.

Installation is a Breeze:

Pot offers flexible installation options for all platforms:

  • Windows: Install via Winget or download standalone .exe installers from the official GitHub Release page.
  • macOS: Use Homebrew for easy installation and updates, or download the .dmg package for manual setup.
  • Linux: Available as .deb packages for Debian/Ubuntu, on AUR for Arch/Manjaro (yay -S pot-translation), and as a Flatpak for universal compatibility.

A Community-Driven Project:

Pot is a testament to the power of open source, built with technologies like Tauri, JavaScript, and Rust. It's actively maintained and developed by a dedicated community, ensuring continuous improvements and new features. The project encourages contributions, even offering internationalization support via Weblate.

For anyone seeking a powerful, flexible, and free solution for translation and OCR, Pot is an exceptional choice. Its robust feature set, cross-platform compatibility, and extensibility make it an invaluable tool for enhancing productivity and breaking down language barriers.

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