# translate-book-parallel

Turns a full book in PDF, DOCX or EPUB into another language. Each slice of text gets its own context window, so a long file does not get cut short.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1300 installs · ★ 88
- Author: reason-machines
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/translate-book-parallel/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-09
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/translate-book-parallel

## What it does

The skill splits a book into pieces of roughly 6000 characters and runs parallel subagents over them, 8 at a time by default. One subagent reads a piece, translates it and writes its own output file. Nothing piles up in a single context, so the last chapter reads the same as the first.

The pipeline goes through Calibre: `ebook-convert` turns the input into HTMLZ, then Markdown, then the split happens. `manifest.json` keeps SHA-256 hashes of the source pieces, and the merge step re-hashes them first. A mismatch or an empty output file stops the build. Interrupted work resumes on the next run — finished pieces are skipped and only the missing ones are retried. You end up with `output.md`, `book.html` with a floating table of contents, `book.docx`, `book.epub` and `book.pdf`.

Before you start, install Calibre so `ebook-convert` is on your machine, plus Pandoc and the Python packages `pypandoc` and `beautifulsoup4`. If `ebook-convert` is not in `PATH`, the conversion step never starts, and that is the failure you will hit first. Language codes live in the skill definition and you can add your own.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill translate-book-parallel -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/translate-book-parallel/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/translate-book-parallel/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill translate-book-parallel -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/translate-book-parallel/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill translate-book-parallel -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/translate-book-parallel/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install reason-machines/trending-skills translate-book-parallel
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/translate-book-parallel/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill translate-book-parallel -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills --path skills/translate-book-parallel
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/translate-book-parallel/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill translate-book-parallel -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/translate-book-parallel/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- translate a PDF book without copying chapters by hand
- split a long document and translate the pieces in parallel
- pick up a translation after a crash instead of starting over
- build DOCX, EPUB and PDF from the translated pieces
- catch a lost or stale piece before the final merge

## Example prompts
- Translate `~/books/clean-code.pdf` to Chinese
- Translate `mybook.epub` to Japanese
- /translate-book translate `/path/to/book.docx` to French

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From the same set: [reason-machines/trending-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/reason-machines/trending-skills.md) — 186 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md