Your first translation

From your book to a translation, step by step

You do not need to know how to program. If you can download a file, edit one line, and copy a command, you can prepare your first translation.

What you need

Prepare four things. Only usage of your chosen language model costs money.

A Windows, macOS, or Linux computer.
Your EPUB, PDF, or MOBI book file, which you have the right to process.
Free Python 3.10 or newer.
One API key: OpenAI or Anthropic. You do not need both.

Get an API key

An API key is a private password that lets Berilo send text directly to your chosen provider and bill your usage. A ChatGPT or Claude subscription does not necessarily include API use; check billing in the provider console.

OpenAI

Create an OpenAI Platform account, add credit or a payment method, open API keys, and choose Create new secret key. Copy it immediately because the full key cannot be shown again.

Create an OpenAI key

Anthropic

Create an account in the Claude console, set up billing, open API Keys, and choose Create Key. This key is also shown only once.

Create an Anthropic key

Do not email your key, publish it, or paste it into this website. Store it only in the local .env file described below. Set a spending limit with your provider.

Download Berilo and Python

Download the Berilo project ZIP from GitHub and unpack it somewhere you can find later, such as Documents/Berilo.

Download Berilo as a ZIP Open the project on GitHub

Then install Python 3.10 or newer. On Windows, select Add Python to PATH in the installer.

Download Python from the official site

Add your key and install the translator

Find .env.example in the unpacked Berilo folder. If you cannot see files beginning with a dot, enable hidden files in your file browser.

Make a copy of .env.example and rename the copy to .env.
Open .env in a text editor. Paste the key after OPENAI_API_KEY= or ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=. The other line can remain empty.
Open a terminal in the Berilo folder. On Windows, type powershell into the folder address bar; on macOS, open Terminal and drag the folder into it.

python -m pip install -e ./translator

When installation finishes, check the connection. The test translates one sentence and costs approximately nothing.

berilo doctor

Check the cost and translate

Copy the book into the Berilo folder or use its full path in the command. Always put paths containing spaces inside quotation marks.

First, check that Berilo can read the book:

berilo inspect "moja-knjiga.epub"

Then get a free cost estimate. Always do this before translating:

berilo translate "moja-knjiga.epub" --to sl --dry-run

If the estimate is acceptable, start the translation:

berilo translate "moja-knjiga.epub" --to sl

The translated EPUB is saved beside the original. You can restart an interrupted translation; Berilo resumes from its cache and does not charge again for completed sections.

Open the translated book

You can open the translated EPUB immediately in any EPUB reader. When the official Berilo APK is published, download it only from Releases: allow unknown-app installation for your browser or file manager in Android, then open the downloaded APK.

Check official releases

Advanced: build the Android app from source

This route requires Android Studio, a JDK, and adb. It is for technically experienced users and is not needed for your first translation.

cd android
./gradlew assembleRelease

adb install -r app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release.apk

A fair boundary

Berilo helps you read. It does not help you obtain books.

Use only files you lawfully possess and have the right to process. Berilo has no book catalog, downloads, DRM removal, or sharing. That keeps the tool open and useful to readers while respecting authors and publishers.

Back to Berilo