I agree, for a major application keeping it separate is a good idea. But for a script like the one that inspired this, there are only a couple strings and to read and understand the script it's clearer in line than to always reference back to the ID.

The work I do for Kodak supports English, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portugese, German, French, and Japanese.

In a script like Shadox's, it's pretty clear that only two language may be standard for his shop. Likewise in Canada and Texas border towns. That is, the problem set is indeed farily well known ahead of time.

So my thoughts at this point are: Major software engineering project with a full-blown UI (possibly GUI) should keep the UI elements (including strings) separate from the program logic. But a simple script with a few strings for prompts, warnings, and short results might be more easily done in-line.

Note that my scheme doesn't have to be in-line. All the strings can be grouped together at the top of the file, for example.

—John