General FAQ

How is DevGlish different from Grammarly / Duolingo?

DevGlish is an English learning tool designed specifically for developers, built into your workflow — not a general language learning or grammar checking app.

Compared to Duolingo

Aspect	Duolingo	DevGlish
Learning method	Systematic courses + exercises	Contextual lookup + instant feedback
Use case	Dedicated learning time	Look up anytime during work
Target users	All language learners	Developers
Domain	General English	Technical terms + developer expressions
Learning depth	Broad grammar and vocabulary	Deep technical context

Summary: Duolingo is an “active learning” tool; DevGlish is an “instant lookup” tool. The two complement each other.

Compared to Grammarly

Aspect	Grammarly	DevGlish
Function	Grammar checking, style improvement	Word lookup, pronunciation learning
Usage	Passive checking (after writing)	Active lookup (when encountering new words)
Pronunciation guidance	None	Yes (with IPA and audio)
Non-native pattern detection	None	Yes (Chinglish and other L1 interference detection)
Integration depth	Integrated in editors/email	Global hotkey (any app)

Summary: Grammarly corrects what you’ve already written; DevGlish helps you choose the right words before you write. Both can be used together.

Which macOS versions are supported?

DevGlish supports macOS 13.0 and later (including Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia).

Hardware Support

Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, etc.) ✓
Intel (x86-64) ✓

If your Mac runs macOS 12 Monterey or earlier, DevGlish is not supported. We recommend updating macOS, or contact us to discuss other options.

Why is Accessibility permission needed?

DevGlish uses the macOS Accessibility API to read text you select in any app.

How It Works

When you select text in Xcode, Slack, Chrome, or any app and press ⌘⇧D, DevGlish uses the Accessibility API to capture the selected text, then:

Sends it to the Claude AI for lookup
Returns a learning card

Security Notes

DevGlish only reads text you actively select; it does not monitor in the background
Your text is processed at Cloudflare edge nodes with per-user isolation
Text is not used for model training (see below)
Permission can be revoked at any time (System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility)

If you don’t trust this permission, you can choose not to grant it, but DevGlish will be unable to function.

Can I use it without an internet connection?

Partially, yes.

Features Available Offline

85+ pre-loaded tech terms: Stored locally, no network needed
Cached queries: Previously looked-up words are cached (Free: 7 days, Pro: 30 days)

Features Requiring Network

New lookups: First-time lookup of a new word/phrase/sentence requires network (calls the Claude API)
Express Mode: Native language to English conversion requires network
Advanced TTS: Multi-accent and speed control require network
Cloud sync: Saving words and syncing learning progress require network

Extended Offline Use

If you plan to use DevGlish offline for more than 3 days:

While online, look up words you might need in advance
The system automatically caches these lookups
While offline, you can access cached words and the local term database
After more than 3 days offline, DevGlish automatically falls back to Free mode feature limits

Is Windows / Linux supported?

Currently macOS only.

DevGlish is built with Swift and AppKit, technologies specific to the macOS and iOS ecosystem.

Future Plans

The following are on our roadmap:

VS Code Extension (estimated 2026 Q3): Look up directly in the code editor
Chrome Extension (estimated 2026 Q4): Quick lookup in the browser
Windows version (under evaluation): Possibly launching in 2027

If you need cross-platform support, please vote on the feedback form.

Is my data safe? Are query texts used for AI training?

Your data is safe, and query texts are not used for model training.

Data Processing Flow

During lookup: Your selected text is sent to Cloudflare Workers edge nodes
Proxy processing: The DevGlish backend acts as a proxy for the Claude API, forwarding your query
Model call: Claude returns structured learning card data
Result storage: Learning cards are stored in your Cloudflare D1 database (per-user isolation)

Privacy Guarantees

Text is not stored in Claude’s logs for model training
Text is not used to fine-tune or improve Claude
Cloudflare does not use your data for any other purpose
Your saved words and learning progress are accessible only by you (end-to-end encryption option available in Pro)

Anthropic’s Policy

We use Anthropic’s official Claude API and follow their Privacy Policy. Per the policy, Anthropic does not use API inputs to train models unless you explicitly opt in. DevGlish never opts in.

What You Can Do

Download your data at any time (CSV format)
Delete your account and all data at any time
Read our full Privacy Policy

Are 10 free lookups per day enough?

For most developers, yes.

Usage Data

Based on our user research:

The average developer looks up 15-30 words per day
High-frequency users (writing lots of English PRs or documentation) look up 30-50 words per day
Even “heavy English users” rarely exceed 100 lookups/day

When to Upgrade to Pro

You may want to upgrade if:

You look up more than 10 words per day
You need Express Mode (native language to English)
You need to sync learning progress across multiple Macs
You need the full spaced repetition system for long-term review

Otherwise, the Free plan is usually sufficient.

Are DevGlish and DevLingo the same product?

Yes, they are the same product.

DevGlish is the product’s brand name and official English name
DevLingo is the original development name and internal technical name

Naming History

Early 2025: Project started under the codename “DevLingo”
Mid 2025: Rebranded to “DevGlish” (more intuitively conveys the product’s function)
Now: The official name is “DevGlish,” but code, documentation, and internal discussions may still use “DevLingo”

In this documentation, both names may be used interchangeably, but they refer to the same product.