There's a barrier standing between billions of people and their first line of code - one we’ve treated as unchangeable, like gravity. But it isn’t.

The barrier is not an understanding of math nor logic. It's not access to a quality education nor to a computer.

It's English.

Out of 8.2 billion people in this world, only 4% are native English speakers. Another 12% speak English as a second (or third or fourth) language, but often it's not the language they think in, dream in, or work through hard problems in.

The truth is, the technology industry is built on the assumption that developers know English (and know it well).

At Legesher, we believe this is one of the most overlooked problems in technology today that directly impacts the digital future of tomorrow.

So we're building something to change it.

🔎 What No One Questions

Top programming languages are entirely based in English. Python. Typescript. C++. Java. Every keyword, every error message, nearly every piece of documentation and debugging threads - all written in English.

This "requirement" is so deeply embedded that most never think to question it.

I’ve spoken with developers who learned how to code by memorizing the string of individual characters that compose each keyword. To them it was just gibberish, forming words that have absolutely no underlying context or meaning.

Some never made it past the initial language proficiency scan for an interview, forcing them to shift focus to mastering English before they could even attempt to enter the job market.

Others have shared stories of always context-switching between their work and a tab of Google Translate. Continuously asking their favorite AI companion to explain concepts in “easy English”, not because they lacked the intelligence to grasp the complexity but because of their level of English proficiency.

🤯 What If It Didn't Have to Be This Way?

With 7,159 living languages in the world, the pre-requisites of coding should not force everyone to become an expert in the same language.

Truthfully, if it all compiles down to the same 0’s and 1’s, then the computer ought to be indifferent to the natural language used by the developer.

So we ask, “What if the foundation of programming was completely rebuilt?”

More than just translated documentation. More than localized vibe coding agents. All the way to where English is no longer a requirement to build the future.

🌏 Who Gets to Shape Tomorrow

Right now, the tools, platforms, and systems that define modern life are built predominantly by English speakers. Global innovation is thus pigeon-holed into the mindset of a single language.

We believe that the digital future should be built by everyone—not just the 16% who happen to speak English.

Imagine collaboration that can bridge across language barriers to bring new ideas. Developers contributing their unique view of the world to reframe our understanding of problems. Perspectives challenging deeply ingrained assumptions to innovate even greater solutions.

Imagine if technological innovation wasn’t hindered by brilliance getting lost in translation.

🩵 This Is (an invitation) For You

As a native English speaker, software was built for me. But what if software was also built for you, so the future can be built by you?

Regardless of the language(s) you speak, we invite you to help shape the digital future with us.

Together, we can create digital bridges connecting all the places your heart calls home.

With love,

Madi ✨ Founder of Legesher

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💫 Know a multilingual developer or aspiring techie who has navigated the English barrier in code? Send them our way by forwarding this email. We’re building this for them, too.