1. A method for localizing a software product, the method comprising: an automated localization mechanism implemented in a computer extracting localizable text strings, to be translated into a language for which the product is to be localized, from one or more localizable files of the software product, wherein said extracting localizable text strings comprises masking each localizable file with a corresponding shade file, wherein each shade file comprises content of the corresponding localizable file with the localizable text strings removed, and wherein the localization mechanism is configured to operate on the localizable files independent of the particular file formats of the localizable files; and initiating an iteration of a localization process comprising the localization mechanism: searching a localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings, wherein the localization database comprises text strings and associated translations of the text strings in the language for which the product is to be localized; in response to a translation for a localizable text string not being found in the localization database, the localization mechanism generating an entry in a translation kit for the localizable text string, wherein the translation kit is formatted in accordance with a canonical translation kit format, wherein the same canonical format is used for the translation kit regardless of the format of the localizable files, and wherein the translation kit is separate from the localizable files; initiating another iteration of the localization process comprising the localization mechanism: searching a localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings, wherein the localization database comprises text strings, and associated translations of the text strings in the language for which the product is to be localized; in response to a translation for a localizable text string being found in the localization database, the localization mechanism recording the translation for the localizable text string.