10. A system, comprising: one or more processors; a memory coupled to the processor and comprising a localization database comprising text strings and associated translations of the text strings in a different language, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions executable by the one or more processors to: extract localizable text strings from one or more localizable files associated with a product to be localized for the different language, wherein said extracting 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 initiate an iteration of a localization process, wherein, in said localization process, the program instructions are further executable to: search the localization database for translations of the extracted localizable text strings; if a translation for a localizable text string is not found in the localization database, generate 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; and if a translation for a localizable text string is found in the localization database, record the translation for the localizable text string.
11. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein, to record the translation for the localizable text string, the program instructions are further executable to write the translation for the localizable text string into a localized version of the localizable file at a location from which the corresponding localizable string was extracted, such that the localized version matches an original file structure of the localizable file.