fix(i18n): resolve config format and argparse language pre-scan

- Fix config file reading to use canonical format {env: {STRIX_LANGUAGE: es}}
- Pre-scan sys.argv for --language/-l before argparse runs
- This allows --help to display translated text when language is set
- Addresses review feedback from greptile-apps[bot]

strix/i18n.py

@@ -41,14 +41,17 @@ def _detect_language() -> str:
     if env_lang:
         return _normalize_lang(env_lang)
 
-    # 3. Config file
+    # 3. Config file (canonical format: {"env": {"STRIX_LANGUAGE": "es"}})
     try:
         config_path = Path.home() / ".strix" / "cli-config.json"
         if config_path.exists():
             data = json.loads(config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
-            config_lang = data.get("language", "").strip().lower()
-            if config_lang:
-                return _normalize_lang(config_lang)
+            if isinstance(data, dict):
+                env_block = data.get("env", {})
+                if isinstance(env_block, dict):
+                    config_lang = env_block.get("STRIX_LANGUAGE", "").strip().lower()
+                    if config_lang:
+                        return _normalize_lang(config_lang)
     except (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError):
         pass
 

strix/interface/cli_args.py

@@ -18,6 +18,25 @@ from strix.interface.utils import (
 )
 
 
+def _pre_resolve_language() -> None:
+    """Set language from --language/-l before argparse runs.
+
+    Argparse evaluates help text at parse time, so we must set the language
+    BEFORE parse_args() is called. This pre-scans sys.argv for the flag.
+    """
+    argv = sys.argv[1:]
+    for i, arg in enumerate(argv):
+        if arg in ("-l", "--language") and i + 1 < len(argv):
+            from strix.i18n import set_language
+            set_language(argv[i + 1])
+            return
+        # Handle --language=es form
+        if arg.startswith("--language="):
+            from strix.i18n import set_language
+            set_language(arg.split("=", 1)[1])
+            return
+
+
 def get_version() -> str:
     try:
         from importlib.metadata import version
@@ -50,6 +69,9 @@ def _positive_int(value: str) -> int:
 
 
 def parse_arguments() -> argparse.Namespace:
+    # Pre-scan for --language before argparse runs so help text can be translated
+    _pre_resolve_language()
+
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         description="Strix Multi-Agent Cybersecurity Penetration Testing Tool",
         formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter,
@@ -256,11 +278,6 @@ Examples:
     args.diff_scope = {"active": False}
     args.run_name = None
 
-    # Set language from CLI flag (highest priority in resolution chain)
-    if args.language:
-        from strix.i18n import set_language
-        set_language(args.language)
-
     if args.config:
         apply_config_override(validate_config_file(args.config))