This is only needed for people who either want to extract message IDs or compile message files (.po). Translation work itself just involves editing existing files of this type, but if you want to create your own message files, or want to test or compile a changed message file, you will need the gettext utilities:
You may also use gettext binaries you have obtained elsewhere, so long as the xgettext --version command works properly. Some version 0.14.4 binaries have been found to not support this command. Do not attempt to use Django translation utilities with a gettext package if the command xgettext --version entered at a Windows command prompt causes a popup window saying "xgettext.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows".