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Curl Instead of Java or JavaScript?

Posted by michael on from the catch-the-wave dept.

janpod66 writes: "Tim Berners-Lee is putting his weight behind a new programming language designed by David Kranz intended to replace existing client-side programming languages like Java and JavaScript, as well as HTML. You can find more information at InteractiveWeek. Dertouzos, head of MIT's Lab for Computer Science is also involved. You can also find more information at the startup company's web site. They have programming manauls on their web site. It looks vaguely like a mix of Tcl, Lisp and C (lots of low-level type declarations possible). They also provide a brief rationale. Now, I'm the first to admit that HTML, XML, DOM, JavaScript, Java, and style sheets have become rather complex. Actually, Curl looks pretty nice and clean. But does it stand a chance? And is going with something new, untried like this better than going with mature, widely understood technology?"

6 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Chicken and Egg problem? by sparcv9 · · Score: 4
    It's not going to suceed until it's built into all the browsers, 'cuz writing code for non-existent interpretars is a waste of money..
    Likewise, the browser companys aren't going to build in support for an un-used language, because it's a waste of money....
    That's why there's a plugin version of the interpreter.
    --

    This is not a Fugazi .sig
  2. Re:Java, anyone? by Jason+Earl · · Score: 5

    Exactly. This is nothing more than a Flash or Java Applet substitute. Unfortunately for the folks working on Curl they seem to have forgotten the most basic premise of computer economics.

    The "winner" in any technological niche will go to the software that is "good enough" at the lowest price.

    Curl is competing with several entrenched technologies, and both Flash and Java Applets have progressed a great deal over the last couple of years. More importantly, both of these solutions are easier and less expensive to deploy than Curl. So even if Curl has serious cool points it doesn't stand a chance.

    What's most amazing to me is that apparently these folks just don't see that. That absolutely boggles my mind. Surely they must realize that the last thing that the web needs is yet another plug-in. Especially a plug-in that requires you to pay by the character for commercial content. The folks at Curl must be targetting the demographic of billionaires who recently had a botched frontal lobotomy.

  3. Commentary by Nohea · · Score: 5
    This is the first i head of Curl, and here's my impression, based on the info at the above links:

    Free for non-commercial use, pay whatever they say for commercial use

    Basically, in today's environment, this will make it hard to get developer support. Open source tools or at least reliably free for use (Java) are the systems that will get adopted (exception: MS .NET)

    Custom client simplifies client-server information sharing, using SGML-like language

    Even if orgs want this, they are more likely to just use custom java client and XML. I don't see how there will be any substantial web browser support for this, so it will be just another plugin.

    I definately understand the complexity of creating web apps, and they need to be simpler to create. But we should create simple frameworks for existing technology, and improve those platforms. I guess they think this will be some kind of quantum leap, but we'll see.

  4. I got yer Basic right here by sulli · · Score: 5

    10 PRINT "Nice troll"
    20 GOTO 10

    --

    sulli
    RTFJ.
  5. Curl == Spyware by stonewolf · · Score: 5
    Read the license agreement at http://www.curl.com/html/products/surge_license.js p and tell me why I, or anyone else in their right mind would load a plug in that allows the plug in to report on what you have viewed with it and also allows the plug in to block content!

    Then wander over to http://www.curl.com/html/products/pricing.jsp and look at the fact that you have to commit to sending Curl a minimum of $1000/month (max of $50,000/month) to use Curl to deliver content. And the cost is based on how many characters you serve. Not, on how much revenue it generates.

    This product looks more like misguided megalomania than like product that stands a chance of actually being used by anyone.

    Technically, it acutally looks pretty good. But, the business model and the privacy policy are, well... They're insane.

    StoneWolf

  6. Some more words... by guku · · Score: 5

    They charge for commercial deployment. On top of that they charge by the 'volume' of curl usage.

    Curl was dead before the press release.

    Move along folks. Nothing to see here.
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