why is curl being used ?

[RobertShiplett]

One case for Curl is to have one language instead of HTML+JavaScript+CSS.

In the case of specialized markup, light-weight Curl markup can be a very strong candidate.

For literary markup, what HTML/XML can compete with

{poem
Our Ditty,
{verse
We use Curl because it's swell:
It does our markup very well -
}
{verse
with no end tags on which to dwell
there is an advantage as you can tell.
}
}

where the behavior of {verse } can be as simple or rich as you like.
Changes do not require changing the source file.

The expression {verse } can be a text format expression for font and such or a procedure returning a ParagraphVisual with line-numbering, live annotation entry fields etc. It can include translations or suppress translations with minimal effort.

And then there is security. Poems are trivial. Internal documents may not be. Curl comes with powerful libraries (rather like Smallalk.)

Add to that strong abilities with overlays, grids, sizing ...

I liken Curl compared to JavaScript a bit like Smalltalk compared to Java: a question of lines of code required, maintainability and simple readability. Smalltalk continues to be used in banking, finance and telecom because of those strengths - Curl, the same. As the former moves to the web, the latter moves to desktop appliations.

Hopefully Curl arrives on the server-side in time to be fairly compared to server-side JavaScript (in which ever form it finally takes.)

Of historical interest: while Curl relates to LISP at MIT, Netscape's JavaScript relates to Smalltalk via the Self language and the Strongtalk team from an outfit acquired by Sun.

Niche languages do persist: Prolog (especially with CLP or CHR) is one. Even the UNICON variant of ICON would appear to be used in a US gov't project of long-standing.

Btw, it appears that HTML5 will be, well, just whatever "HTML" evolves to be. But without JavaScript/ECMAScript/CoffeeScript what do you have for business or domain-specific needs ?

And now Curl has a Java ORB available.

Note: just like Smalltalk, many large corporations with Curl on PC desktops do not widely advertise the fact due to the nature of the application or for reasons of competitive advantage - so it is not always obvious just how many Fortune 500 corp's have mission-critical app's in these "niche" languages.