Curl

What Curl does

Curl is a proprietary Rich Internet Application (RIA) development platform maintained and marketed by SCSK Corporation, a Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime-listed Japanese IT services company (ticker 9719). The platform originated from 1995 DARPA-funded research at MIT, was commercialized by Curl Corporation in 1998 with twelve MIT researchers, and came under SCSK (then Sumisho Computer Systems) management in 2004; the US-based Curl Inc. was closed in 2011 when SCSK Corporation was formed through merger.

The platform consists of three core components: the Curl Language, which unifies document formatting, markup, data-processing, procedural, and object-oriented programming into a single language; CDE (Curl Development Tools for Eclipse), an Eclipse-plugin IDE with autocompletion, Visual Layout Editor, profiler, and HTTP monitor; and the Curl RTE, a JIT-compiled client runtime with sandbox security, AES encryption, IPv6, and simultaneous multi-version support. A library ecosystem (WSDK for SOAP/WSDL, CDK for SQLite/OCC offline computing, CDK-DS for AMF, Curl ORB for Java, Sonntag MVC framework, and Advanced UI/Enterprise UX libraries) extends the platform for enterprise integration. Since 2019, the platform is Windows-only; Mac OS and Linux support were discontinued.

Curl generates revenue through annual subscription licenses (Enterprise, SaaS, and Development variants priced by user PCs and servers), one-time Curl Pro/IDE licenses, and free client-side RTE distribution. The customer base is concentrated in over 500 large Japanese enterprises deploying mission-critical CRM, business intelligence dashboards, reporting systems, and migrations from legacy client/server applications, with limited geographic expansion into Korea. The product operates in maintenance mode, with the most recent releases focused on Internet Explorer end-of-life migration, Microsoft Edge WebView2 embedding, and bug fixes.

Name

Curl

Legal name

SCSK Corporation

Website

https://curl.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Curl is a proprietary Rich Internet Application platform maintained by SCSK Corporation (TSE Prime: 9719), providing a unified language, Eclipse-based IDE, and JIT-compiled runtime for Windows-based enterprise application development. It serves over 500 large Japanese enterprises building mission-critical CRM, BI dashboards, and reporting systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Enterprise Application Development Platform

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Platform Engineering & Internal Developer Platforms (IDP) (BPAEAKAC)

Keywords

• RIA development platform
• Enterprise web applications
• Eclipse IDE plugin
• Client runtime engine
• Rich internet applications

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Curl Deployment License: Server-side licensing for deploying Curl applications over the internet. Includes Curl Deployment License (free for noncommercial/personal use with restrictions) and Curl Pro/Deployment License (paid commercial license with advanced features).
2. Curl Pro/IDE License: Paid license upgrading the CDE/Curl IDE for commercial development, unlocking security features, source code obfuscation, and advanced development tools.
3. Enterprise Licenses: Paid enterprise licenses including Enterprise License (based on number of user PCs and servers), SaaS License (based on number of user PCs accessing the distribution URL), and Development License (limited to 20 client PCs and 1 URL).
4. Curl RTE Distribution: Curl Runtime Engine is provided free of charge to end users. Revenue is generated from server-side deployment licenses rather than client-side RTE distribution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Curl is a unified Rich Internet Application (RIA) development platform composed of the Curl programming language (combining document markup, procedural, and object-oriented capabilities), the CDE (Curl Development Tools for Eclipse) IDE, and the Curl RTE (Runtime Engine) that executes Curl applications on client PCs. The platform is used by enterprises to build complex, mission-critical business applications with desktop-class UI richness, offline execution, and sandbox security. Core offerings are sold via commercial licenses (Pro/Deployment, Pro/IDE, Enterprise, SaaS, Development variants), while the Curl RTE is freely distributed to end users.

Product overview

Curl is a unified RIA (Rich Internet Application) development platform developed by SCSK Corporation, consisting of the Curl Language (document formatting, markup, and object-oriented programming), CDE (Curl Development Tools for Eclipse) IDE, and Curl RTE (Runtime Engine) as core components. The platform supports rich user interfaces with 2D/3D graphics, multimedia, and data visualization capabilities. Development libraries include WSDK for web services integration, CDK for SQLite database connectivity, CDK-DS for AMF protocol communication, and Curl ORB for Java integration. The Curl Sonntag MVC framework and Advanced UI/Enterprise UX libraries extend application development capabilities. The platform targets enterprise-class web application development with features like Occasionally Connected Computing (OCC) for offline operation, JIT compilation for performance, and sandbox security. Supported platforms include Windows 10 and 11, with legacy support for Internet Explorer 11 and Edge IE mode.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Curl RTE (Runtime Engine): Proprietary runtime that allows Curl applications to execute on client PCs
• CDE (Curl Development Tools for Eclipse)
• Curl Language
• Caede
• Curl Pro/IDE
• Curl Deployment License

Products and services

• Curl Language A document formatting, layout markup, data-processing, procedural, and highly-modular object-oriented language that combines the capabilities of HTML, Java, and Visual Basic into a single language for RIA development. For enterprise developers building and maintaining complex web applications.
• CDE (Curl Development Tools for Eclipse) Eclipse-based integrated development environment plugin bundling an editor, project browser, wizards, and debugging tools, with code autocompletion, background error checking, Visual Layout Editor, profiler, code coverage tool, and HTTP monitor. For enterprise developers building Curl applications.
• Curl RTE (Runtime Engine) Proprietary runtime engine that executes Curl applications on client PCs, featuring JIT compilation, sandbox security, AES encryption, IPv6 support, 2D/3D multimedia, multitouch/gesture support, and simultaneous multi-version installation. Distributed free to end users.
• Web Service Development Kit (WSDK)

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% or higher increase in development productivity compared to previous version (Caede 2.0)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1995Curl's development originated from research at MIT funded by DARPA in 1995 to produce a rich client language for the emerging internet society. Twelve MIT researchers founded Curl Corporation in 1998, the predecessor to today's SCSK Corporation. SCSK has maintained all licensing, sales, marketing and support services since 2004.
• Eclipse FoundationcoreTechnology or IntegrationCDE (Curl Development Tools for Eclipse) is built as an Eclipse plugin, leveraging the Eclipse platform. The included Eclipse code is used under the Eclipse Public License vol.1.0. Modified Java source code is available for download. Eclipse plugin compatible with Eclipse versions 3.7.2 through 4.34 (2022-12 through 2024-12 releases).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Adobe (Flash / Flex): Adobe Flash and Flex were the most widely-deployed proprietary RIA platforms before being deprecated in 2020. Curl occupied the same architectural niche (proprietary runtime + language for rich client applications) and faced similar market dynamics as web standards matured.
• Microsoft Silverlight: Microsoft Silverlight was a proprietary RIA platform with a runtime, language (XAML/.NET), and developer tools—directly comparable to Curl's language+RTE+CDE stack. It reached end-of-life in 2021 after losing to HTML5, illustrating the structural risk Curl faces.
• Oracle JavaFX: JavaFX is Oracle's RIA framework for building desktop and web applications with a Java-based runtime. It shares Curl's positioning as a runtime-enabled framework for rich enterprise UIs and competes for similar enterprise developer mindshare.
• Sencha Ext JS: Sencha Ext JS is a JavaScript framework for building data-intensive enterprise web applications (RIAs). It addresses the same use cases as Curl (enterprise dashboards, complex data grids, offline-capable apps) with a more modern web-standard-based approach.
• GeneXus: GeneXus is a proprietary low-code development platform that auto-generates applications for multiple platforms from a single knowledge base. Like Curl, it offers a unified proprietary environment for enterprise application development with cross-platform generation capabilities.

Emerging players

• OutSystems: OutSystems is a modern low-code application development platform for enterprise RIA and web applications. It targets the same enterprise modernization use cases Curl addresses (legacy migration, complex data-driven apps) but with a contemporary low-code paradigm.
• Mendix (Siemens): Mendix is a low-code platform for enterprise application development with strong visual modeling and collaboration features. It competes for the same enterprise application development budget as Curl, particularly in scenarios involving legacy system modernization.
• WaveMaker (Radicalbit): WaveMaker is a low-code platform for building enterprise web and mobile applications, historically positioned as a rapid RIA development environment. It addresses similar enterprise modernization use cases as Curl with a contemporary web-based approach.
• Apache Cordova: Apache Cordova enables hybrid mobile application development using web technologies wrapped in native containers—an evolution of the RIA concept for mobile. Caede, Curl's mobile development environment, targeted the same hybrid mobile use case Cordova now dominates.

Broad incumbents

• Progress Software (Telerik): Progress Software (owner of Telerik) provides enterprise UI component libraries and development tools including Kendo UI and NativeScript. It serves the same enterprise RIA and developer productivity market that Curl addresses, but as part of a broader software portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CurlPlatform

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Curl