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Why would anyone want to rewrite curl? What's so wrong with using C?

• polygamous_bat 3y ago
  Because when people spend enough time rewriting things, rewrites becomes an end in itself rather than means to an end.
• siva7 3y ago
  "Rewriting curl" has become a meme and is a good teaching example of when engineers don't grasp the complexity of the requirements
  • JackSlateur 3y ago
    On the other hand, if you "rewrite curl" but only support Linux and Windows on x86_64, well, that task is probably achievable
• cantSpellSober 3y ago
  To see if they can? This is HN after all :) In the spirit of discussion, this article (2021) makes the argument that it would correct existing bugs in curl: > There are 95 bugs [in curl]. By my count Rust would have prevented 53 of these [in 2021]. https://blog.timhutt.co.uk/curl-vulnerabilities-rust/ https://blog.timhutt.co.uk/curl-vulnerabilities-rust/ The curl author (Stenberg) has said: > I don't believe in rewrites, no matter which language. I believe in replacing code and fixing components gradually over time. That could mean that we have a curl written mostly in rust in 10 years. Or in 20 years. Or not. https://archive.is/Bs16c https://archive.is/Bs16c