The Nitro extension simplifies the process of installing and managing Curl applications accessed via a browser as well as directly from the desktop. Curl Nitro is a platform for both traditional RIA and desktop RIA that provides enterprise-level security, high performance and support for large data sets , said Richard Monson-Haefel, vice president of developer relations at Curl.

Nitro features an applet installer and desktop controls, a client-side database, demo applets, and a desktop security model where Nitro applications use the same security model as Curl applets. Nitro applications run in a secure sandbox with local data access but limited system privileges. Curl’s initial Nitro Beta demos include a Salesforce.com dashboard and the Social Network Visualization application.

Nitro runs on Windows platforms as well as Linux and Mac. The public beta of Curl Nitro will be available for download April 21, with the full release scheduled to be available later in the year. The release of Nitro comes on the heels of Curl’s recent announcement of the company’s support of the Eclipse platform, as well as the release of an Ubuntu Installer for its RIA platform.

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