     ///
     /// Username if using Basic Auth 
     ///
-    private var userName: String? = nil
+    private var userName: String?
     
     /// 
     /// Password if using Basic Auth 
     ///
-    private var password: String? = nil
+    private var password: String?
 
     ///
     /// Maximum number of redirects before failure

    ///
    /// Delegate that can have a read or write callback
    ///
    private weak var delegate: CurlInvokerDelegate? = nil
    
    ///
    /// Maximum number of redirects 

        }

        // Adding support for Basic HTTP authentication
        let user = self.userName ?? ""
        let pwd = self.password ?? ""
        var authenticationClause = ""
        if (!user.isEmpty && !pwd.isEmpty) {
            
