IMHO, in Software Development it's a good idea for a candidate to ask about the project, if only because any good professional would want to know if they're a good fit or not.

Mind you, that makes sense in the Technical interview rather than with HR - no point in asking about what are the practical professional details of the work you will be doing from a person who doesn't really have a clue (the HR person) when you know you will be facing an actual professional peer in a technical interview who knows the work that needs to be done in your terms and with the level of detail and understanding only domain professionals have.

In my experience doing the Technical Interview side of things (and most of my career I was a Contractor - so a Freelancer - which is hardly a "company man" with a rosy view of my relationship to them or somebody who thinks people work for fun), people who don't ask about the project during the Technical Interview tend to as the interview proceeds end up get revealed as technically weak: an experienced "Engineer" would want to make sure they're well matched to the kind of work they're be doing (as well as, in my experience from the other side of the interviewing table, spot the messy fucked up situations before you take the contract so that if you can avoid ending in such disfunctional environments).