For example, HTTP support is built in, as is support for arrays and regular expression pattern matching. The MetaCard installed base is as broad as for most other horizontal-market products, with no one industry or type of application predominating. Scientists, engineers, and other technical professionals use MetaCard to build specialized data analysis, simulation, and presentation tools. Multimedia professionals use it to produce interactive product brochures and Computer Based Training packages. Educators use it to produce interactive courseware, demonstrations, and to teach programming and multimedia development.
Technical writers use it to produce on-line help systems and documentation indexes and directories.
Corporate and government software development departments use it to produce in-house and commercially distributed applications, rapid prototyping, and to build customized software development tools. Small independent software developers use MetaCard to build custom software applications for their clients. Hobbyists and other end users use it to learn programming and to build productivity enhancing tools for their own use. The size of the installed base by platform ranks UNIX, Windows, Mac. Sales rates currently rank MacOS, Windows, UNIX, however, so the relative position of these platforms in the installed base will probably equalize over the next year.