The document discusses providing easy access to HDF data via NCL, IDL, and MATLAB. It presents examples and code snippets for reading HDF data from various NASA data centers like GES DISC, MODAPS, NSIDC, and LP-DAAC into the three software packages. Common issues when working with HDF files like HDF-EOS2 swaths with dimension maps and different ways metadata is stored are also addressed. The overall goal is to help lower the learning curve for users who want to analyze HDF data in their favorite analysis packages.