HyperCard

HyperCard

Original author(s)	Bill Atkinson
Developer(s)	Apple Computer
Initial release	August 11, 1987; 36 years ago (August 11, 1987)[1][2]
Final release	2.4.1 / 1998; 26 years ago (1998)
Written in	Apple Pascal
Operating system	Macintosh: System 6, System 7, Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9 Apple IIGS: GS/OS 5 and 6
Platform	Macintosh, Apple IIGS
Available in	English
Type	Hypermedia, software development
License	Proprietary

HyperCard is a software application and development kit for Apple Macintosh and Apple IIGS computers. It is among the first successful hypermedia systems predating the World Wide Web.

HyperCard combines a flat-file database with a graphical, flexible, user-modifiable interface.^[3] HyperCard includes a built-in programming language called HyperTalk for manipulating data and the user interface.

This combination of features – a database with simple form layout, flexible support for graphics, and ease of programming – suits HyperCard for many different projects such as rapid application development of applications and databases, interactive applications with no database requirements, command and control systems, and many examples in the demoscene.

HyperCard was originally released in 1987 for $49.95 and was included free with all new Macs sold afterwards.^[1] It was withdrawn from sale in March 2004, having received its final update in 1998 upon the return of Steve Jobs to Apple. HyperCard was not ported to Mac OS X, but can run in the Classic Environment on versions of Mac OS X that support it.