This provided a WYSIWYG-like view of the page being edited with overlay icons showing where the code tags started and ended.

HoTMetaL was bundled with MetalWorks, a rudimentary image-editing program that performed basic tasks such as cropping, resizing, and reducing the number of colors in an image.

[4] During the development of SGI's WebForce line, SGI considered having SoftQuad port HoTMetaL Pro to IRIX for inclusion on the WebForce version of the Indy workstation.

[5] SGI eventually opted to purchase and port a partially finished HTML editor, then in development for Solaris from Amdahl Corporation instead.

The term comes from hot metal typesetting which involves melting alloys into the shape of letters so they can be used by Linotype machines to print words on paper.