1. Load data from a variety of formats (see the current list of known plugins) into containers you already know, like Pandas dataframes, Python lists, NumPy arrays, and more.
2. Convert boilerplate data loading code into reusable Intake plugins
3. Describe data sets in catalog files for easy reuse and sharing between projects and with others.
4. Share catalog information (and data sets) over the network with the Intake server