Profiles are created in a relatively easy fashion. First, point sounding information is extracted from model data. This information is compiled into .bufr files. BUFR (Binary Universal Form for the Representation of Meteorological Data) was created by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Technically it is known as WMO Code Form FM 94-IX Ext. BUFR. It is the result of a committee, which produced the first BUFR documents in 1988. The current revision of the format, Version 2, dates from 1991. Work on the format is ongoing. It is a code in the sense that it defines a protocol for the transmission of quantitative data, one of a number of codes created by the WMO (Source).
Files identifed by Bufkit are in the format .buf. The program Modsnd can be used to convert the raw .bufr files into .buf format. If you Enjoy programming in Linux, you can download the software and generate Bufkit profiles on your own. I assume this is the method that NWS offices and Universities use to generate their profiles, which are available on the web. An online storage of current and archived bufr files can be found here.
Once the file is generated or downloaded, it can be open with Bufkit. Bufkit takes the meteorlogical data contained in the .buf file and displays it in graphical format for interpretation. In addition, there are several parameters, including severe weather parameters, computed from the information contained in the .buf file. This allows for data to be analyzed easily and quickly, with high temporal resolution. It's easy to see how this certainly comes in handy for TV & government forecasters and storm chasers as well, who need to respond to information quickly.