1. A method for creating and executing a computer dataflow, comprising the steps of: (a) defining a plurality of components based on an input, an output, metadata and a sub-interpreter, each of said components representing a computer-implemented computational process that is performed on one or more inputs to the component and that generates one or more outputs based on a predefined computational algorithm; (b) providing a graphical user interface that allows a user to visually create the computer dataflow on a user display by selecting from a library of said components, and graphically connecting one or more input terminals of selected components with one or more output terminals of selected components; wherein, for each selected component, the one or more input terminals graphically correspond to the one or more inputs to the predefined computational algorithm associated with the component, and the one or more output terminals graphically correspond to the one or more outputs generated by the predefined computational algorithm associated with the component; and (c) without intervention from the user, distributing execution of the plurality of said selected components across a plurality of machines during performance of the computer dataflow, wherein the component automatically executes upon receiving a minimum number of inputs.