1. A programming language system, comprising a processor that executes the following computer-executable components: a query component to interact with hierarchical node-based data collections; and a language extension component to augment the query component to facilitate interactions with the node-based data collections, the language extension component supplies functions to filter the data collections at a granular level, re-shape the data collections, sort the data collections, and extend the data collections with computed nodes, wherein the functions include an extended sub-node predicate function, an advanced projection function, a computed node function, a node grouping function, a node summary function, and a result sorting function.