1. A method for coordinating a computation upon a plurality of data containers deployed at a plurality of nodes, comprising: at each of the nodes, executing a corresponding process configured for starting a program to perform the computation in response to a command received from a database system; and at the database system, receiving a statement specifying an external routine for performing the computation and, in response to receiving the statement: concurrently transmitting a plurality of commands for performing the computation to each said corresponding process; receiving results from each said process; and completing processing of the statement based on the results received from each said process.