1. A method of improving parallel functional processing, the method including: performing data transformations in a functional processing pipeline using at least one instance or composition combining each of categorical functions in a group including TupleMaker, FreeMonoidReduce, TupleWithList, MonoidTupleListMerge, and MonoidTupleListEvaluate, wherein: the TupleMaker categorical function transforms a free monoid over strings into a free monoid over tuples including at least one key-value pair in each tuple; the FreeMonoidReduce categorical function merges a nested free monoid over tuples into one free monoid over tuples, thereby reducing a nesting depth of the nested free monoid over tuples; the TupleWithList categorical function transforms one element in each tuple of the one free monoid over tuples into list of one element in a free monoid over tuples with an embedded list element; the MonoidTupleListMerge categorical function merges consecutive tuples of the free monoid over tuples with the embedded list element; and the MonoidTupleListEvaluate categorical function transforms a plurality of list values into a single value based on a parameterized operation.