Compiling a database query including receiving, by a query compiler from a client computing system, a state specification of a graphical user interface comprising a worksheet, wherein the worksheet is a presentation of a data set from a data warehouse; converting, by the query compiler, the state specification into a worksheet algebra including determining a first order of operations for elements within the state specification, wherein the worksheet algebra comprises the first order of operations over a nested table; converting, by the query compiler, the worksheet algebra into a database query; and sending the database query to the data warehouse.