One embodiment includes a method of performing dataflow processing. The method includes representing a first asynchronous processing node as a first future. The first future represents the lifecycle of processing of the first asynchronous processing node. The method further includes representing one or more other asynchronous operations as one or more other futures. The one or more other futures represent the asynchronous completion of one or more operations'processing. The first future and the one or more other futures are represented as a single composite future. The single composite future represents completion of processing of the combination of the first asynchronous processing node and the one or more other asynchronous operations.