Sample explanation and code to create data cubes in MySQL using a Gearman UDF and a perl worker. No need to know Perl. This method allows anyone to create crosstabs in SQL, regardless of the programming language used to query the database.

Map/Reduce and Queues for MySQL Using Gearman Eric Day (Sun Microsystems), Brian Aker (Sun Microsystems, Inc.) The official conference page is at http://www.mysqlconf.com/mysql2009/public/schedule/detail/7346 Download the PDF slides from http://assets.en.oreilly.com/1/event/21/Map_Reduce%20and%20Queues%20for%20MySQL%20Using%20Gearman%20Presentation.pdf

An introduction to Gearman (a client/server infrastructure for distributed workers) and its practical application to replication setup. By combining the ease of use of MySQL Sandbox and the flexibility of Gearman, you can ger remote replication setup with low risk of mistakes.

Come learn the fundamentals of how to leverage Gearman, the open-source, distributed job queuing system. Gearman can help in building scalable MySQL-backed applications or use through a user-defined function. Gearman’s generic design allows it to be used as a building block for a wide variety of applications, from farming out image processing to building your own Map/Reduce implementation.