The subject invention pertains to systems and methods that facilitate development and debugging of calculations in a multidimensional data environment or model. Data cube calculation scripts, including those provided in MDX (Multidimensional Expressions), can be executed or applied incrementally. Breakpoints can be set with respect to a calculation script and the cube state can be viewed and queried via a user interface. Users are enabled by the subject systems and methods to step through calculation scripts, identify the effects on a cube, and alter the script if the desired results failed to occur. In addition to debugging, the systems and methods can be employed for initial development of scripts.