Naming ConventionΒΆ

Python has a relatively strict coding style guide as prescribed in the famous PEP8 document.

Since lifelib models are written in Python, it is tempting to apply the naming convention in PEP8 to lifelib as well. However, in actuarial models, variable names, especially cells names tend to be longer. For example, it is impractical to type a cell name like this:

directly_attributable_acquisition_expense_per_sumassured

In addition, lifelib spaces contain much more cells with similar names than ordinary Python modules would contain variables.

To address these issues, the naming convention original to lifelib is set up as prescribed below.

Naming style

For space and cells names, UpperCamelCase should be used. However, when an abbreviation ending with an upper case letter needs to be concatenated, _ may be placed after the letter to improve readability, such as PV_Cashflow

Concatenation order

When the name of a cells is made up of two or more words, the words(or their abbreviations) should be concatenated in the natural order, i.e. modifiers followed by their modificand, such as NetInsurCF and AccDeath. However, when a modifier indicates that the cells is a sub item of the cells without the modifier, the oder should be reversed, i.e. the modificand comes first followed by its modifier, such as BenefitMat, BenefitDeath, BenefitSurr.

Abbreviation list

Below is the list of abbreviations for words that are commonly used as names of cells and spaces in lifelib projects.

Word

Abbreviation

Accidental

Acc

Accreted

Accr

Acquisition

Acq

Actual

Act

Adjustment

Adj

After

Aft

Amortization

Amort

Annual(ized)

Ann

Annuity

Ann

Asset

Ast

Assumption

Asmp

Attained

Att

Before

Bfr

Begin(ning)

Beg

Cashflow

CF

Catastrophe

Cat

Change

Chg

Charge

Chrg

Commission

Comm

Commutation

Comm

Consumption

Cnsmp

Correlation

Corr

Coverage

Cov

Death

Dth

Decrease

Decr

Disability

Disab

Discount

Disc

Dividend

Div

Economic

Econ

Estimated

Est

Expected

Expct

Expense

Exps

Factor

Fac

Finance

Fin

Financial

Fin

Frequency

Freq

Fulfilment

Fluf

Generation

Gen

Hospitalization

Hosp

Income

Incm

Increase

Incr

Incurred

Incur

Inflation

Infl

In-force

IF

Initial

Init

Insurance

Insur

Interest

Int

Investment

Invst

Issue

Iss

Loading

Load

Longevity

Longev

Maintenance

Maint

Maturity

Mat

Morbidity

Morbid

Mortality

Mort

Multiplier

Mult

Policy

Pol

Policies

Pols

Premium

Prem

Present Value

PV

Product

Prod

Projection

Proj

Release

Rels

Reserve

Rsrv

Return

Ret

Revision

Rev

Scenario

Scen

Sickness

Sick

Sum Assured

SA

Surgery

Surg

Surrender

Surr

Table

Tbl

Transfer

Trans

Unearned

Uern