About lifelib¶
What is lifelib?¶
lifelib is a collection of life actuarial models written in Python. lifelib includes a variety of models, with sample scripts and Jupyter notebooks to demonstrate how to use the models. lifelib is being continuously developed, and more models will be added in future.
The lifelib depends on modelx, an open-source Python package for building object-oriented models in Python.
What for?¶
lifelib models are highly versatile and transparent. You can customize lifelib models and utilize them in various practical areas, such as:
Model validation / testing
Pricing / profit testing
Research / educational projects
Valuation / cashflow projections
Asset-liability modeling
Risk and capital modeling
Actuarial modernization to replace spreadsheet models
Why lifelib?¶
lifelib models are built using modelx. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the advantages of using modelx:
Models run fast!
Formulas are easy to read
Easy to trace formula dependency and errors
Formulas are instantly evaluated
Pandas and Numpy can be utilized
Object-oriented
Input from Excel and CSV files
Documents can be integrated
Models are saved in text files
Consequently, you can expect following benefits from model development and governance perspectives:
More efficient, transparent and faster model development
Model integration with Python ecosystem (Pandas, Numpy, SciPy, etc..)
Spreadsheet error elimination
Better version control / model governance
Automated model testing
How lifelib works¶
lifelib is a Python package, and it includes a variety of libraries. A library is a folder containing models, sample scripts and Jupyter notebooks. Choose a library you want to use as the base for your own project, and copy the library from the package to your own location. See here for how to make a copy of a library.
To interface with the model interactively, start your favorite IPython console, import modelx and read the model into the IPython session by modelx.read_model function. You can use any IPython console, but Spyder with the plugin for modelx is the recommended IDE as it provides graphical user interface to lifelib models. Read more about Spyder Plugin for modelx.
Once the model is read, it is available as a modelx Model object in the IPython session. The model is composed of Spaces. Spaces contain Cells and other Spaces. Cells are much like cells in spreadsheets, which in turn, can store formulas and associated values.
With a lifelib model, you can:
Get calculated values by simply accessing model elements,
Change the model by changing input and writing formulas in Python,
View the tree of model elements in graphical user interface,
Output results to Pandas objects,
Save the model, load it back again, and do much more.
Start from Quick Start page.