Getting Started
1. Install
pip install cranalytics
# or: uv add cranalytics
Visualization (matplotlib, plotly, seaborn) and survival analysis (lifelines) are included in the base install.
If you choose an external modeling backend, install that backend directly:
uv add optbinning # optimal WoE binning
uv add xgboost # xgboost model families
uv add lightgbm # lightgbm challenger workflows
2. Run the canonical first command
cranalytics quickstart
This is the recommended first-run experience. It shows the package workflows, walks through synthetic examples, and tells you what real-world data shape you need next. Your goal is one first win and one clear next step, not a full tour of every command.
If you already know the workflow you want, use the same entry point without the interactive menu:
cranalytics quickstart --workflow vintage
cranalytics quickstart --workflow lifetime-loss --show-requirements
cranalytics quickstart --workflow vintage --write-template
cranalytics quickstart --workflow feature-analytics --write-template
3. Pick the right workflow
Use one of these pages next:
- Workflow Gallery — visual scan of the main workflows
- Choose Your Path — narrative workflow triage
- Workflow Map — one-page command/input/output matrix
If you already know the right workflow, those pages also point to the stable direct demo command, such as:
cranalytics demo vintage
quickstart is still the default recommendation for a new user.
4. Validate or prepare your own data
If you are starting with a portfolio snapshot, see what columns the built-in portfolio validator expects first:
cranalytics check --show-schema
Then validate your portfolio file:
cranalytics check your_data.csv
check auto-detects portfolio, vintage, rollforward, and feature-analytics
schemas. Use <slug> check to select a workflow explicitly. Rollforward data
also has a dedicated pre-flight command:
cranalytics rollforward check your_rollforward_data.csv --output-dir rollforward_readiness_out
For advanced ML modeling, survival, or other shapes without a CLI validator, use the workflow-specific references and tutorials, starting with Input Data Contracts.
| Workflow | Starter template | Validation path |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime loss forecasting | Portfolio template | cranalytics check your_data.csv |
| FICO segmentation | Portfolio template | cranalytics check your_data.csv |
| Portfolio simulation | Portfolio template | cranalytics check your_data.csv |
| Rollforward workflow | Rollforward template | cranalytics rollforward check your_rollforward_data.csv --output-dir rollforward_readiness_out |
| Vintage curve fitting | Vintage template | cranalytics vintage check your_data.csv |
| Feature analytics | Feature analytics template | cranalytics feature-analytics check your_data.csv |
| Advanced ML modeling, survival | No starter template | cranalytics <slug> check your_data.csv; see cranalytics <slug> run --help for required semantic mappings |
5. Go deeper by workflow
- Vintage curve fitting and smoothing -> Vintage Analysis Tutorial
- Lifetime loss forecasting -> Lifetime Loss Forecasting Tutorial
- FICO segmentation -> FICO Segmentation Tutorial
- Feature analytics -> Feature Analytics Tutorial
- Advanced ML modeling -> ML Modeling Tutorial
- Survival analysis (advanced) -> Survival Analysis Tutorial
- Claude skills integration -> Claude Skills Getting Started