What is a module?

A module is a package that is written by experts, users, or even a new beginner who is very good in a specific area to serve a specific objective. For example, a Python module is called quant, which is for quantitative financial analysis. The quant combines SciPy and DomainModel. The module contains a domain model that has exchanges, symbols, markets, and historical price, among other things. Modules are very important in Python. In this book, we will mention about a dozen modules implicitly or explicitly. In particular, we will discuss five modules in detail: NumPy and SciPy in Chapter 6, Introduction to NumPy and SciPy; Matplotlib in Chapter 7, Visual Finance via Matplotlib; and Pandas and Statsmodels in Chapter 8, Statistic Analysis of Time Series. As of November 6, 2013, there are 24,955 Python packages with different areas available according to the Python Package Index at https://pypi.python.org/pypi?%3Aaction=browse. For the financial and insurance industry, there...