stable/docs/freqai.md

# Freqai

!!! Note
        Freqai is still experimental, and should be used at the user's own discretion.

Freqai is a module designed to automate a variety of tasks associated with
training a predictive model to provide signals based on input features.

Among the the features included:

* Easy large feature set construction based on simple user input
* Sweep model training and backtesting to simulate consistent model retraining through time
* Smart outlier removal of data points from prediction sets using a Dissimilarity Index.
* Data dimensionality reduction with Principal Component Analysis
* Automatic file management for storage of models to be reused during live
* Smart and safe data standardization
* Cleaning of NaNs from the data set before training and prediction.
* Automated live retraining (still VERY experimental. Proceed with caution.)

## General approach

The user provides FreqAI with a set of custom indicators (created inside the strategy the same way
a typical Freqtrade strategy is created) as well as a target value (typically some price change into
the future). FreqAI trains a model to predict the target value based on the input of custom indicators. 
FreqAI will train and save a new model for each pair in the config whitelist. 
Users employ FreqAI to backtest a strategy (emulate reality with retraining a model as new data is 
introduced) and run the model live to generate buy and sell signals. 

## Background and vocabulary

**Features** are the quantities with which a model is trained. $X_i$ represents the
vector of all features for a single candle. In Freqai, the user
builds the features from anything they can construct in the strategy.

**Labels** are the target values with which the weights inside a model are trained
toward. Each set of features is associated with a single label, which is also
defined within the strategy by the user. These labels look forward into the
future, and are not available to the model during dryrun/live/backtesting.

**Training** refers to the process of feeding individual feature sets into the
model with associated labels with the goal of matching input feature sets to
associated labels.

**Train data** is a subset of the historic data which is fed to the model during
training to adjust weights. This data directly influences weight connections
in the model.

**Test data** is a subset of the historic data which is used to evaluate the
intermediate performance of the model during training. This data does not
directly influence nodal weights within the model.

## Install prerequisites

Use `pip` to install the prerequisites with:

`pip install -r requirements-freqai.txt`

## Running from the example files

An example strategy, an example prediction model, and example config can all be found in 
`freqtrade/templates/ExampleFreqaiStrategy.py`, 
`freqtrade/freqai/prediction_models/CatboostPredictionModel.py`, 
`config_examples/config_freqai.example.json`, respectively. Assuming the user has downloaded
the necessary data, Freqai can be executed from these templates with:

```bash
freqtrade backtesting --config config_examples/config_freqai.example.json --strategy FreqaiExampleStrategy --freqaimodel CatboostPredictionModel --strategy-path freqtrade/templates --timerange 20220101-20220201
```

## Configuring the bot

### Example config file

The user interface is isolated to the typical config file. A typical Freqai
config setup includes:

```json
    "freqai": {
                "timeframes" : ["5m","15m","4h"],
                "train_period" : 30,
                "backtest_period" : 7,
                "identifier" :  "unique-id",
                "corr_pairlist": [
                        "ETH/USD",
                        "LINK/USD",
                        "BNB/USD"
                ],
                "feature_parameters" : {
                        "period": 24,
                        "shift": 2,
                        "weight_factor":  0,
                },
                "data_split_parameters" : {
                    "test_size": 0.25,
                    "random_state": 42
                },
                "model_training_parameters" : {
                    "n_estimators": 100,
                    "random_state": 42,
                    "learning_rate": 0.02,
                    "task_type": "CPU",
                },
        }
```

### Building the feature set

Most of these parameters are controlling the feature data set. Features are added by the user 
inside the `populate_any_indicators()` method of the strategy by prepending indicators with `%`:

```python
    def populate_any_indicators(self, pair, df, tf, informative=None, coin=""):
        informative['%-''%-' + coin + "rsi"] = ta.RSI(informative, timeperiod=14)
        informative['%-' + coin + "mfi"] = ta.MFI(informative, timeperiod=25)
        informative['%-' + coin + "adx"] = ta.ADX(informative, window=20)
        bollinger = qtpylib.bollinger_bands(qtpylib.typical_price(informative), window=14, stds=2.2)
        informative[coin + "bb_lowerband"] = bollinger["lower"]
        informative[coin + "bb_middleband"] = bollinger["mid"]
        informative[coin + "bb_upperband"] = bollinger["upper"]
        informative['%-' + coin + "bb_width"] = (
            informative[coin + "bb_upperband"] - informative[coin + "bb_lowerband"]
        ) / informative[coin + "bb_middleband"]
```
The user of the present example does not want to pass the `bb_lowerband` as a feature to the model, 
and has therefore not prepended it with `%`. The user does, however, wish to pass `bb_width` to the
model for training/prediction and has therfore prepended it with `%`._

(Please see the example script located in `freqtrade/templates/FreqaiExampleStrategy.py` for a full example of `populate_any_indicators()`)

The `timeframes` from the example config above are the timeframes of each `populate_any_indicator()`
 included metric for inclusion in the feature set. In the present case, the user is asking for the
`5m`, `15m`, and `4h` timeframes of the `rsi`, `mfi`, `roc`, and `bb_width` to be included
in the feature set.

In addition, the user can ask for each of these features to be included from
informative pairs using the `corr_pairlist`. This means that the present feature
set will include all the `base_features` on all the `timeframes` for each of
`ETH/USD`, `LINK/USD`, and `BNB/USD`.

`shift` is another user controlled parameter which indicates the number of previous
candles to include in the present feature set. In other words, `shift: 2`, tells
Freqai to include the the past 2 candles for each of the features included
in the dataset.

In total, the number of features the present user has created is:_

no. `timeframes` * no. `base_features` * no. `corr_pairlist` * no. `shift`_
3 * 3 * 3 * 2 = 54._

### Deciding the sliding training window and backtesting duration

Users define the backtesting timerange with the typical `--timerange` parameter in the user
configuration file. `train_period` is the duration of the sliding training window, while
`backtest_period` is the sliding backtesting window, both in number of days. In the present example,
the user is asking Freqai to use a training period of 30 days and backtest the subsequent 7 days.
This means that if the user sets `--timerange 20210501-20210701`, 
Freqai will train 8 separate models (because the full range comprises 8 weeks),
and then backtest the subsequent week associated with each of the 8 training
data set timerange months. Users can think of this as a "sliding window" which
emulates Freqai retraining itself once per week in live using the previous
month of data.

## Running Freqai

### Training and backtesting

The freqai training/backtesting module can be executed with the following command:

```bash
freqtrade backtesting --strategy FreqaiExampleStrategy --config config_freqai.example.json --freqaimodel CatboostPredictionModel --timerange 20210501-20210701
```

If this command has never been executed with the existing config file, then it will train a new model 
for each pair, for each backtesting window within the bigger `--timerange`._

---
**NOTE**
Once the training is completed, the user can execute this again with the same config file and 
FreqAI will find the trained models and load them instead of spending time training. This is useful 
if the user wants to tweak (or even hyperopt) buy and sell criteria inside the strategy. IF the user
*wants* to retrain a new model with the same config file, then he/she should simply change the `identifier`. 
This way, the user can return to using any model they wish by simply changing the `identifier`.

---

### Building a freqai strategy

The Freqai strategy requires the user to include the following lines of code in `populate_ any _indicators()`

```python
        from freqtrade.freqai.strategy_bridge import CustomModel

        def populate_indicators(self, dataframe: DataFrame, metadata: dict) -> DataFrame:
                # the configuration file parameters are stored here
                self.freqai_info = self.config['freqai']

                # the model is instantiated here
                self.model = CustomModel(self.config)

                print('Populating indicators...')

                # the following loops are necessary for building the features 
                # indicated by the user in the configuration file.
                for tf in self.freqai_info['timeframes']:
                        for i in self.freqai_info['corr_pairlist']:
                        dataframe = self.populate_any_indicators(i,
                                        dataframe.copy(), tf, coin=i.split("/")[0]+'-')

                # the model will return 4 values, its prediction, an indication of whether or not the prediction 
                # should be accepted, the target mean/std values from the labels used during each training period.
                (dataframe['prediction'], dataframe['do_predict'], 
                        dataframe['target_mean'], dataframe['target_std']) = self.model.bridge.start(dataframe, metadata)

                return dataframe
```

The user should also include `populate_any_indicators()` from `templates/FreqaiExampleStrategy.py` which builds 
the feature set with a proper naming convention for the IFreqaiModel to use later.

### Building an IFreqaiModel

Freqai has an example prediction model based on the popular `Catboost` regression (`freqai/prediction_models/CatboostPredictionModel.py`). However, users can customize and create
their own prediction models using the `IFreqaiModel` class. Users are encouraged to inherit `train()`, `predict()`, 
and `make_labels()` to let them customize various aspects of their training procedures.

### Running the model live

Freqai can be run dry/live using the following command

```bash
freqtrade trade --strategy FreqaiExampleStrategy --config config_freqai.example.json --freqaimodel ExamplePredictionModel
```

By default, Freqai will not find find any existing models and will start by training a new one 
given the user configuration settings. Following training, it will use that model to predict for the
duration of `backtest_period`. After a full `backtest_period` has elapsed, Freqai will auto retrain 
a new model, and begin making predictions with the updated model.

If the user wishes to start dry/live from a saved model, the following configuration 
parameters need to be set:

```json
    "freqai": {
        "identifier": "example",
        "live_trained_timerange": "20220330-20220429",
        "live_full_backtestrange": "20220302-20220501"
    }
```

Where the `identifier` is the same identifier which was set during the backtesting/training. Meanwhile,
the `live_trained_timerange` is the sub-trained timerange (the training window) which was set 
during backtesting/training. These are available to the user inside `user_data/models/*/sub-train-*`. 
`live_full_backtestrange` was the full data range associated with the backtest/training (the full time 
window that the training window and backtesting windows slide through). These values can be located 
inside the `user_data/models/` directory. In this case, although Freqai will initiate with a 
pre-trained model, if a full `backtest_period` has elapsed since the end of the user set 
`live_trained_timerange`, it will self retrain.

## Data anylsis techniques

### Controlling the model learning process

The user can define model settings for the data split `data_split_parameters` and learning parameters
`model_training_parameters`. Users are encouraged to visit the Catboost documentation
for more information on how to select these values. `n_estimators` increases the
computational effort and the fit to the training data. If a user has a GPU
installed in their system, they may benefit from changing `task_type` to `GPU`.
The `weight_factor` allows the user to weight more recent data more strongly
than past data via an exponential function:

$$ W_i = \exp(\frac{-i}{\alpha*n}) $$

where $W_i$ is the weight of data point $i$ in a total set of $n$ data points._

Finally, `period` defines the offset used for the `labels`. In the present example,
the user is asking for `labels` that are 24 candles in the future.

### Removing outliers with the Dissimilarity Index

The Dissimilarity Index (DI) aims to quantify the uncertainty associated with each
prediction by the model. To do so, Freqai measures the distance between each training
data point and all other training data points:

$$ d_{ab} = \sqrt{\sum_{j=1}^p(X_{a,j}-X_{b,j})^2} $$

where $d_{ab}$ is the distance between the standardized points $a$ and $b$. $p$
is the number of features i.e. the length of the vector $X$. The
characteristic distance, $\overline{d}$ for a set of training data points is simply the mean
of the average distances:

$$ \overline{d} = \sum_{a=1}^n(\sum_{b=1}^n(d_{ab}/n)/n) $$

$\overline{d}$ quantifies the spread of the training data, which is compared to
the distance between the new prediction feature vectors, $X_k$ and all the training
data:

$$ d_k = \argmin_i d_{k,i} $$

which enables the estimation of a Dissimilarity Index:

$$ DI_k = d_k/\overline{d} $$

Equity and crypto markets suffer from a high level of non-patterned noise in the
form of outlier data points. The dissimilarity index allows predictions which
are outliers and not existent in the model feature space, to be thrown out due
to low levels of certainty. Activating the Dissimilarity Index can be achieved with:

```json
    "freqai": {
        "feature_parameters" : {
                "DI_threshold": 1
        }
    }
```

The user can tweak the DI with `DI_threshold` to increase or decrease the extrapolation of the 
trained model.

### Reducing data dimensionality with Principal Component Analysis

Users can reduce the dimensionality of their features by activating the `principal_component_analysis`:

```json
    "freqai": {
        "feature_parameters" : {
                "principal_component_analysis": true
        }
    }
```

Which will perform PCA on the features and reduce the dimensionality of the data so that the explained
variance of the data set is >= 0.999.

### Removing outliers based on feature statistical distributions

The user can tell Freqai to remove outlier data points from the training/test data sets by setting:

```json
    "freqai": {
        "feature_parameters" : {
                "remove_outliers": true
        }
    }
```

Freqai will check the statistical distributions of each feature (or component if the user activated
`principal_component_analysis`) and remove any data point that sits more than 3 standard deviations away 
from the mean.

## Additional information

### Feature standardization

The feature set created by the user is automatically standardized to the training
data only. This includes all test data and unseen prediction data (dry/live/backtest).

### File structure

`user_data_dir/models/` contains all the data associated with the trainings and
backtests. This file structure is heavily controlled and read by the `FreqaiDataKitchen()`
and should thus not be modified.