I worked at a top 10 in the world fx trading firm. No one will do that for you and asking that shows your complete ignorance on fx trading. Prove up your trade for a bit on real money. Then worry about improving it.
Lol Please define " extensive automated trading" so we have some clue what you want to do. Outrights or spreads? Speed sensitive? Monitor orders or full trading system?
Itm options are not good to trade. They act like futures and the market maker will only trade when they are getting edge. They also have wider quotes. Trading the underlying reduces transaction costs.
Used to be the case. Matching engine is in Aurora if I remember. If you are point an click scalping, good luck. If you are automated or spreading, you should be collocated at Aurora. Everything automated runs server side.
Usally they own the code, but you get a prepetual license. If you develope all yourself.
Sounds like you are 10 steps away from having anything worth something. What front end are you planning to write to? Most firms won't touch interactice brokers or ninja trader.