don't deal with someone you don't know or someone not recommended by someone you know.
I mean, unless your method, edge is so powerful it won't be disrupted by having several traders using it..
well, only a matter of time until too many people are using the method.
when you commission someone serious, you will sign a non disclosure document to protect yourself.
what some people do, when the project is large enough or sensitive enough, they contract the different parts to different people or firms, so noone knows the entire method.
also, make sure to use parameters and try to keep these parameters confidential. with many methods, the edge is in the details. keep as many as possible to yourself.
I must say that for serious ATS projects, you need a very good cooperation with your programmer(s), and need to give away many details if not all.
therefore, you need to find someone trustworthy and that can be very very hard.
and that's why, it's better to use someone recommended, someone who already worked for another trader or firm for instance, showing they can be trustworthy and keep confidentiality.
I am sorry to say that on ET, I would be careful to deal with most because they are many people simply trying to become profitable. Therefore, getting free (even paid to them) access to a proven edge (yours) is a deal made in heaven.
I would rather trust an already profitable trader or someone recommended by one.
the ideal situation is to have you build your own software. whenever possible, do that. however, for systems where speed is critical, as others said, excel is not ideal for several reasons.
a dedicated application, in C++ ideally, with a very direct connection to the Broker's API is better than Excel. Way better.
if you don't know C++, don't think about learning it. then Excel with it's embedded Visual Basic, although not great, is easier to learn and you may be able to do everything yourself (or easily find someone to do it for you).
BTW, a serious programmer for trader, may offer you free updates for a period of time (because the broker's API changes etc) and small fee for small changes.
Think of this as an important business relationship. to be successful you need a good infrastructure and efficient software because others competing for your orders will get these.
Being able to have your methods well programmed and maintained in the future is worth a lot.. take the time to find a good trustworthy programmer.
start by asking traders using automation how they did it, who did it for them. if they can recommend you someone (not themselves of course!) then that's interesting. asking a programmer who is advertising to find clients, I would not trust as much. imho.
and back to the topic : an excel solution is a 3rd rate solution. use it only if you have no other choice. again, those competing for the same limited volatility out there will often use better tools, better brokers, faster ISP etc...
and all these things are not edges, but they are eroding others edges
