At the moment it's for Forex only (Forex Simulator) but I plan to create versions for other markets as well in the next 3-6 months. Yes, it uses real historical tick data from multiple sources.
Go for manual or automated trading simulation?
- Thread starter MaxPastukhov
- Start date
Thank you for the advice!
You are absolutely right that there are plenty of platforms offering paper/demo trading. I would stay away from the market if there were no competition, even if this competition comes from free-for-user platforms. In my previous business I competed with top search engines and their free tools, being banned from using their advertising platforms for that reason and I still was the leader in the niche for 10+ years, until the industry died because of natural causes.
I know that I've already developed something people actually like and use, that's all I need to continue development
Yes, there are not a lot of them at the moment, but the number is growing at an increasing rate. Not "exponential", but enough to feel that it has enough traction to continue. I've started this project about 4 months ago, I can't expect more in such short period of time.I also know that I can develop the best product on the market in a short time, taking my software development and business background. All I need at the moment is feedback from other traders who may be interested in the product.
I can also develop a new trading platform out of the simulator in the future, which will solve one of the potential problems you mentioned. On the other side, it's more interesting for me to work with end customers, not with corporate ones. I may prefer to stay away from this crowded market.
My project may seem doomed to somebody with corporate background. But I'm a one-man show, it's just fun. I'm unemployable since my early 20th. My highest risk is burning more money than I make... which will last for at least 5 years taking into account the amount of savings I have at the moment. It's hard to become broke when your top expenses are food and utility bills
So, thank you again for the advice, but I would rather follow this dark road
I really do think a tool should support both manual and automated backtesting at the same time (because I end up hating to lack manual in the auto tools I've used), then again manual requires plenty GUI work to not be frustrating to use.
Thank you for the reply.
Can you please take a look at my tool and tell if it's enough user-friendly?
What is your favorite automated backtesting tool, by the way?
What do you like about it? What do you miss?
Most "tools" I have seen lack much, vendors have to taylor apps to what most retail can understand, as your knowledge expands, fewer retails clients are not going to pay more for novel approaches. Most simply get students or hire others for what they need built. And no am not going to share what is in mine, don't miss anything any more.
I found Ninja trader was ok up to a point, huge problem was it only could handle 500 symbols in version 7. Tradestation was just a huge problem as you couldn't have multiple entries within same bar, Ninja had same problem but found a work around.
It just easier to learn how to trade than deal with the public, and there is no short cuts in learning how to trade even with photo memory as you have to apply logic to an illogical career.
Only thing I might miss are some don't have free trials any more cause people like me will stick it into my own software. But have seen so much past 30 years, so unless someone made something and keeping it to them selves, only can do so much with numbers.
I own an older copy. And they have some good scanners and pattern recognition.
http://www.nebadawn.com/
I found Ninja trader was ok up to a point, huge problem was it only could handle 500 symbols in version 7. Tradestation was just a huge problem as you couldn't have multiple entries within same bar, Ninja had same problem but found a work around.
It just easier to learn how to trade than deal with the public, and there is no short cuts in learning how to trade even with photo memory as you have to apply logic to an illogical career.
Only thing I might miss are some don't have free trials any more cause people like me will stick it into my own software. But have seen so much past 30 years, so unless someone made something and keeping it to them selves, only can do so much with numbers.
I own an older copy. And they have some good scanners and pattern recognition.
http://www.nebadawn.com/
Thank you again for the detailed response
I'm not looking for anything specific, by the way. Just a clue of what I should look at before developing my solution. Ninja Trader and the link above may be a good start, I feel.
As for the idea of becoming a trader: imagine a guy sitting alone near a wooden house surrounded by pines. Far-far away from offices and people. It's how I work for 12-14 hours a day. It's my "summer office" where I spend 10-11 months a year, outside, almost never going inside the house.
I have a choice: look at charts, news and financials all days long or develop (my #1 hobby) something other people like, help them, discuss ideas and solve problems. Being a trader is soo lonely for me, I can't even explain. I miss my old business with plenty of communication. I didn't understand that I actually need it until I spent few weeks of trading alone.
It's not even about the money: I solved all my basic financial problems in my early 20th. Earning anything on top of that will change nothing in my life. It's more about feeling alive.
You can find the link in my profile, but I'm more looking for answers at the moment.
When I started this poll, I expected to get a clear answer, like I got when I asked what charts do people actually use? It enabled me to save several hours of my time on 2 rare charts nobody needs.
This time I'm talking about 2-4 weeks but I still can't make a decision. Those who answered equally divided between those who need manual only and those who are sure that manual+automated is the best way. What is your personal opinion?
Both is clearly advantageous as when you're polishing something off, it'd be nice to run a ton of sims and walk away, but that's not how you develop a system. Developing a system has to be manual, otherwise it's crap. You start off with an idea, or set of ideas. Whittling away at it can't be automated or guessed on. Automated can help with you throwing away ideas quicker.
But really, you can do automated sims with just SQL. Half the battle is structuring the data so that it's easy to get at and manipulate in-line (which takes understanding the nuances of the DB language/architecture chosen). I've been thinking about creating this myself, as getting the answers I need could become a 30 min exercise of getting my syntax right. That's clearly that's an attractive proposition. But I'm working on other higher leveraged things right now, and all of this gets in the way of surfing and climbing, which is why I trade.
But really, you can do automated sims with just SQL. Half the battle is structuring the data so that it's easy to get at and manipulate in-line (which takes understanding the nuances of the DB language/architecture chosen). I've been thinking about creating this myself, as getting the answers I need could become a 30 min exercise of getting my syntax right. That's clearly that's an attractive proposition. But I'm working on other higher leveraged things right now, and all of this gets in the way of surfing and climbing, which is why I trade.
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