how to learn to program/code candle stick charts w/constraints, entry, exit, etc.

for now I guess most relevant question is where can I get literally years' worth of price data on crude oil and other commodities in 15 min chart terms (candles)? If I have nothing better to do I can at least do more manual backtesting.

I assume I'll have to pay to get access to that, but ideally it'd be through the broker/platform I end up using as a package if I open up a futures acct anyway. IB or Tradestation are probably best candidates presuming their charts go back a long ways and it is exportable the data.

Seems like a doable thing to get this backtested but tough considering I have no experience with this kind of programming, and this is not simply EOD prices I'm looking at, but specific candle types.
 
CQG sells data, but I'm not sure what kind of format it comes in and how far back they offer it. It's listed on their site I believe.
 
thanks. I think my best bet is to actually talk to some reps at these brokerages about what I'm looking for, and just to learn how I might be able to use some of the more nuanced indicators to refine the core strategy and improve the edge. Although I think keep it simple stupid applies strongly. I don't care about holding overnight so long as I'm following the strategy which looks like it'll leave a max loss per trade of 15 ticks or so (CL). With this strategy it is not scalp in and out every few seconds. Very much predicated on the retracing nature of markets particularly when one of these candles I'm looking for prints.
 
If you know how to program, then backetsting in a platform like Ninjatrader should be doable. If you want a simple way you can try Multicharts 4 and the easylanguage option. If you want to go beyond known candles and into more obscure formations with specific performance criteria then you can use a data-mining platform like Price Action Lab that focuses on price patterns but in any case you should know that any filter you use or find via any method can be a curve-fit and you should also analyze it carefully before committing to it. Knowing the true expectation of your method is very important.
 
I'll look into what you listed there. As I said, I don't know anything really about programming or even entering things in that kind of coded format, let alone how to manipulate it once I have it all imported into Excel. I should be able to figure this out, though, whether there is somehow a template already or if I just put the time in to learn. It'd be great to be a boss at programming and enter in new constraints and indicators to increase the conviction on entry and exit, but this strategy is not super high-tech anyway at this point.

I went to investing.com and was able to get it to go back another week as far as available candle data for 15 min chart, so I'll check those extra 7 days out and see how the strategy would fare.

Basically strategy is two steps, 1. identify the specific candle with the wick length and 2. assume buy/sell (whether it was bull/bear candle) and then whatever comes first, profit tgt or SL, and then onto the next one and check what happens again, and overall see out of X # of setups, how many were W and L, ratio, etc. and how maybe adding say even 3 or 4 ticks to what I'm willing to be okay with profit tgt might maximize it more, or adding a bit more heat tolerance.
 
Starting March 24 there is a fee 3 course introduction to programming at:

https://www.coursera.org/specialization/fundamentalscomputing/9?utm_medium=listingPage

The classes focus on Python which will be around forever and very powerful.

If you can get through these 3 classes you will be able to do everything short of High Freq Trading and serious Quant work.

Using Python and matplotlib you can do a lot of charting...
http://sentdex.com/sentiment-analys...tomize-matplotlib-and-your-candlestick-chart/

Another course that I like a lot is 'Computational Investing Part 1' which is based on Python and Excel, very simple. Plenty of sample source code and examples.

https://www.coursera.org/course/compinvesting1

Python and the above courses are all free. Avoid the EasyLanguage, Ninja, etc., that are tied to a commercial product. None are as good a Python or R....

Good luck,
 
Scaleout.Scalper said:
Could you please expand a bit on the software listed in your post?

I've been trying to start somewhere and you seem to know the right path.

Thank you for your kindness.
More...

Www.stockcharts.com is a technical analysis charting website. They provide an educational glossary of technical patterns. They also have screeners for most technical formations.

Prodigio is financial software that brokers in source to provide market scanners and automated trading capabilities.

Tos aka thinkorswim is a discount broker providing most of the capabilities mentioned.

Frankly, I don't feel technology holds the key to making money in the markets. For a newbie, approaching it from the perspective of high tech and programming is over kill. Learn the basics of investing. Imho, trading is simply short term investing.
 
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