I can't program...what platform should I use.

[kmiklas]

I am trying to get into algo trading. I'm mainly focusing on ETF's at this point. I've started by using Trade Navigator since its language seems relatively easy to learn. I'm concerned though because it seems like it may have some limitations with fully automated trading like position sizing.

What would be a good platform for me to use. I'm willing to learn some coding. It seems like Amibroker maybe a good option? It also seems like things are trending toward Python, are there any good platforms that use Python?

Sorry I'm a newb, thanks.

Interactive Brokers. API guide here:
https://interactivebrokers.github.io/tws-api/introduction.html

Note choice of languages: C#, Python, VB, Java, C++. Start with Python.

A good first program is to subscribe to MD for AAPL (or your favorite equity) and echo price updates to the console.

 

[Moptop]

Python is easy to learn. So do yourself a favor and skip all the «easier» options that will leave you stranded as soon as you reach the next level and just go for Python.

So isn't Python just a coding language? I basically have to create my own platform then or are there any good platforms that use python?

 

[Moptop]

I found Quantshare easier than Amibroker...

Can you fully automate with Quantshare? I didnt look like it when I scanned the site.

 

[El Trado]

So isn't Python just a coding language? I basically have to create my own platform then or are there any good platforms that use python?

Yes. Python is a programming language.

Every decent broker provide sn api that works with Python, so you can just make your orders directly. No need for whatever you mean with platform. To buy or sell can often be done in one line of code.

And if you want already made code, Github has thousands of Python libraries you can just use for almost any trading realated task.

 

[TradeTune]

I think he asked Plateform " FOR NON PROGRAMMERS".

 

[userque]

Yes. Python is a programming language.

Every decent broker provide sn api that works with Python, so you can just make your orders directly. No need for whatever you mean with platform. To buy or sell can often be done in one line of code.

And if you want already made code, Github has thousands of Python libraries you can just use for almost any trading realated task.

His first coding project probably shouldn't be a trading/backtesting/analytics optimized python app. (Especially since everyone is not cut out to code beyond 'hello world.')

 

[El Trado]

I think he asked Plateform " FOR NON PROGRAMMERS".

Nope. He wrote that he does not know how to program. Hence, I assume he might be willing to learn it. If not, he should just forget algotrading. Because algotrading with drag and drop tools or silly premade tools is doomed from the start.

 

[El Trado]

His first coding project probably shouldn't be a trading/backtesting/analytics optimized python app. (Especially since everyone is not cut out to code beyond 'hello world.')

Agree. He should learn the basics of programming before starting a big project.

But, you can do very simple stuff by just a few lines of code:

For example this is all you need to open a trade:

import oandapyV20
import oandapyV20.endpoints.orders as orders
client = oandapyV20.API(access_token='123456')
r = orders.OrderCreate(accountID='12345', data={"instrument": "EUR_USD","units": "-100"})

For those of you that do not know programming, the first two lines are for importing the libraries and the third line is to "login".

Hence, those lines do not need to be repeated. So closing this order will just be:
r = orders.OrderCreate(accountID='12345', data={"instrument": "EUR_USD","units": "100"})

So a small algorithm that for example checks if the price is above / below the moving average, and if so fills an order, can be done with less than 5 lines of Python code

 

[easymon1]

What would be a good platform for me to use. I'm willing to learn some coding.

What's the verdict?

 

[Moptop]

What's the verdict?

I started with Trade Navigator, and even though it doesn't have some functionality that I want, I'm going to stick with it for now. I do think it has the easiest language to learn. I just went live with my auto trading last night.

I may move to Amibroker in the future if I need more functionality. I would have started with it if I had a do over.