IB TWS Charts

j_medved · Jun 19, 2005

Quote from stock777:

Actually, Im getting backfill via Quotetracker. I wonder if they are using SMART instead of ISLD, causing the problem.

QT uses whatever you specify. If you enter the symbol into QT without specifying the exchange, then it uses SMART. If you enter ISLAND

ELL for example, then it will be showing you data specific to ISLAND

Pete - IB · Jun 27, 2005

Quote from dcraig:

TWS charts are based on the jfreechart library. If you're interested, this can be found at http://www.jfree.org. It is free and open source. It is a very capable charting library with support for many different types of charts, with very flexible layout and formatting. Issues such as wasteful gray borders and suchlike are easy to fix. I use it in my own real time charting application whuch is just for my personal use, so I know a little about it.

I have a suggestion to IB that I think they should seriously consider. It is this. Approach the author(s) of jfreechart with a view to retaining them as consultant(s). They could provide consultancy to IB's own developers, which would no doubt speed up development of TWS charting. They could also provide enhancements to the jfreechart library in areas where it is deficient for this type of real time chart.

This seems to me to be a win/win situation for everybody. IB gets a better quality product released more quickly and probably more cheaply in terms of the time spent by their own developers. The authors of jfreechart get some compensation for the enormous amout of work that has gone into it. And the user community of jfreechart get enhancements.

This is the basic business mode of open source software - free software and source code, pay for services. Some of the biggest players eg IBM, SUN etc, are taking this model very seriously.

Actually, we're very open to this idea, but according to their web site they do not offer support (http://www.object-refinery.com/jfreechart/support.html) and there is no contact info for any of their programmers.

nononsense · Jun 27, 2005

Dear IB,

You haven't licked your basic problem yet.
For about 4 weeks your quote stream came in as it should. (Didn't check accuracy anymore. Will do this perhaps later.) Since the last two weeks, I got the TWS quote freeze syndrome again, requiring a complete TWS shutdown and restart. In fact today, you got the problem thrice!!!

You are no longer the old reliable IB broker but became one of those run of the mill chart peddlers being moved by a crowd of lunatics.

IB, PLEASE STOP ALL THAT CRAP. GIVE US BACK THE IB WE USED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU STARTED WITH THAT CHARTING AND BACKFILL NONSENSE. YOUR PROGRAMMERS CLEARLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO LICK THAT.

Concentrate on your quote stream and your order processing business. We know from the past that you INDEED KNEW HOW TO DO THIS RIGHT. Your business simply can't stand this demonstrated incompetence much longer!

:mad:

ssternlight · Jun 27, 2005

Vote of confidence:

While I agree that the "new" IB seems to hiccup more often than the "old" IB I am quite pleased with the direction that the development is taking.

It may take a couple of years more, but it seems to me that IB is working towards creating a first class "integrated" trading platform.

My only suggestion/criticism would be that quotes seem to be dropping out more frequently than they used to... I had to wait around for CFC to start posting today. They're a bit too big an issue for that kind of thing to happen. On the positive side it got fixed within 5 mins or so...

nononsense · Jun 27, 2005

Quote from ssternlight:

Vote of confidence:

While I agree that the "new" IB seems to hiccup more often than the "old" IB I am quite pleased with the direction that the development is taking.

[snip]

How can one be pleased with this state of affairs? In brokerage only one thing counts: RELIABILITY. All the rest is CRAP.

Quote from ssternlight:

It may take a couple of years more, but it seems to me that IB is working towards creating a first class "integrated" trading platform

Unfortunately, people finding out about this may not be patient enough to wait for "a couple of years" in order to straighten out what you call "hiccups". Brokers simply can't afford this.

ssternlight · Jun 27, 2005

Well,

The squeaky wheel gets the grease as they say -- which is OK by me as there "are" some issues.

I just think a pat on the back is in order from time to time.

Others may have had different experiences/losses...and I wouldn't argue with anyone who was in flames as a result.

AAAintheBeltway · Jun 27, 2005

I don't understand why they even bother with charting. 99% of IB users already have charting that is far superior to what IB offers. Or they could buy QCharts.

jond83 · Jun 27, 2005

if they bought QCharts, there would be no stopping IB to being the best all around platform with the lowest fees

dcraig · Jun 27, 2005

Quote from Pete - IB:

Actually, we're very open to this idea, but according to their web site they do not offer support (http://www.object-refinery.com/jfreechart/support.html) and there is no contact info for any of their programmers.

You can PM David Gilbert via the jfree message forum. Maybe IB could become a sponser or some such thing.

cmk · Jun 27, 2005

Quote from def:

As someone on the management side of the equation, I'd like to point out that the same people you are insulting have developed a system that is often effortlessly handling over 400,000 trades per day around the world. Maybe our programmers haven't created the most aesthetically pleasing code in the world but they sure have done a great job with what is most important.

Are you kidding me IB? How about you don't waste your time on here justifying your employees and more time making some charts that dont look like a 4 year old drew on the wall with a crayon. Get a clue already and go back to work.