What is the difference between both the apis ?
IB vs TD Ameritrade tick rate & API
- Thread starter kranebrain
- Start date
Robert Morse
Sponsor
The answer is not that simple. They are two different trading platforms from two different technology companies that we offer. A conversion would make more sense to go over some of the important differences.
https://www.lightspeed.com/trading-api/
https://emsportal.ezesoft.com/download.aspx?sidenav=rtapi
Bob
IB Level II via API is really bad. The problem is that:
1) you are restricted to 3 requests at a time (up to 6 if you pay a bunch for higher tiers that get you 600 concurrent Level I quotes)
2) Each request does not return all the needed data. To get even close to what you see on Level II in TWS, you have to make 4 or more requests
3) some of the data that you see on the Level II in TWS you simply cannot get via the API.
So because of that, I consider IB Level II via API for US stocks to be horrible.
TD Ameritrade Level II - It is generally pretty good when it works. The problem is that on some slow stocks, I see it just stop and you have to kick start it (unsubscribe/resubscribe). Very annoying. As for the API, their new API page is at:
https://developer.tdameritrade.com/
I don't know how much they document the streaming Level II API there - I frankly have not looked at the documentation since I left TD Ameritrade (I was the API product manager). They support both WebSocket and streaming HTTP connections. They send the entire book every update, so though a bit wasteful, it is easier to handle for beginners compared to having to maintain the book and update it yourself. As for further details, I will have to leave it to them to document since I don't know of the top of my head if I have any restrictions on what I can disclose.
In Medved Trader we don't use the SDKs for either of the APIs. We connect directly to the socket for IB and manage the connection ourselves. Same with TDA, so I can't give much info on the SDK specific capabilities.
Robert Morse
Sponsor
What do you do now?
Hi Robert,
after selling QuoteTracker to TDA, leaving TDA, and our non-compete ran out, we wrote a new trading/charting platform - Medved Trader. does a lot of what QuoteTracker did, and then takes it to a new level.
I think we looked at using Lightspeed API before (had a number of requests), but had some issues why we couldn't implement it. If you guys are interested, we can check again. We don't do any back-end, so not a brokerage competitor
Robert Morse
Sponsor
I think we looked at using Lightspeed API before (had a number of requests), but had some issues why we couldn't implement it. If you guys are interested, we can check again. We don't do any back-end, so not a brokerage competitor
I'm not sure what the issue was but it might have been Market data feed to the API. This would subject the user to non-display fees with the exception of a non-pro user for NYSE but NASDAQ has no exception. WE can now turn off the Market data to the API on LS TRader and your software can route orders through LS trader API with the C++ samples.
If you need us to add this as another execution platfrom, I expect we are not looking to add more.
Let's talk Monday.
Bob
I don't use either of your products, but I think it's awesome that you're looking at common paths and seeing/seeking ways to get together. Way-
.
(FWIW and all that.)
.(FWIW and all that.)
MotiveWave
Sponsor
If you like Java, then definitely take a look at MotiveWave. We're built on Java and we have a free Java SDK for building your own studies/strategies.