The simple answer is yes. TickZOOM will provide some data. However, it will do far more than that.
First, specifically, about your excellent point. It will be very important, at times, to use the exact same data as TickZOOM. The reason is when you want to report a bug or issue.
If you're using some other data, the question can always be, is it the data? or the software? Of course, if necessary you could also upload the data you're using for tech support (myself) to see the error and fix it.
Also, TickZOOM encourages users to convert other data to TickZOOM format if they choose. The format is "open" since you can see it in the code.
I have a little GUI tool I use for converting the format that I use. You can just modify it to handle the format you want to read, for example.
Later we'll explore offering data already in the TickZOOM format and even real time data but to get that data, vendors or exchanges charge fees which we'll have to pass on to users.
If things go well, TickZOOM, will become popular enough that venders will offer TickZOOM format directly.
For the beta testers, I will give, for free a download of 5 years of USD/JPY Forex data. That way they can start trying it out without worrying about data conversion.
One problem with offering back test data is the cost of purchasing it for redistribution. If we buy the data, vendors charge exhorbitant prices when they know you plan to resell or redistribute it. Someone mentioned $12,000 at one point. I haven't looked into it yet.
I have quote servers collecting some data, 12 of the currencies. But that data only goes back a few week since the time when I got the execution server working flawlessly, 24/7.
Sincerely,
Wayne
Quote from Kalle:
Hi,
first of all I want to tell you that I am really looking forward to get my hands on TickZoom. I am greatly disappointed by the shortcomings of Tradestation, NinjaTrader and others. Your project seems to be the first that has the potential to finally solve critical problems in automated trading like FAST tick-by-tick backtesting ...
One thing I didn't see in the discussion (I might have missed it) is historical data. The qualtity of historical data is critical to each and every strategy.
Do you plan on offering a possibility to download historical tick-by-tick data from a server? I think it would make backtesting a lot easier especially under the aspect of strategy development groups that might be forming as a side effect of your project. If everybody has (the possibility to get) exactly the same data, it is by far easier to find bugs or make enhancements to strategies.
Good luck on your project!
All the best,
Kalle