using the IB API without the TWS application

[Risk619]

He asked whether there is a way to "bypass the TWS application". That to my (and I guess most) understanding means he wanted to know whether you can basically send FIX messages without having to run the TWS frontend or TWS gateway. My answer to that was yes, you can. The issue was never about sending FIX messages directly to the exchange.

Yep, that's exactly what I was trying to figure out. Thanks so much for that. I thumbed through this link, and I think I'm in the right ballpark. Here's a quote from the PDF:

NOTE: When you use the API functions, the IB Gateway takes the place of TWS, consequently you do not need to have a TWS session running.

Is this the FIX CTCI integration point your referring to? It's just kind of weird because I've seen people arguing about the API, but if there's a direct socket connection you can make and just need to implement FIX, it seems like that's a technology agnostic API. The user guide seems pretty well written as well.

 

[jtrader33]

it is direct FIX into IB's servers, having nothing whatsoever to do with IB's gateway nor TWS frontend. You do not need a dedicated line to be able to shoot FIX messages directly into IB's servers.

What kind of connection are you using? Some kind of VPN?

 

[volpunter]

you do not need a VPN but you can. Please contact IB's technical sales directly because you will get all the information you need straight from the source.

What kind of connection are you using? Some kind of VPN?

 

[pstrusi]

you do not need a VPN but you can. Please contact IB's technical sales directly because you will get all the information you need straight from the source.

I've read your interesting comments about using IB Fix. I got a newbie question: If I wanted to use IB-Fix, doing my algo in C# for example, What platform should I use to develop a complete Algo ? Is there some platform like that ? will it be OpenQuant an example ? Besides OpenQuant, what others ways do they exist ?

Thanks in advance