Any good resources to learn modern MQL4? | Forex Factory

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Any good resources to learn modern MQL4?

  • #1
  • First Post: Aug 7, 2021 11:14am Aug 7, 2021 11:14am
I want to learn coding in MQL4 so I can build my own indicators. Unfortunately I can't find any good resources to learn. From what I have gathered so far, since .600 update of the Metatrader the code structure has changed. While the older indicators used functions like `init()` newer indicators use event handlers like `OnCalculate()`. All the resources I can find use the old functions. I see the new structure is similar to MQL5. Would learning MQL5 help me learn newer MQL4 better? Would learning MQL4 from old resources help me write code that is still functional?

All these changes make it completely unclear how should I proceed learning MQL4. Any other way besides trying to understand already written code?
  • #2
  • Aug 7, 2021 12:43pm Aug 7, 2021 12:43pm
You can study the documentation, especially sections:
mql4 programs: https://docs.mql4.com/runtime
and
program running: https://docs.mql4.com/runtime/running

and all the examples in there.
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  • #3
  • Aug 7, 2021 12:49pm Aug 7, 2021 12:49pm
Thanks but I would prefer a tutorial based approach rather than reading the dry documentation. That will come later when I will actually write my scripts. Also it injects a lot of MQL5 related stuff in there and it makes somehow difficult to focus on the learning. Maybe it is useful for those who already know but it is scary for newbies.
  • #4
  • Aug 8, 2021 5:40am Aug 8, 2021 5:40am
You've already tried searching "Learn MQL4" in YouTube?
  • #5
  • Aug 8, 2021 9:19am Aug 8, 2021 9:19am
Yes and I try following whatever I can find. The problem is that once I see that they use the old functions I loose interest because I want to learn how things are done nowadays.
  • #6
  • Edited 10:07am Aug 8, 2021 9:41am | Edited 10:07am
Quoting KMidas
Yes and I try following whatever I can find. The problem is that once I see that they use the old functions I loose interest because I want to learn how things are done nowadays.

If you have learnt other programming language like C before, picking up mql4 should not be a problem by just looking at example codes from https://www.mql5.com/en/code/mt4/indicators. As for mql5, it would be more difficult since it is more object-oriented unless you have been exposed to object-oriented programming before such as Java. Of course one could argue that it is also possible not to use object-oriented in mql5, but you would miss out some advantages of mql5 where many things can be done more efficiently and writing fewer lines of codes by using the built-in classes provided in mql5.

However, if you are totally new to programming and have no knowledge in any programming language at all, I would say it would be a very steep learning curve. I do not know of any resources that teach mql4 in detailed steps, so I would think you need to start from basic programming syntax by looking at basic C language tutorials.

This is just my personal opinion, but I don't rule out the possibility that there might exist very talented people who can learn mql4 without any prior programming background. There are always exceptions.
  • #7
  • Aug 8, 2021 1:25pm Aug 8, 2021 1:25pm
Quoting KMidas
Thanks but I would prefer a tutorial based approach rather than reading the dry documentation. That will come later when I will actually write my scripts. Also it injects a lot of MQL5 related stuff in there and it makes somehow difficult to focus on the learning. Maybe it is useful for those who already know but it is scary for newbies.
Since Metaquotes has officially announced the end of development of MT4/mgl4, they try to "sell" MT5/mgl5 where ever possible, even so in inappropriate places. And even the mql4 documentation is unreliable and incorrect in some places, so beware.

Now, you can use the book (which is a tutorial), while at the same time keeping in mind the differences that have been implemented. Because basic concepts have not changed. Basically, the differences are shown here: https://docs.mql4.com/basis/mql4chan...ler_difference
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  • #8
  • Aug 8, 2021 2:36pm Aug 8, 2021 2:36pm
While I am not a professional programmer I do have some experience with languages like Javascript and elixir. I do have projects in Github and some have been found useful enough to gain a couple of stars. I do believe I can pick up from reading other peoples code but, yeah, a structured learning approach would be great. Anyway, I will dive in with what is available.
  • #9
  • Aug 9, 2021 4:35am Aug 9, 2021 4:35am
Quoting KMidas
I want to learn coding in MQL4 so I can build my own indicators. Unfortunately I can't find any good resources to learn. From what I have gathered so far, since .600 update of the Metatrader the code structure has changed. While the older indicators used functions like `init()` newer indicators use event handlers like `OnCalculate()`. All the resources I can find use the old functions. I see the new structure is similar to MQL5. Would learning MQL5 help me learn newer MQL4 better? Would learning MQL4 from old resources help me write code that is...
The following book uses new MQL4 (object oriented included): Expert Advisor Programming for MetaTrader 4
If you want to move to MQL5, the following is another book from the same author: Expert Advisor Programming for MetaTrader 5
Algos Coder
  • #10
  • Aug 9, 2021 5:03am Aug 9, 2021 5:03am
How many hours are needed at minimum in order to become proficient? I'm guessing around 5000 hours.
  • #11
  • Aug 9, 2021 5:27am Aug 9, 2021 5:27am
Quoting ohyeah
How many hours are needed at minimum in order to become proficient? I'm guessing around 5000 hours.

If for complete new beginner without any programming background or someone with minimum programming background, perhaps around 6 months. For someone with substantial programming background in C/C++/Java, it probably just takes 1 month because mql4/5 is fundamentally similar to those, with the additions of its own built-in APIs.
  • #12
  • Aug 9, 2021 5:30am Aug 9, 2021 5:30am
Quoting eess
{quote} If for complete new beginner without any programming background or someone with minimum programming background, perhaps around 6 months. For someone with substantial programming background in C/C++/Java, it probably just takes 1 month.
6 months? What does that mean? Spending 1 minute per day for 6 months or 24 hours per day for 6 months?
  • #13
  • Aug 9, 2021 5:37am Aug 9, 2021 5:37am
Quoting ohyeah
{quote} 6 months? What does that mean? Spending 1 minute per day for 6 months or 24 hours per day for 6 months?
I am just giving you an estimate based on the time taken for one module in university studying a programming language which includes weekly assignments and exams. The rest you need to figure out yourself.
  • #14
  • Aug 9, 2021 5:40am Aug 9, 2021 5:40am
Quoting eess
{quote} I am just giving you an estimate based on the time taken for one module in university studying a programming language which includes weekly assignments and exams. The rest you need to figure out yourself.
Learning programming from a university is useless. In fact, learning anything from a university is useless. But it's a necessary evil in order to have credentials for jobs, etc. Someone wanting to learn MQL4 actually needs to learn MQL4 which means, they have to learn it on their own. I'm just wondering how many hours does a self-motivated person need to spend in order to actually be able to create EAs, etc.
  • #15
  • Aug 9, 2021 5:41am Aug 9, 2021 5:41am
Quoting ohyeah
{quote} Learning programming from a university is useless. In fact, learning anything from a university is useless. But it's a necessary evil in order to have credentials for jobs, etc. Someone wanting to learn MQL4 actually needs to learn MQL4 which means, they have to do it themselves and not rely on a university course.

No, perhaps what you were exposed is different which leads to this opinion, but it is not the case for myself.
  • #16
  • Aug 9, 2021 5:44am Aug 9, 2021 5:44am
Quoting ohyeah
How many hours are needed at minimum in order to become proficient? I'm guessing around 5000 hours.
6 month with commitment of 4 hours a day, every day.
Forex can only be understood backwards, but it must be traded forwards.
  • #17
  • Aug 9, 2021 5:49am Aug 9, 2021 5:49am
Quoting prozor7
{quote} 6 month with commitment of 4 hours a day, every day.
Really? It only takes about 1000 hours to be able to create EAs, indicators, etc.?
  • #18
  • Aug 9, 2021 6:07am Aug 9, 2021 6:07am
Quoting ohyeah
{quote} Really? It only takes about 1000 hours to be able to create EAs, indicators, etc.?

What prozor7 said is true, for someone who has the grit and motivation to do it. I already shared earlier that mql4/5 is fundamentally similar to C/C++, which are typically taught in schools if you studied Computer Science, which makes the transition to mql4 very easy for people who already know C/C++. And since the estimated time taken for a module in C/C++ is about 6 months, so that's how prozor7 and I derived at this timeframe. The only hurdle is really not everyone is interested in programming and can get bored at looking at documentation,learning syntax and debugging programs, that's why not everyone can pull through.
  • #19
  • Aug 9, 2021 6:09am Aug 9, 2021 6:09am
Quoting eess
{quote} What prozor7 said is true, for someone who has the grit and motivation to do it. I already shared earlier that mql4/5 is fundamentally similar to C/C++, which are typically taught in schools if you studied Computer Science, which makes the transition to mql4 very easy for people who already know C/C++. And since the estimated time taken for a module in C/C++ is about 6 months, so that's how prozor7 and I derived at this timeframe. The only hurdle is really not everyone is interested in programming and can get bored at looking at documentation,learning...
I had no idea. I assumed the learning curve was so big that it wasn't worth spending years to learn when I could hire someone on MQL site. Since it really doesn't take that much time, I'm going to start learning. The problem though is, lack of resources. There's really not a lot of material online. There are some books but, I personally would like to find some videos. If I find any resources, I'll mention it here.
  • #20
  • Aug 9, 2021 6:09am Aug 9, 2021 6:09am
Quoting ohyeah
{quote} Really? It only takes about 1000 hours to be able to create EAs, indicators, etc.?
Obviously it would depend on the individual. Besides, there is two sides to the problem: 1. Mastering a (domain specific) computer language, and 2. having the skill to do something useful with it, in this context, out of a bunch of price data, in best case tick data, or in the context of MT4 open-high-low-close price data..
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