Programming and Software

Hi Traders,

I have been browsing this site for sometime and nothing short of impressed with the level of sharing and interaction that goes on. I'm fairly new to the automated mechanical system scene, however have been trading classical chart patterns for a few years.

My goal now is to develop a purely mechanical strategy and develop programming skills so as to be able to test strategies using computer software.

I'd like to find out how you learned and where you think the best place to learn the basics of programming is (I don't know anything about programming). I noticed each software tends to have its own language however there are similarities in the syntax? (Have I got the lingo right?)

I've also investigated various software and would like to find out the ideal software for testing and trading (no need for automated bots as yet) - My main goal to start with is to learn programming and backtesting using the computer (instead of manually as I've done for years with chart patterns... eek!) I noticed MT4 is used by many but is also known to fall short in its ability to provide suitable backtesting functions?

Any suggestions, remarks or words of wisdom are welcome.
Cheers,
D

Hi D

Welcome to the "Factory"

There are quite a few threads on this forum that deal with mechanical strategies and testing. But I haven't found any that actually teach programming as such.

There may be a few.

I guess you'd have to have an IT background, or a mentor to get you over that line.

But what I HAVE found is that there are heaps of helpful folks who will gladly programme the ea for you - in fact - I notice so many times as soon as a new strategy is discussed, someone pops an ea link on the thread which deals with the setup!

Before the ink is dry, there is an ea!

If you already have a mechanical strategy you are looking at, I suggest opening a dedicated thread which aims to discuss your strategy, and perhaps someone will build the ea for you.

Failing that, hopefully someone with more knowledge of the FF personalities than I have, would be able to point you in the best direction.

There used to be a member whose handle was Ronald_Raygun I thi nk, who would programme anything for you for a reasonable fee.

He's apparently a young dude with an old head!
Very insightful and clever.

Hope you are able to get some positive feedback to your questions.

Cheers

Ingot54

PS - the alternative is to ask Google about it - but I'd wait until the locals on FF have a chance to help first.

EDIT: I searched FF and found this link to a good FF thread on the subject

http://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?

Microsoft will teach you for free. Get the "express" pack with several language compilers and tutorials. Don't have the link handy but it's easy to find.
ps: Since most folks find Excel a useful tool, it's good to know some Visual Basic (VBA). It's probably the easiest language to learn and use. For most current vendors and MT you need to know C (and maybe some C++). Later when you get that down venture into C-sharp (used by Ninja Trader).
If you like a lot of pain and suffering put everything on Unix/Linux and do it all in Java! ;==)))

Thanks Ingot - i've noticed people are ready willing to help others build their strategies which is fantastic ... I guess I'm one of those who wants to learn and do it himself

Kenz - thanks for your reply mate, I'm just looking into the microsoft stuff now and is C also known as C#? And would it be right in saying you would need to learn at least C# in order to learn the language/script of a particular program?

Cheers
D

Hi D,

I came accross a website that has what you a probably looking for. You can check them out at:

Free instruction:

http://www.forex-tsd.com/3746-post20.html

http://docs.mql4.com/index

Paid for instruction:

http://www.pipboxer.com/training.php


The folks who would do it for you:

http://www.mqlservice.com/orders.html

http://www.goforex.net/metatrader-programmer.htm

C# is C-sharp, uses the new dot net framework and is a whole nother animal. Unless you want to use Ninja Trader, do not go there first. Old style C is useful for MT, but you probably will not find much tutorials on it (I'm not sure tho). C++ is what everyone has been using for years and most do not want to change.

Generally if you're well articulated and polite enough most programmers on this forum do not charge a fee unless the EA is either huge, or they deem it as unprofitable. Also, i wouldn't label anything as "Forex Killer", "100% Winner", "Money-Machine", etc.


I have a large list of the best programmers on my friends list in my profile. I don't recommend PM'ing them, but rather posting a thread in programming discussion and see if it gets noticed.

Hey Fellas,

Thanks for the responses ... theFXgoods - the websites you posted is definitely what I was after from what I've seen so far ... I'll have a closer look into it and MT, cheers for that!

Kenzy ... cheers mate, I'll look further into it, I was hoping to bypass learning C and grasp the basics of it through something like what FXgoods has posted... but I'll see how it goes

Jwentro ... you're probably right about others willing to program it, I guess it stems from the fact that I'd like to be able to do it myself and program stuff for a variety of markets (not just FX) and that may mean using different programs to what most programmers on here use. I think once you get the basics of programming it becomes easier to learn the syntax of one. (I'm hoping anyway)

Thanks again guys, what a bunch of legends ... any further info is greatly appreciated
cheers
D

One thing to keep in mind is that it is one thing to learn the basic syntax of a particular language and quite another to write bullet proof, scalable trading software. If you are serous about taking the programming thing the whole way I would advise you to also become well versed in OO design (http://www.amazon.com/Design-Pattern...2148255&sr=8-1) and good code coding habits (http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-...ref=pd_sim_b_1) these concepts apply pretty much across any modern language and in my experience this stuff usually separates the part time hacker from the pro. These things take time but they are well worth it, as somebody advised above, I would download the MS C# development environment and any good C# book should get you started, if you decide to take up Java (or even C++) in the future you should have the tools to make the jump.

Yo Craig
Thanks for your response - you mentioned about 'writing bullet proof, scalable trading software' ... just to make sure i'm on the right wavelength - my intention isn't to develop a trading software as such - but rather learn the syntax of two or three languages - namely MQL and down the track Bullscript (for Bull Charts).

I guess the confusion or indecision sets it as to whether its necessary to learn C etc. to understand the basic structure of any syntax

Cheers,
D

That's cool, I read the first post and I just couldn't stop the overaggressive nerd part of my brain which has been damaged by one to many crappy IT projects kicking into action

D,

I have been getting this information from a guy named Steve Fleming. You can subscribe to his free emails on building a trading robot.

Use this link:

http://www.automatedtradingsoftware.com/

TFXG you're a legend - I had a look at that website and links and I think its a great way to complement coderguru's course... I've been working my way through his lessons and now up to lesson 10. So I think right after doing CG's i'll be doing Steve's.

For anyone wanting access to coderguru's course and may be having trouble signing up to that forum using the link above (for some reason I did) here is a link straight to it) http://www.metatrader.info/book
Cheers,
D ... Luvn the forex factory

good link, ive always wanted to learn how to write EA's