API programming

G'day folks,

I'm not a programmer by trade, but I have done some VB programming in days gone by. My end game is to be able to mechanically trade my system. With brokers that supply an API to facilitate this process, what language is more suitable to program in? Is it doable using the API through VB or is it necessary to go down the C++/C# route?

And, while on the subject of API's, I wish to trade through oanda but with little previous programming experience, I'm not inclined to fork over US$600 just to try my programming skills. Is there a free API available from any broker? I only really want something so I can attempt to mechanise my system and work things out at my own pace. If i work things out ok, paying US$600 will not be an issue.

I should add that at the moment I'm using AmiBroker. FX broker interfaces through AB is limited to IB at the moment, but I'm willing (used in the loosest possible sense ) to change software if it allows me to have a crack at API programming at minimum cost!

Many thanks,
Andrew.

Hi andrew,

call it your lucky day or wateva...cause i am online (joking : ). I have been looking into API's myself and have done a fair amout of research.
i would suggest you go with http://www.interactivebrokers.ca . they are the best brokers out there. very honest...spreads low as oanda...very trustworthy and charge a commission on trades. plus your funds are insured. on the API note...their basic API platform is availble for free. they even have a support forum where people have coded in their API's and help is always available..if you dn't have a good hand on programming. they have a API in VB, Java and C/C++. they definately recommened Java or C/C++...but you can most definately code in VB. once you have programmed the API to your needs and strategy...they will run it with their demo server as well...before you try to go live. The API is fully customizable...and losts of code is already done for you..when you downoad the free API. you can work with the API as long as you want...at absolutely no cost. they have technical experts in the forum...which can guide you on gloomy days and some people who have the experience and will code for you..at a price.
i should stop now...cause i am sounding like their sales team. best of luck for your future endevours.

regards
Gabroo

I find Python to be an easy language to use for API programming. I have VT trader and am messing about with the API now. With your background you can pick up python in a week or two. And the best part it's free. Just go to python.org and downlaod it. The beginners section is full of great tutorials. I usually suggest "How to Think Like a Computer Scientist". For the COM programming stuff the book "Python Progamming on Win32" by Mark Hammond, covers most of the sticky stuff. The usnet group comp.lang.python is very helpfull too. Happy programming, and good trading.

When I decided I liked the the InterBankFX Trader 4.0 ForEx trading platform I noticed they have a builtin programming language with a nice MetaEditor IDE tool directly integrated into the free trading software. I built an alert system for a move of X pips over Y minutes I call Jumpy.

See http://performantsystems.com/jumpy/ there are docs and code for Jumpy here.

Jumpy is a "plug-in" to the InterBankFX Trader 4.0 ForEx trading platform software by metaquotes.net as what they call an "Expert Advisor". While Jumpy only provides information, the builtin programming language offers may ways to auto place orders if you care to do so.

While I am in fact, a professional programmer, I found the MetaEditor very useful.

I sure you stop trading !

Looking for somebody to help with API programming in JavaScript.