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Successful Automatic Trading - Like Chasing Bigfoot?

  • #21
  • Aug 18, 2010 3:06pm Aug 18, 2010 3:06pm
Quoting MetaCoder
Some of you believe automatic trading is viable, others don't.
Offer trading ideas that are intellectually honest and show you've been through the darkest trading forests and maybe I will help you automate your ideas.
MetaCoder,
I admire your strong belief that you can code everything. I am not a coder but in my early trading steps some good guys from the FF had helped me code some systems, but I was not convinced that the personal touch could ever be replicated (mostly related to exiting a trade rather than entering).
Lately, I have been using successfully the Dance system which is well documented and followed in my thread (CHOROS). I certainly have gone through the darkest trading forests (blowing a couple of accounts along the way), but I feel that I have found a decent way to trade. The method uses moving averages and no other indicators, but requires knowledge of PA bars. If it fits your criteria this is certainly a method that will challenge your skills (see: http://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?t=236210). If you decide to try something you can let me know so that I can help.

Kostas
  • #22
  • Aug 18, 2010 3:12pm Aug 18, 2010 3:12pm
I do suffer from the delusion that I can code (just about) anything.

But I don't code everything.
Open to new approaches.
  • #23
  • Aug 18, 2010 8:14pm Aug 18, 2010 8:14pm
Quoting MetaCoder
Some of you believe automatic trading is viable, others don't.

If you stand on the negatively biased side on this topic, maybe your stance will shift a little in coming months and years. I hope it does.

I've spent eight years on a personal journey that has turned me into what I hope is a decent spot forex trading strategist who can turn nearly any trading strategy into a fully automated Expert Advisor (EA).

It took a while to figure out how to code EAs that can deal with any number of currency pairs, any account type, any number of decimal...

Hello,

I like the way you think when you say there is nothing that a brain can think and an EA couldn’t do.
In my opinion EAs work only for a short amount of time, just because they need constant tweeking (to think just like a brain, and make some differences).
So, i was wondering something rather simple, for the whole phylosophy of EAs.
I am trading for about two years now, i was profitable on DEMO, profitable LIVE, then i lost on live, re- began on DEMO, just to fiind out that indicators don’t really help you, maybe just for a short amount of time, depending on your luck.

Curently, with a right money-management, and discipline, i managed to keep my LIVE account alive, and event get a considerable amount of money for what i invested in my initial deposit.

The only metod that finally worked and is working now too, was based on Support- Resistance, with some little filtering with ADX (only strenght indicator that i really used).

So, my idea is simple… If an EA can be created for every idea that the brain has, please try this:
an EA based on the Support-Ressistance, that would automatically trade, and slight filter the eneterings with ADX.
It would be great to have for „OPTIONAL” the next settings: Time Frame, Style (conservative- with ADX filtering, Agressive- without ADX filtering), TP, SL.
If you could do that, would be great.

Thanks a lot.
  • #24
  • Aug 18, 2010 11:44pm Aug 18, 2010 11:44pm
Hi Metacoder,

I would like to learn MT4 coding having a little bit of programming knowledge (Fortran and C) during my school days many years back.
Specifically how does one code 'opening a trade ONLY on certain days' for example only on Monday.
What functions are there in MT4 that returns day of the calendar? Is there one? If there is then I am thinking something a long the line of ' If Day()= Monday then Open position else do nothing '.

Appreciate if you could pave the way for me to start learning this aspect of coding. Thanks!

CY
  • #25
  • Aug 19, 2010 5:07am Aug 19, 2010 5:07am
some one code this -- very profitable 50 ema bands high low close
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: 50ema.gif Size: 23 KB
PROFITABLE TRADERS ARE NOT LUCKY BUT ARE WELL PREPARED
  • #26
  • Edited 11:27am Aug 19, 2010 11:06am | Edited 11:27am
Quoting ertorque
Hi Metacoder,

I would like to learn MT4 coding having a little bit of programming knowledge (Fortran and C) during my school days many years back.
Specifically how does one code 'opening a trade ONLY on certain days' for example only on Monday.
What functions are there in MT4 that returns day of the calendar? Is there one? If there is then I am thinking something a long the line of ' If Day()= Monday then Open position else do nothing '.

Appreciate if you could pave the way for me to start learning this aspect of coding. Thanks!

CY
First, define some constants to keep your code readable, as follows:

Inserted Code
 
extern int Sunday    = 0;
extern int Monday    = 1;
extern int Tuesday   = 2;
extern int Wednesday = 3;
extern int Thursday  = 4;
extern int Friday    = 5;
extern int Saturday  = 6;

Now, you have your choice of a couple of functions to use.

In a condition statement, you can say something like:

Inserted Code
 
if (TimeDayOfWeek(TimeCurrent()) == Monday)
{
  // more code
}

or

Inserted Code
 
if (DayOfWeek() == Monday)
{
  // more code
}
Open to new approaches.
  • #27
  • Aug 19, 2010 7:05pm Aug 19, 2010 7:05pm
Quoting MetaCoder
First, define some constants to keep your code readable, as follows:

Inserted Code
 
extern int Sunday    = 0;
extern int Monday    = 1;
extern int Tuesday   = 2;
extern int Wednesday = 3;
extern int Thursday  = 4;
extern int Friday    = 5;
extern int Saturday  = 6;

Now, you have your choice of a couple of functions to use.

In a condition statement, you can say something like:

Inserted Code
 
if (TimeDayOfWeek(TimeCurrent()) == Monday)
{
  // more code
}

or

Inserted Code
 
if (DayOfWeek() == Monday)
{
  // more code
}
Thanks for being so kind Metacoder!
Really appreciate that.
I just realized that there is a wealth of info in the Metaeditor regarding functions. Will definitely look there first before coming to you
  • #28
  • Aug 20, 2010 9:41am Aug 20, 2010 9:41am
The MetaEditor provides a good programming environment, I like it. Happy coding!
Open to new approaches.
  • #29
  • Aug 20, 2010 10:43am Aug 20, 2010 10:43am
Quoting Yoda_Glenn
Good luck with your coding biz.

However, I do feel like EAs are like chasing Big Foot. I use to be a heavy believer/dabbler in EAs, but I just don't believe that there can be a long term successful EA or else everyone would have a copy of it. Then everyone would be rich, and we know that just can't be possible in any market. To me, simple lines of codes are no match for the human brain. Hell, I think the world's fastest super computer can't even mimic a mouse's brain.
Bottom line -- those who are succesful with EAs quietly sit through the ups, downs, tweaking, re-evaluating and profits. The rest make post like the one above. It's pretty much the same as any form of trading. Those who aren't successful make excuses, say it's "impossible," etc.
  • #30
  • Aug 20, 2010 1:52pm Aug 20, 2010 1:52pm
My journey with EAs has shown me that it requires mastery of a large body of knowledge to even get close to building successful EAs.

If you are one of the rare few who know how to trade profitably, great...but it might take a lifetime to find a competent software person, figure out how to communicate your system to the software person, or failing that, learn the software aspects yourself and build it on your own.

If you know software, fantastic...but it might take a lifetime to truly get a feel for the broad behavior of your chosen market. You can buddy up with others who have varying degrees on market and trading wisdom, and try to pick each others' brains until a trading strategy that REALLY MAKES SENSE crystalizes.

You'll go through many phases of thinking you've got it all figured out, to realizing you have almost nothing figured out, and around and around for however long it takes. You MUST be able to embrace new thinking (I resisted that for a long time, being a bit bullheaded by nature).

In my own case, I understood software first, but even so, it took time and effort to gather all the knowledge I needed to implement most any strategy I selected. I'm still growing in that area, though finally now I believe I have almost every tool in my bag I'll ever need.

The fun part is finding fresh thinking in trading strategies and seeing how fast I can implement them.
Open to new approaches.
  • #31
  • Aug 23, 2010 7:22am Aug 23, 2010 7:22am
Hi Metacoder, one question please
I read that with each new tick that the client terminal receives, the Start() will execute. What exactly is a new tick? Is it possible to have a new tick come in with the same data as current?
For example prior to new tick, Bid=1.5000
WIth new tick, Bid is STILL 1.5000

Hope my question makes sense because the reading material I have come across seems to indicate that a new tick always comes with new price information.
Again, appreciate your guidance here.

CY
  • #32
  • Aug 24, 2010 4:40pm Aug 24, 2010 4:40pm
I only mean tick in the context of a "pulse" on a chart that causes an EA attached to that chart to run through its code one time. It's very broker-dependent. I think most brokers filter and control the ticks quite heavily.
Open to new approaches.
  • #33
  • Aug 25, 2010 12:21am Aug 25, 2010 12:21am
would you be intrested in cleaning up the code of the EA listed in this tread
http://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?t=241420

half of the code don't do anything or is left over from another EA
SL don't seem to work proper.
The EA logic seems to be trading perfect thought. Just a thought as its a winner most of the time but I've never run a stop. I just turn off either long or short depending on the direction of the long trend. and off on friday.
  • #34
  • Aug 25, 2010 2:16am Aug 25, 2010 2:16am
Quoting tommbstone
would you be intrested in cleaning up the code of the EA listed in this tread
http://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?t=241420

half of the code don't do anything or is left over from another EA
SL don't seem to work proper.
The EA logic seems to be trading perfect thought. Just a thought as its a winner most of the time but I've never run a stop. I just turn off either long or short depending on the direction of the long trend. and off on friday.
lol
ea from my system
can you please share some stats from it?
regards
  • #35
  • Aug 25, 2010 2:28am Aug 25, 2010 2:28am
Quoting MetaCoder
I only mean tick in the context of a "pulse" on a chart that causes an EA attached to that chart to run through its code one time. It's very broker-dependent. I think most brokers filter and control the ticks quite heavily.
Yes that is what I meant by tick too. My question is can a new tick contains the same price info as the tick before it. If the answer is yes, then I gather that this new tick after running through its code one time will NOT yield anything new, correct?

Thanks.
  • #36
  • Aug 25, 2010 2:52am Aug 25, 2010 2:52am
Quoting zamanib
some one code this -- very profitable 50 ema bands high low close
how about the thread....
http://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?t=249994
with the ea on the thread, buy when candle closes ema high, and sell when candle closes ema low. You can change the ema period, so you can use 50ema....
  • #37
  • Aug 25, 2010 10:09am Aug 25, 2010 10:09am
Folks, I hope I can save you all a little time and energy by asking you not to toss out trading strategies that you'd like me to code.

Anything that involves moving averages, candles, etc., I'll probably ignore.

If you speak in terms of tactical frameworks and balanced multi-pair approaches, I'm far more likely to look at what you're doing. But I'll look for COMPLETELY THOUGHT-OUT strategies, along with trading statements that show you're not just shooting from the hip.

A group of people who have been intensely interested in fully automatic trading have over the years helped me figure out what kinds of trading strategies work well, and which ones aren't worth bothering with. I was very opinionated to begin with, maybe a slow learner at times, and many of my assumptions were challenged and proved wrong. New ideas were introduced and tested -- ALWAYS objectively tested despite emotionalism and excitement over streaks of success -- and we doggedly pursued all-terrain, all-weather strategies.

More recently, a highly disciplined person -- he uses the handle frazerd here at Forex Factory -- has done extensive testing of and thinking about a great many strategies, and has provided feedback that has taken us to new levels of understanding.

If you are interested in looking at trading in perhaps a new way, have a look at our posts and decide for yourselves if we are on the right track.
Open to new approaches.
  • #38
  • Edited 4:57pm Aug 25, 2010 12:47pm | Edited 4:57pm
This thread, too, is relegated to Platform Tech.

This is a broad discussion I've tried to start, not just limited to "tech".

The BIG QUESTIONS are those of strategies and tactical frameworks.

Whether and how we implement a trading strategy with software is a SECONDARY consideration.

I would appreciate it if a moderator would contact me.
Open to new approaches.
  • #39
  • Aug 25, 2010 7:53pm Aug 25, 2010 7:53pm
Here's a thought Metacoder. You obviously seem skilled as a programmer and I've been exploring new ways to trade relatively old strategies.

I have a thread in the trading systems forum called "Old Dogs With New Tricks".

I basically take a market event--new daily high or low--and have the EA generate statistics using historic bar data to determine what course of action is best.

I figure the best course of action for you, would be to find a simple system and use the optimization code as an example.
  • #40
  • Aug 26, 2010 10:05am Aug 26, 2010 10:05am
Ronald Raygun, such events are important in my view. Most of my strategies look at 24-hour highs and lows being breached for one reason or another (trade entries or cut'n'reverse actions). If several pairs are breaching 24-hour highs and lows, I interpret that as confirmation of broad market action.
Open to new approaches.
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