Where can I learn how to code Expert Advisors? | Forex Factory

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Where can I learn how to code Expert Advisors?

  • #1
  • First Post: May 20, 2014 12:34pm May 20, 2014 12:34pm
I'd really like to learn how to code EA's, but I've absolutely no idea where to start. Would I be best off learning C++ before trying to code EA's, or is there a resource out there that assumes no prior programming knowledge?
  • #2
  • May 20, 2014 12:56pm May 20, 2014 12:56pm
Have you any programming experience?
  • #3
  • May 20, 2014 1:12pm May 20, 2014 1:12pm
Quoting Ponzi Jr
I'd really like to learn how to code EA's, but I've absolutely no idea where to start. Would I be best off learning C++ before trying to code EA's, or is there a resource out there that assumes no prior programming knowledge?
The simplest way: modify one of your EA's.
This should each be able to do.
  • #4
  • May 20, 2014 1:27pm May 20, 2014 1:27pm
Quoting mickey99
Have you any programming experience?
Almost none. I mean, besides very simple scripts in python and php
  • #5
  • May 20, 2014 2:09pm May 20, 2014 2:09pm
http://www.forexfactory.com/showthre...03#post7409503
PM me with coding requests and I'll probably put you on my ignore list
  • #6
  • May 20, 2014 4:01pm May 20, 2014 4:01pm
Quoting Ponzi Jr
{quote} Almost none. I mean, besides very simple scripts in python and php
So you've got the basics, it's kind of something like

do while something
if this then
do this
end if
end do

edit an existing indicator in MT4, any of the standard one's and edit it, change a few variables and see what happens, then post on here see if I or anyone else can help you try and figure stuff out.
  • #7
  • May 20, 2014 6:46pm May 20, 2014 6:46pm
You could consider using the App Forex EA Generator. You make a flow chart and it generates the code. The basic app produces only a ex and the "Pro" version produces a MQ4. (There is a trick though, you can copy the code and paste into a text editor and Save-As with extension mq4).

Otherwise there are several complete courses and e-books around. Do a google search or pm me.
  • #8
  • May 20, 2014 9:16pm May 20, 2014 9:16pm
You first go ENROLL IN A COLLEGE C++ Class basic


This is coming from experience. Let's get it straight you don't know coding before , you don't learn yourself and you can NOT LEARN YOUR SELF. you need some teacher to whip you... other wise you would have self read "200 page book how to code C++ for beginner"

It's boring. You need to BE FORCE to learn it because you "are intend to become an engineer"

I am sorry this is the truth why you or anyone else don't know how to program a software.

There should be 2 class:

Computer Programing 100 : C++
Computer Programing 101: C++

If you take BOTH of those class you are set..to "learn how to code MQL4... "

---
Do NOT listen to people who tell you to take shortcut crap like " copy and paste code" or use "auto EA generator"...

You need SOLID programing BASIC knowledge...

Everyone Start with C, then C++

But don't start with C, trust me SKIP THE C Class... TAKE ONLY THE C++ start as beginner...

---

Remember: If I who hate programing can have "SOLID" basic programing.... So can YOU...... Do the SOLID way..

If you are poor..... and if you have "self will" you can Read the 200 page C++ Programing for beginner type book.

One book is ALL you need for C++, you don't need to read 5 different C++ book. ONLY one book 200 page....
  • #9
  • Edited 3:57am May 21, 2014 3:41am | Edited 3:57am
If you are new to programming, take a course on the basics. There are many online courses available nowadays. The language does not really matter, it is about learning the principles and methods. Most courses are in Python these days:
Coursera: Programming for Everybody: Python
Coursera: Learn to Program: The Fundamentals: Python
Udacity: Intro to Computer Science: Python
Coursera: An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python
edx: Introduction to Computer Programming, Part 1 C/C++
edx: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python
MIT OCW: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Python
Khan Academy: Introduction to programming and computer science Python


Then You can more easily learn mql4/mql5: There are a number of articles/tutorials available. Ex:
http://articles.mql4.com/404
http://articles.mql4.com/417
http://articles.mql4.com/466
http://articles.mql4.com/516
http://articles.mql4.com/536
http://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?t=6011
http://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?t=285087


On a side note, Python is good to learn as it can be used as a replacement for such programs as Matlab and R for Machine Learning, Data Analysis and Statistics:
https://store.continuum.io/cshop/anaconda/
http://scikit-learn.org/stable/
http://pandas.pydata.org/
  • #10
  • May 21, 2014 2:26pm May 21, 2014 2:26pm
Quoting Xaphod
If you are new to programming, take a course on the basics. There are many online courses available nowadays. The language does not really matter, it is about learning the principles and methods. Most courses are in Python these days: Coursera: Programming for Everybody: Python Coursera: Learn to Program: The Fundamentals: Python Udacity: Intro to Computer Science: Python Coursera:...
Thank you Xaphod for the helpful links
Happy trading
  • #11
  • May 22, 2014 3:28am May 22, 2014 3:28am
Quoting Xaphod
If you are new to programming, take a course on the basics. There are many online courses available nowadays. The language does not really matter, it is about learning the principles and methods. Most courses are in Python these days: Coursera: Programming for Everybody: Python Coursera: Learn to Program: The Fundamentals: Python Udacity: Intro to Computer Science: Python Coursera:...
Thanks, I'll definitely take a look at that.
  • #12
  • May 22, 2014 1:13pm May 22, 2014 1:13pm
If I devised a trading strategy that I intended to implement manually, would it be a good idea to test it by coding an EA based on it's rules and then running it on the MT4 EA tester? Does this give a good idea of whether a system is likely to be successful?
  • #13
  • May 22, 2014 2:58pm May 22, 2014 2:58pm
Quoting Ponzi Jr
would it be a good idea to test it by coding an EA based on it's rules and then running it on the MT4 EA tester? Does this give a good idea of whether a system is likely to be successful?
It depends on your strategy. if it includes discretionary parts it makes imho no sense to test it in the backtester.

If you build an ea from a mechanical system the ea is the better choice. But remember - the ea only does what you have told him. If you do logical/coding-mistakes the ea will not work as desired, of course. If you are not precise enough, the ea will not be.

Simple example from today (post):
someone asked "I need an expert advise That buy RSI below 25 MFI Below 25 & Sell RSI Above 80 MFI Above 80 Take profit both levels at 50"
ok, this is quickly done and I have attached an ea (should) doing this. What does the ea do (or should do, if no mistakes made, lol)? -> everytime rsi AND mfi are below 50 level it will open a buyorder. Better would be (imho) to tell the ea that it must wait for a cross from <25 to >25 as a trigger. So check if rsi or mfi jsut crossed and if the other indicator is <25, then open the trade. This would be better (I think) than the current procedere.

so the ea does not know whether you mean a cross or not, it only knows what you have teached (=coded) ...
PM me with coding requests and I'll probably put you on my ignore list
  • #14
  • Oct 19, 2014 3:29pm Oct 19, 2014 3:29pm
Quoting fxdaytrader_
{quote} It depends on your strategy. if it includes discretionary parts it makes imho no sense to test it in the backtester. If you build an ea from a mechanical system the ea is the better choice. But remember - the ea only does what you have told him. If you do logical/coding-mistakes the ea will not work as desired, of course. If you are not precise enough, the ea will not be. Simple example from today (post): someone asked "I need an expert advise That buy RSI below...
Is it possible to simply take pieces of code out from Ea's you already have and compile them together to create a super EA?
  • #15
  • Dec 26, 2015 11:29pm Dec 26, 2015 11:29pm
this is old but maybe someone will know if the instructions here are the same since there is a new metaeditor or is still the same.

What I need is just tell a ea programmer each of my ideas and have him make it and then test it. He will just send me the test result on each and then for payment. Do people do this as far as you know because I have 100s of ideas but have never coded before, or should I just read the books like they say?
  • #16
  • May 5, 2019 3:30am May 5, 2019 3:30am
You really do not need to learn how to code. There are strategy builders nowadays that you can use to build yor strategies as Expert Advisors. To learn to code will take you years, and you wont make better EAs than the software.
  • #17
  • May 8, 2019 2:48pm May 8, 2019 2:48pm
Hello Petko,trader, I am new to the forum and I was looking to learn to code. What are the strategy builders?
  • #18
  • May 9, 2019 9:11am May 9, 2019 9:11am
Ah the strategy builders
And then we wonder why the losses
  • #20
  • May 16, 2019 1:29am May 16, 2019 1:29am
Hey Shamasa, I have started the 15-days free trial of EA Studio and so far it looks great. I succeeded to import my Historical data from the broker I use, which I understood is very important. And when I generated the first EAs and exported them, I was quite surprised to see that the backtest matches with the backtest of MetaTrader. This means that the strategies are actual.

Also, I saw that many traders use it already. Thanks for sharing that in here!
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