The purpose of this sub-forum

[ianj]

API available:
http://www.multicharts.com/multicharts/sdk/

It seems like a top quality environment for strategy creation and testing. I know cost is an issue and whether the brokers would be able to offer it free for use to all clients is an open question I guess.

Any idea what the practical costs are - the API costs quoted are from $3k-$5k - which is out of reach for all but determined developers - and the rest you have to call for. Even if the costs per SDK can be spread - what about runtime licences - you usually have to add them as well - I dont think any Empty4 "substitute" will fly until the costs drop to $10-$100 per month per trader.

I am not sure how much traction you will gain with a "pure" open source (for most that means FREE) solution - you are expecting skilled programmers to give up a lot of free time for few rewards - i myself would pay a reasonable regular fee for something that worked for me but any solution would have to cater for the many people who are playing with $10k accounts (never mind those with $1k accounts and less)

Empty4 is not free out of the goodness of MQ hearts

[soulfire]

I don't know about API costs but Multicharts basic costs are $66 per month (if buying 1 yr at a time) or $1497 to own it outright which is a much better deal. Does it have the superior features over cTrader to be worth that price? That is for people more knowledgeable than me to advise

[ianj]

I don't know about API costs but Multicharts basic costs are $66 per month (if buying 1 yr at a time) or $1497 to own it outright which is a much better deal. Does it have the superior features over cTrader to be worth that price? That is for people more knowledgeable than me to advise

The API is only if creating a new client platform - if just using the platform on its own then you just have the multicharts platform costs as you mentioned (unless you are LMAX and decide you need the API for multicharts - i dont think thats the case now but it was when they first offered it)

The cTrader Open API is SUPPOSED to be free - but at the moment it DOES NOT EXISTS - its vapour ware - i think cTrader is generally fee but carries a higher commission

[Mortiiy]

AWESOME detailed post f451!! Thank you

[turingdesign]

Multicharts Forex specific is free if you trade enough lots on FXCM. I haven't seen a huge amount of support for multicharts by many retail brokers. The fact it supports easy-language which is tradestations original coding platform is a huge plus to me, very easy to learn, and there is a lot of code floating around... fun thingy's like ehlers MAMA & sinecycle... MQL was hard after easylanguage!

off the top of my head it was $199 month if you didn't trade enough, FXCM fills etc seem quite tidy/performed well.

pedro2 re protrader, you can download demo from them or head on over to truefx.com, demo on truefx doesn't seem to expire... Bit of a giggle this one its quite a bit older version of protrader, but you get a reasonable price feed from integral. i've tried the MQL with some semi complex EA and indis without drama's, i'd expect more complex thingy's won't work supper well...

I'll be giving an cTrader/cAlgo on IC Markets a go today

[shjbentz]

to compete against Empty4, cost is the issue. The reason Empty4 is used by so many is because it's "free" (minus all the rip-offs by the broker).
If an alternative is to be found, hate to say it, but to become a widespread replacement for Empty4, it will also have to be free, paid for by the brokers, just as Empty4 is (if I am not mistaken).
I am on nano account, guess why? I'm broke, but can still trade live forex this way. If I have to pay $166/month for the platform, I'm done. I only have $275 in my account. a) no way I can trade the lots to make it "free" and b) no way to make enough to cover the cost.

Also, re: the language. I used to have TradeStation, learned easy language. Then ended up on forex, Empty4, had to learn MQL. Fine. But tired of learning proprietary languages. Would be a relief to learn a world wide useful language like C# or C++ that will work for trading and a bunch of other applications. Needless to say, so much more power, as well, accessing the computer, OS functionality.

[theforexedge]

Not sure if this is of any interest..

AlgoTrader

AlgoTrader is an all-in-one trading solution for investment banks, quantitative hedge funds and proprietary trading groups.

The Server based Algorithmic Trading Platform that enables development, simulation and execution of multiple strategies in parallel. The System is based on Complex Event Processing (CEP) and Event Stream Processing (ESP) using Esper. The Platform accommodates strategies that cannot be programed with procedural programming languages. AlgoTrader is extensible and fully customizable where strategy specific functionality is required.

For details please visit: www.algotrader.ch

http://code.google.com/p/algo-trader/

[Forex37]

I wonder nobody ever mentioned Amibroker. Any reason why?

Thanks

[scanner]

1 ) About Trade Station and Easy langage : I've learnt it and try it during three monthes two years ago ( I have already tried to not used Empty4.).
1st, Forex is not their specificities and they run as "white label" of an another one, so they are more expensive too and your order are transmit to this broker who make it run.
for me, Easy langage are not sufficiently "precise", and the functions are crossed a lot from the beginner of its birth. it is like a strange house where everytime somebody has added a new piece as he could.
If it would be Tradestation, I think that it will be necessary to use their other option that is programm object c++ ( if I remember.). But I don't think you'll choose them too, why to leave a "dictator monopole" to enter "in another one" ?.

2) I've got an answer from tradable.com , Open source plateForme. That lets me to think that they are not really ready ... perhaps a professionnal develloper here could have a discussion with them ? ( I'm not in the process to be able to). elsewhere, they hare hiring..Here their Answer :

" Hello Daniel,

Thank you for signing up on tradable.com. We have not been able to provide early access for everyone yet, so I wanted to reach out and see if you have gotten access and if there's anything else I can help you with. I would also be very interested to hear how you plan to work with tradable and any feedback you might have.
--
Best, "

Mantas Geidrichis
Community Manager
tradable

[ianj]

1 )

Thank you for signing up on tradable.com. We have not been able to provide early access for everyone yet, so I wanted to reach out and see if you have gotten access and if there's anything else I can help you with. I would also be very interested to hear how you plan to work with tradable and any feedback you might have.

I got EXACTLY the same answer - today

I told them i applied twice as a developer and twice as a trader - am waiting to hear back from them