Any good advice on getting started as a freelance API programmer?

Happy Monday to all.

I've spent a significant amount of time programming to Interactive Broker's API building fully automated trading systems in C++, and would like to start doing some freelance API development work. (I've also written to APIs for other platforms, but know IB the best.)

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to solicit freelance development work? I work in the trading industry on the tech side, but am really not sure how to get started here.

Any suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks your time.

 

what about writing a book or doing tutorials / training sessions for traders ?

 

have you ever heard of elance?

 

its not worth it. the people that use IB's API (retail) are not willing to pay and dont realy know what they want. Its probably best that you write something that uses the API and sell it. economies of scale.

 

I saw a company the other day called FTEN that is for hedge funds, etc... high speed API access technology with data and testing. Why not try and become a consultant or something like that? Its HFT and risk management all wrapped in one. Though it probably costs a fortune, it might be worth finding out what they do and if they have a long term edge... it would be like being an SAP programmer in the early 90s i'm guessing.

Elance is a joke, unless of course you need a cheap price for a service yourself... their is no relationship there, its just a quick and dirty sale, so a programming business can never grow that way.

 

And teaching traders how to program isn't? Please

 

Assuming your post was innocent and not a sly attempt at soliciting business on ET then may I suggest you sign up as a programming consultant on Interactive Brokers' website:

http://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/general/poll/ibconsultantapp.php?progid=undefined&ib_entity=llc

Projects do come up occasionaly on elance and other such sites but due to the nature of those sites you will get bottom dollar for your efforts.

Good luck.

 

Hi guys,

Thanks very much for all of your feedback, I really do appreciate it.

I was not aware of the IB consultant program, which seems like a good fit. I may be barking down the wrong tree given IB's retail oriented nature, but it doesn't hurt to try.

Thanks again and happy trading to all!