corbel, it's very good to see another PHPer in the forum! Actually, I figured out how to intergrate TD Ameritrade's API with PHP some months ago. The problem is that they have the highest commissions of any brokerage that offers an API. The "holy grail" would be to get PHP to integrate with a deep discount brokerage without the use of any Java or C++ application in between. Brokerages such as Interactive Brokers or Just2Trade (http://www.just2trade.com/trading_tools/api) have much more forgiving commissions. The key is figuring out how to use the PHP socket functions (http://php.net/manual/en/book.sockets.php) to work with the APIs. I'd be interested in working with you to figure it out.
TDAmer will reduce substantially below posted rates is your trading frequency is daily or faster, even if you aren't trading much size.
Do you know by how much they will reduce commissions? I got conflicting information when I called them. The first person said commissions were non-negotiable and the other said thay could only reduce it to $6.99/trade with a minimum of $25,000. A.) I don't have that much free cash at the moment and B.) if I did, Just2Trade is still just $2.50/trade.
I've always kept a substantial balance with them, so I can't speak to how they'd handle a sub-$25k account. My guess is, if you generate a lot of turnover and <i>then</i> call them, you'll find them more receptive. I can understand why they wouldn't want to come way down on a small account doing no business.
If I may ask, how much are you paying in commissions per transactions? Does it compare to the amount charged by Interactive Brokers or Just2Trade?
I would consider using python. There are some innovative quant funds (I read that Sandor Strauss who used to work for Renaissance is using it) out west using it to connect/execute their orders. I haven't got around to doing it myself yet however.
You can ask anything you want, but of course I don't discuss details of my personal finances with nameless chatboarders.
Either it's comparable to IB or not. That's not particularly personal. If commission structures are that sensitive to you, why did you chime in?
I told you something useful, that I've become aware of from personal experience. In return, you flame me... Well, when I was 18, I knew everything too...