IB get your head out of your XXX and fix the charts

Discussion in 'Order Execution' started by gwac, Oct 17, 2008.

  1. sogodo

    sogodo

    I installed NinjaTrader MULTIPLE times, 1/2 year ago, and recently, and in both cases it either crashes on me, or does not support connection to IB. Of course, I enabled API/Activex/DDE and received free activation code by email.
    Plus, it's very cumbersome to add different instruments to NinjaTrader, and it's not very intuitively friendly (at least, for me). Plus, I can tell you NinjaTrader for me looks like very rough and unfinished system. All bells and whistles come from pre-existing C# libraries. I don't feel like developers even love their baby, to be honest. Who does not know, there is a lot of trading codes available in C# already.
    I don't see much added value.

    I assume it's good to trade from charts from there, and use DOM, but, first, you need to reach this point and make it working (without wasting much time), and second it's not free -- nor DOM, and neither placing orders from charts which brings me back to the point that I can do all this and much more with extremely quick, responsive and programmable and affordable Amibroker. I will not shell out around (less or more) $1000 for NinjaTrader, because I don't like to acquire some special ninja skills to quickly add any instruments (stocks, options) to the portfolio, and waste my time to unfriendly interface --- developers took the easy way and just re-used the direct interface used in Microsoft .NET and dedicated mostly for developers, not users, without any friendly overlay.

    And, yes, I can write my own overlay because I'm C# savvy, but why?
    I'm result-oriented person.
    I wrote some some COMs in C# used by Amibroker, but mostly I'm pretty happy with trivial script-based language (easier than even javascript) used in Amibroker.
    Commodities and Futures publish a lot of indicators/systems for Amibroker, for example, etc.
    Also, optimization analysis used in Amibroker has pretty good performance (as if written in assembler) and just amazing.

    To be honest, I don't like that Amibroker does not allow you transparently and without hassle to combine/switch between RT & EOD data in real-time, from multiple sources. You can do this, but it's not user-friendly. If Tomasz can fix it in the future, I throw away my QuoteTracker because you cannot code anything more or less serious in QT.

     
    #11     Nov 24, 2008
  2. I've installed Ninjatrader on PC's, never had a problem getting data, never had a problem with much of anything.. the thread is about charting, with Ninja you can have all the charts you want with everything on them you can think of, it's the best workaround for IB's charts by far...
     
    #12     Nov 24, 2008
  3. sogodo

    sogodo

    I'm not dumping this software, because, definitely, it has its merits and MUCH better than many others.

    But we are talking about the best of the best softwares available in the market TODAY. After trying a lot of them, you become very picky sometimes.

    I kinda like DOM realization and trading from charts features in NinjaTrader, but, it's the same as many other platforms, and still, the general interface of the whole system is not very thoughtful and counter-intuitive as per my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I'm a software developer, and I can hack and adjust everything, and I implemented a lot of different interfaces etc. I can use this interface, but it could be the same as cutting grass in your backyard by scissors.
    Users of NinjaTrader don't suspect how much freedom and flexibility they deprived of.

    More shabby version of DOM (BookTrader) is available for free from IB, for example, and many web-based platforms have awesome implementations of trading from charts and DOMs, too. Much more advanced than NinjaTrader. We can do everything and adjust to any interface. I'd prefer when I'm in control, not software.

    And, yes, I can extend this software by writing C# codes, but it's just an integral part of pre-existing .NET advantages, and not any added value contributed by by authors of this software.

    Competition is good thing!

    Regarding charting, I agree that IB charts are rather some sort of compromise between portability and very limited requirements just for the emergency situations when you don't have any other choice, or work from 3rd party computer on the fly or something like this. I don't believe that anybody in his sound sense would trade from IB Charts in any other circumstances. Still, it's possible. The same with NinjaTrader :) Especially, when you need to switch between all variety of totally different styles and instruments, stocks/options/futures/forex, very often.

    I see the future of technical charting in 3D, by the way.

     
    #13     Nov 26, 2008
  4. People seem to be fprgetting that IB is a brokerage first and foremost. Their charts are almost an afterthought.

    If you want proper charts there are plenty out there. I use SierraCharts and now that IB has sorted out its backfill problems it's a great combo imo.
     
    #14     Nov 30, 2008
  5. Harald

    Harald

    Definitely agree: IB is a brokerage and not a software company, that means

    - In the first place I would look for fast, proper and price-competitive order execution
    - In the second place I would appreciate reliable data feed and backfill

    You do not need TWS charting: There is a choice of affordable and well designed software packages thath you can run via the API (QuoteTracker, SierraChart, Ensign, Amibroker, NinjaTrader or whatsoever). The API also allows to run improved order execution tools such at button trader.

    TWS charting can be used for a quick check or to analyze backfill problems. If the same problems occur on your charting software and TWS charts, you know that the problem is data-related, otherwise it might be software related.






     
    #15     Dec 2, 2008
  6. I didn't know you could trade from the charts in amibroker. How do you enable this?

    Thanks.

    -eLindy

     
    #16     Dec 2, 2008
  7. sogodo

    sogodo

    I wrote my own scripts walking some extra mile after getting started with the following links which were of great help for me:

    Trading From chart with Amibroker
    blog.tipster.ca
    http://blog.tipster.ca/2008/08/trading-from-chart-with-amibroker.html
    http://blog.tipster.ca/2008/08/trading-with-amibroker.html
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z12NX_Ux9Lg
    code:
    https://docs.google.com/View?docid=dgv827nr_3gp48z2fp

    trading with amibroker (risk management)
    http://blog.tipster.ca/2008/08/trading-with-amibroker.html

    risk management with amibroker and ib
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idz2qiYms98

    http://amibroker.com/library/formula.php?id=1175

    AutoTrader Basic Flow
    http://amibroker.com/library/detail.php?id=1182

    Manual Bracket Order Trader
    http://amibroker.com/library/detail.php?id=1180

    Auto Trade Step by Step
    http://amibroker.com/library/formula.php?id=1162

    Button trading using AB auto trading interface
    http://amibroker.com/library/formula.php?id=1119

    Visi-Trade
    http://amibroker.com/library/formula.php?id=1175

    Note that you need to install
    IBController 1.2.1 for Amibroker and activate it via email (it's easy).

    And, of course, don't trade your real account till you're absolutely and totally sure that your scripts jet up and totally on the button with your IB simulation account.


     
    #17     Dec 3, 2008