Don't want to poor cold water on the OP's purpose but some people just aren't cut out for programming etc. and will never get far enough in a 100 years to make it worthwhile. Have a good unbiased look at yourself and your talents. It isn't really enough to just want to be an ace programmer without the mental abilities. If you decide your path is different then ok succeed at that and with the money earned employ a talented programmer to program up your trading ideas. Just a thought but no point wasting your time on something that you will never be good enough at. Don't forget, in future years the science gets tougher too, not easier as things progress. My old skills with Metastock are near useless now. Wish I had chosen a different path.