I tried playing with IBKR APIs on my macbook. Downloaded the twsapi_macunix, moved the ibjts folder to ~, playing the sample Java codes and pointing to `source/JavaClient` as the library. Now, I am trying to play using an old Windows pc and it says I have to run the installer for the downloaded windows API? https://ibkrcampus.com/ibkr-api-page/twsapi-doc/#find-the-api Why does it need installation, installing what? Can't I just tell IntelliJ to library `source/JavaClient`?
It's Windows - that's just the way it is. The installer installs all the different language packages (C++, c#, Excel, VB, Python, Java). That include registering various DLLs. It's also can repair or uninstall the API. There's more than some source code files.
So I guess I can just set `source/JavaClient` as directory root and import `com/ib/client/...` in the sample codes as before. Haven't tried yet as I need to download IntelliJ first which takes forever in a cafe.
I use Apache NetBeans. The JavaClient is a Maven project (pom.xml) so opening the project loads the various samples.
Because it's not really API you are installing, it's the gateway or TWS that the api connects to (unless you are using FIX). IB architecture is reallly frustrating but that's just how it works.