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SO I am looking for a faster, more reliable backtesting platform. I currently use NinjaTrader, but find the results often dubious at best, particularly with muti-timeframe and multi-instrument.
I am actually happy with NT for live trading (like the …
... probably too much passion in that discussion
My (yet, limited) experience with AmiBroker so far:
- it is the only alternative (I know of) for a starter that wants to learn with a minimum initial investment and:
1) use free intra-day data. AB provides low to 1 minute free charts (via google finance. Yahoo finance is totally unreliable from what I've seen.)
2) Play with backtesting, optimization and other nice functions that usually cost thousands in other software alternatives.
3) They have good support. They replied to all my emails with a constructive attitude.
4) I must admit, there are little glitches here and there in the software, things that may not even be caused by AmiBroker itself, but a combination of factors like where you install the software (folder Program Files vs Program Files x86, or what antivirus you are using). Overall, with some computer knowledge, you'll hit the road running.
5) I still see the overall integration & usability of the software as the main improvement area. I feel like it was done by a programmer for his fellow friends. And there is still plenty of room for improvements in this area Price alone heavily overweight this aspect though.
As I am on a learning curve about trading in general and I don't want to spend tens of thousands on trading software, I much appreciate the value AB offers for its cost. I'm yet to be shown a similar alternative.
I wish I could give feedback about MultiCharts, but MultiCharts is just 25 times more expensive. And I am still a fan of one off charge, full capabilities, don't like to "monthly rent" software while keeping a day job.
I have used Amibroker for close to 6 years now and it is simply the most amazing platform. These days, I simply could nottrade without it. It is able to perform the following
1)It is able to live stream data from a number of sources
2) It has an API interface to my broker, IB which allows me to place orders either direct from the chart, or from the programming language.
3) Its programming language (AFL) is almost C like in its syntax and allows for even the most complex of strategies to be charted and backtested against, and
4) With the Multi-core support for Multi-core CPUs, it has blinding speed. It squeeze every bit of juice from each core and just powers through its work, whether backtest, optimising whatever and finally, and most importantly
5) It possesses the ability to perform automated walk-forward testing which, IMO, is essential for system validation, before you put your hard earn $ on the line
HAving said all that, having all these facilities also imply a significant learning curve. I also cannot comment on the usefulness, and or prettiness of its user interface relative to other packages as I am only interested in whats under the bonnet.
So, is it suitable for day trading ? Yes..... I use it for that purpose and not just day trading, but automated day trading as well.
Yeah, I have read it. Didn't MC sponsor this forum, did it? At least they are sponsors of elitetrader. So put two and two together. They are just laughable in their assumptions. MC are proven manipulators, cheaters and behave like childs. There is a blog somewhere providing proof. They seem to be in fear of something. Are sales so bad? Now they are adding #C platform. I don't think bloatware like #C is an improvement.
No software is perfect. If a software would be perfect then there wouldn't be any development processes. There is always something to improve or to innovate. In regards to installation folder ... don't exactly know what you mean there. E.g. if you install 32-bit and 64 bit versions on same OS like Win 7 64-bit then 32-bit AB gets automatically installed in "...\Program files x86\..." and 64-bit gets installed in program files by default. Never had a problem with installation. As for antivirus read their performance tips here AmiBroker Knowledge Base 2010 November There are some hardware tips also AmiBroker Knowledge Base 2011 October
Forget about MC. It's backtesting and optimization engine is useless, IMO. And just using it as trading platform? There are better and cheaper options, IMO.
Here is a video showing why AFL is so much more powerful than EL/PL and showing AB's flexibilty.
below some information by the developer of the video
And before doing the video
And here is another one showing user created 3D animation just made with pure AFL
And last video showing user created automation example
IMO, AB is too cheap in relation to its capabilities (in addition offering free SDK). A more reasonable price would be ten times its current price. But thanks to AB for not doing so. :-)