backtesting.py VS IBC

We chose backtesting.py for a backtesting framework. There are several to choose from but that one seems like the most well-supported and actively worked on at the moment.

The process might vary a bit based on what you want to trade, but I've had some success with back-testing by using the IBKR API to download historical data for the stocks I want, then plugging in that data to some other back-testing framework, like https://kernc.github.io/backtesting.py/

https://kernc.github.io/backtesting.py/ offers nice way to zoom backtesting. It has some bugs, but good for visualization.

Are there any free trading platform options to import and backtest millisecond historical tick data? Do you use something like https://github.com/kernc/backtesting.py and then translate algorithms into mql4/5 or pinescript?

But even if you don't know that, you can Google the library to find its documentation and installation instructions - in this case, here where it does indeed tell you to run pip install backtesting.

Sure. My strategy is actually very simple using common indicators like MACD and RSI. Most of the code is actually based on https://github.com/kernc/backtesting.py and I use it to check whether I should buy or sell on a particular day. Hope this helps!

I'm leaning towards using the backtesting.py library, but from the example on their main page, it looks like you need to program your strategy using their library?

I would start here. https://github.com/IbcAlpha/IBC Using slightly modified code running in docker container on linux server.

Interactive Brokers has been the best I've found for that. You do have to use their platform, but that allows you to focus more on writing your algos and less on re-inventing security and such. There are solutions out there to keep the gateway connected. see: https://github.com/IbcAlpha/IBC

And also use IBC to keep it connected. I've had issues where the daily maintenance performed on their servers causes IBGateway to pop up a dialog before continuing. IBC handles all those issues.

I used to have this problem but have since started using IBC, along with Task Scheduler, to handle all those connectivity issues on Windows. It all supports *NIX-based systems, too.

Actually I found it https://github.com/IbcAlpha/IBC

There are few autorunner scripts that worked well with previous versions of TWS (901-963) by automating it and even running them headless. However, with the latest version of TWS, it is hard to do.

I recently installed this https://github.com/IbcAlpha/IBC It preforms auto logon to IB TWS. Works fine. It generates a batch file, place it on desktop and I included my charting program. One click both open and IB user name and password entered and TWS opens. Magic. Was recently updated.

Look at https://github.com/IbcAlpha/IBC for gateway automation.