Algo Trading

New to institutional-grade open source tools? Explore our framework reviews and analysis. A Shift in the Trading Landscape Historically, institutional trading has been dominated by proprietary, black-box systems — expensive, closed, and inflexible. But in recent years, open source has quietly become a serious contender. From quant research to execution engines, hedge funds, banks, and fintech firms are increasingly leveraging open source technologies to stay agile and reduce costs. Why Institutions Are Embracing Open Source 1. Cost Efficiency Institutions face steep licensing fees for legacy trading software. Open source platforms eliminate those costs while allowing for deep customization. ...

Backtrader is one of the most popular open source frameworks for backtesting and live trading in Python. Its clean syntax, extensive documentation, and strong community make it ideal for both beginners and advanced traders. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to set up your first algorithmic trading strategy using Backtrader. New to Backtrader? Check out our detailed Backtrader overview to get started. Step 1: Install Backtrader You can install Backtrader using pip: ...

Backtesting and live trading are two sides of the same algorithmic coin. If you’re using an open source trading platform like Backtrader, Freqtrade, or QuantConnect Lean, understanding the difference — and the caveats — between these two stages is critical. What Is Backtesting? Backtesting is the process of simulating a trading strategy on historical market data to evaluate its performance. Goal: Test ideas without risking real capital Benefits: Fast iterations, insight into potential drawdowns and profitability Tools: Most open source platforms include robust backtesting engines ✅ Think of it as the strategy lab — no real money, no real consequences. ...