HerAlgoFlow
Before you can run a HerAlgoFlow strategy, you need the right version of NinjaTrader. This trips up a lot of new traders, because NinjaTrader comes in three versions and they look similar from the outside.
The three versions
- NinjaTrader Desktop. Software you install on a Windows computer. It has the full charting, the Strategy Analyzer for backtesting, and support for custom strategies written in NinjaScript.
- NinjaTrader Web. Runs in your browser on any computer, including a Mac, with nothing to install.
- NinjaTrader Mobile. Apps for iPhone and Android.
Web and Mobile are handy for checking positions or placing a trade by hand. But according to NinjaTrader, they don't support automated strategies, custom indicators or third-party NinjaScript tools.
Why HerAlgoFlow strategies need Desktop
Every HerAlgoFlow strategy is written in NinjaScript, NinjaTrader's programming language for custom tools. Only the Desktop version can load and run it. Desktop is also where you get the things you'll use every week:
- Strategy Analyzer to backtest a strategy on past data before risking anything.
- A simulated account to watch it trade live markets with fake money.
- The Output window, where HerAlgoORB explains what it did and why.
What you'll need
- A Windows PC. Desktop is built for Windows.
- The free download. NinjaTrader Desktop is free to download and use, including backtesting and the simulator.
- A funded account, later. You only need one when you're ready to trade live with real money.
On a Mac or iPad?
Desktop doesn't run on macOS directly. NinjaTrader doesn't officially support it, but many Mac users run it inside Windows using virtualization software like Parallels or VMware Fusion. You'd need to buy a Windows license for that.
There's no iPad version of Desktop. You can reach a Windows PC remotely from an iPad, but NinjaTrader's own staff recommend running it directly on a Windows computer, since remote access adds lag and the platform is built for a mouse and keyboard.
One thing to know before you start
An automated strategy only runs while NinjaTrader Desktop is open and connected. If your computer sleeps, restarts or loses internet during your trading window, the strategy stops watching the market. Before going live, set your computer not to sleep during trading hours.
Next in Start here
Part 2 walks through installing NinjaTrader Desktop and setting up a free simulated account, so you can practice without risking money.