Amibroker - Where to start?

So I've taken the plunge and joined the dark side.

What I'd like some help with is some info on how to best go about learning the code for this thing.

My main goal initially is to reprogram my current excel based system, and cross check results to ensure I have it working as it should. I'm imagining this to be quite a task, and have given myself until the end of the year to have it done. Along the way I want to gain an understanding of how the code works and what potential it has.

Is there a recognised best path to take to learn the coding? I don't want to have to ask question after question, and I'd like to avoid googling every little piece of code I'm after. I'd rather start from the start and gain a real understanding of how it all works.

Seems like a very long and possibly sometimes frustrating road ahead right now...

You could go to the User's Guide and read from the beginning to the end. The user's guide is accurate and easy to understand. There are even video tutorials there.

Dont dispair, I can tell you that just a few months ago I learned how to code my trading ideas in amibroker in a few days with no previous programming experience!

The way I learned was to look at the structure of other peoples code, identify what did what, and copy what they did with my own ideas.

Everything is pretty self explanatory, although you will initially have to keep the amibroker reference page open for looking up what you want to do, for example:

SetPositionSize(10,spsPercentofEquity);

Sets your position size to 10% of your current equity, when you first look at a big wall of code it looks intimidating but if you break it down its really quite simple. Getting Howard Bandy's book is probably a good idea also. PM me if you need a hand.

I'm sure that you will get a wide range of opinions about how to get started so look at each and decide what might make sense for you given your background, etc.

For me, after looking at examples in the Users Guide, Libraary, etc. I found that initially I was able to do simple things but ater awhile found it was more difficult to progress further. A friend suggested picking up some basic C++ knowledge with a "how to do it" book. On the forum others indicated that they found Bandy's books helpful. I looked into both routes and decided to go down the C++ road given the state of my AFL knowledge and prior limited exposure (a long time ago) to other languages.

So, about seven years ago, I looked around and found that short online "do it yourself" C++ courses were offered using books such as "C++ DeMystified" by Kent. I did not sign up for these courses but found that I could easily work through the Kent book fairly rapidly. The book also contains quizes at each step which I found quite useful in driving home key points that i might have overlooked.

To be sure, AFL is not C++ but it is not too far removed and is actually, imo, easier. Kent's book, however, gave me a good grounding in a variety of concepts, including functions, variables, loops (if-else, while-do), arrays, algorithms, etc. Armed with that I found that I could much more easily use the Users Guide or others code to figure out what I needed without or at most minimal assistance from others.

The route that I took is certainly not the only one but it did work for me. So, look around and dive in and whatever you decide will undoubtedly advance your coding skill.

Good luck and good trading.

Yeah I think it will end up being a mix of different methods to learn. The easiest way I guess is to just do it however comes naturally. Finding the time is the biggest problem at the moment.

Is the code wizard worth the money? It looks quite basic... Or do more options become avaiolabe once you've paid for it?

Synergy said:

Yeah I think it will end up being a mix of different methods to learn. The easiest way I guess is to just do it however comes naturally. Finding the time is the biggest problem at the moment.

Is the code wizard worth the money? It looks quite basic... Or do more options become avaiolabe once you've paid for it?

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The wizard is just another way to go that might get you to your goal or more likely part way. Nobody can tell you this is the way to go. Only you can decide.

Hi Synergy --

If you have experience with any general programming language, such as BASIC, C, or Pascal, or with writing indicators or systems for any trading system development platform, such as TradeStation, MetaStock, or WealthLab, then you do not need the code wizard.

If you are new to both trading systems and programming, begin with the tutorials posted at the AmiBroker website. If those do not give you enough understanding, then the code wizard might help.

As your understanding of trading systems and AmiBroker increases, and the indicators and systems you want to write become more sophisticated, you will outgrow the code wizard.

Thanks,
Howard

colion said:

A friend suggested picking up some basic C++ knowledge with a "how to do it" book. On the forum others indicated that they found Bandy's books helpful. I looked into both routes and decided to go down the C++ road given the state of my AFL knowledge and prior limited exposure (a long time ago) to other languages.

Click to expand...

+1 for C++

Greetings --

Any experience with general programming languages is helpful. As is any experience with system development languages. If you have either of those, use them.

But the unique feature of AmiBroker is that it handles data series as arrays. Understanding the array processing in AmiBroker is probably the single most important concept. If you already have it, experience with the APL language might be particularly helpful -- but do not go out to learn APL in preparation for working with AFL.

I recommend beginning to learn AmiBroker's development language through its native functions. There are good tutorials that will assist with that. I would work through those first -- functions, indicators, and systems.

When you find a need to code using "loops" in addition to using the native functions in AmiBroker, and you will, then experience using C++ will be valuable. But I would not recommend beginning with C++ for people who are new to programming.

Some of you might remember the Fred Hoyle story, "The Black Cloud." The aliens set up a multimedia learning center to teach the earthlings advanced science. Physicists with advanced degrees listened to the material and went crazy because of they could not cope with the dissonance between what they already knew and what they were being taught. A bright, but uneducated, janitor was able to learn the material because he was not burdened by pre-existing knowledge and its biases.

Thanks for listening,
Howard

Synergy said:

Is the code wizard worth the money? It looks quite basic... Or do more options become avaiolabe once you've paid for it?

Click to expand...

I had no experience and have no use for the AFL code wizard. Can create formula in Formula Editor after doing this .....

howardbandy said:

I recommend beginning to learn AmiBroker's development language through its native functions. There are good tutorials that will assist with that. I would work through those first -- functions, indicators, and systems.

Click to expand...

Good good,

I figured the wizard might be quickly made redundant.

Thanks for the info guys. I'm about to become very active in the FAQ thread!