If you haven't already, I suggest reading the entire help and FAQ docs through. Then, write a dirt-simple algo to run on minute bars, with at least two securities (e.g. on a daily basis, re-balance a 70/30 stock/bond portfolio, an hour after the market opens). The biggest mistake I see is that new users try to conjure up a complicated strategy, and then get bogged down in the code logic, and it's hard to help them get up the learning curve. As you have questions, post to the forum, including your code. --Grant

By rebalancing do you mean selling shares from one and buying shares of the other to maintain a 70/30 ratio? is this really simple to do? I am overwhelmed by the complexity of the code in this platform for people who are traders but no professional programmers.

Here's an example. See if you can understand everything it does, line by line. --Grant

Hi Grant,

Thank you for the tips..

This is what I understand from your Algo: there are 2 companies you are looking at (sid 8554 & 33652) and the Spider with BND...
You have a rebalance scheduled on the algo although, I am not quite sure how often you rebalance based on the algo.
Then you skip the rebalance if you have any open orders
I don't understand the command if bool....... then I don't understand the last line.

You are completely right; I need to read the FAQ to have a better understanding. I have also found a few videos on Youtube which I hope will help.

I have never written an algo before and I have never taken any courses on Python. However, it looks like this language is based on different commands to form "a logic" than you test it in order to tweak...

Philippe,

You can clone the algo, and run it yourself. Then, have a look at the various outputs, particularly transaction details and daily positions and gains. You should see that the algo rebalances daily.

With this line, the algo is simply checking if there are any open orders for the specified stock:

if bool(get_open_orders(stock)):  

The last line of the code places the order for the stock (see https://www.quantopian.com/help#api-order-target-percent).

For Python, you could try http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/, which is a free e-book.

Grant

Philippe, try going through these 3 tutorials linked in this thread: https://www.quantopian.com/posts/whats-the-best-way-to-get-started

They will help you get started on the platform, learn about the API, and understand what the code is doing.

And if you want a general overview, check-out this 3 minute video guide. Good luck!

O Wow, you guys are very competent. Thanks for the links, I will watch tonight. This will be a very slow process for me because of school / work and BLA BLA BLA, however slow progress is better than no progress. I will have more questions for you guys I am sure. Thanks a bunch, have a pleasant one.

Hi Grant,
I ran a back test on your algo. It looks like the return on this algo is 65.14% from 2007 - 2015. In your note, you said I have to start look at the output; are you talking about the metricks on the algo or on the actual codes?

Philippe,

Well, if you are using the example I provided as a learning tool, I'd have a look at everything. Feel free to ask questions; I'll likely find out that there is a lot I don't understand, and learn something myself!

Cheers,

Grant

Hi Grant,

Great, I will find a way to share with you what I have done so far. I have two algos that I cloned/ trying to understand. Yours and one algo that uses a risk factor model using pairs trading.
If you know a way to share, please let me know. Thank you for your help, I truly appreciate. thanks

Philippe,

Just attach a backtest, using the "Attach Backtest" button, up and to the right of the box I'm typing in now. Presto!

Grant

there it is