Linux

[skint-international]

Hi Folks,

Any traders out there using Linux?

Just wondered what software packages people prefer as I'm looking into the different options.

I mainly trade Forex at the moment, still using a demo account as I'm pretty new to it all.

Currently using ProRealTime for charts and Oanda for a broker as it has a Java platform.

Just downloaded EclipseTrader to look into that. Documentation seems a bit thin though,need to find out how to get hold of historical data.

I have Java programming experience so open source Java packages are particularly interesting.

Would be interested to see what packages other people are using.

Also there's a lot of talk about MT4 on forums, am I missing out here or are other tool adequate to cover the gaps?

I'd be quite interested in automated trading systems but Oanda say it costs $600 to use their API.

Cheers,
Skint

 

[Bint_Crusher]

Hi Folks,

Any traders out there using Linux?

Just wondered what software packages people prefer as I'm looking into the different options.

I mainly trade Forex at the moment, still using a demo account as I'm pretty new to it all.

Currently using ProRealTime for charts and Oanda for a broker as it has a Java platform.

Just downloaded EclipseTrader to look into that. Documentation seems a bit thin though,need to find out how to get hold of historical data.

I have Java programming experience so open source Java packages are particularly interesting.

Would be interested to see what packages other people are using.

Also there's a lot of talk about MT4 on forums, am I missing out here or are other tool adequate to cover the gaps?

I'd be quite interested in automated trading systems but Oanda say it costs $600 to use their API.

Cheers,
Skint

Hi skint, please let me know if you find any linux based packages.

 

[futurestrader2003]

I was able to get Sierra Chart running with Wine on Ubuntu 10.04

They also have a version without .net that is missing some functionality, and from what was posted on their forum by next year the main version will be .net free too.

 

[skint-international]

Just got MT4 running on Ubuntu using this:

Get Metatrader 4 working under Linux! - Forex Trading | MetaTrader Indicators and Expert Advisors

 

[gc1]

Provided you don't mind a performance hit (i.e. you have a powerful PC) it is much easier run run it in a virtual machine using one of the virtualisation products (e.g. Oracle VirtualBox). Then you a running a real Windows O/S VM on your Linux system and are less likely to get compatibility problems.

 

[skint-international]

Agree, Virtual box is great, just don't have a windose disk at home. Seems to run ok under wine though.

 

[StockHunter]

I run Oanda's platform on Linux (ubuntu 64-bit) just fine.

 

[nunrgguy]

It's very easy to get MT4 running under Wine, just make sure you install Winetricks and then the required DLLs via that and all will be cushty.

As far as OANDA goes on Linux, yeah I use them for a small testing account and they are a PITA with their upgrades tbh, they never tell you when they are doing it and you will often come to your trading station and find you cannot log in (they just did this with iphone as well, was out and about and couldn't log in as the new app required an OS upgrade!!).
The way around it is with OANDA on the Linux boxes is to totally get rid of the Java and plugins you are currently running, which I can almost guarantee is icedtea and install Oracle Java, latest version.

 

[DT]

I have Java programming experience so open source Java packages are particularly interesting.
[...]

I'd be quite interested in automated trading systems but Oanda say it costs $600 to use their API.

take a look at marketcetera

could your system work with fx futures - there are a few brokerages offering FIX APIs etc...

 

[nunrgguy]

Case in point, this morning. Only just now tried to log into OANDA and lo and behold they've updated again with no notification so I can't log in without updating Java first and no it isn't as simple as just clicking on the button with 'NIX. So no, I won't be going long AUDJPY

 

[StockHunter]

Case in point, this morning. Only just now tried to log into OANDA and lo and behold they've updated again with no notification so I can't log in without updating Java first and no it isn't as simple as just clicking on the button with 'NIX. So no, I won't be going long AUDJPY

That's the only problem I have with Linux. Everything is designed for windows, and what is on Linux you have to jump through 10 hoops (comparatively speaking to windows) to fix it when a problem arises.

 

[nunrgguy]

Yeah.

In this instance it was my bad as it turned out that for some reason I'd still got icedtea on that machine. No idea how it was working in the first place as icedtea hasn't worked with oanda on the others for eons.

That's why I run several machines. i did manage to get the order on btw, turned out pretty good in the end.

I agree with some things still being a ba11ache to sort on nix, in this day and age it's utter bullsh1t having to go to the command line to sort things out.

In the main though I much prefer nix for a whole host of reasons over Windows, security, system overhead through not having to run AV, generally rock solid unless it's a new iteration (never upgrade a working system, never) nice interface, nice workflow, specialised OSs for certain jobs around the house etc etc.

These days only run 2 windows machines, one is for audio so it HAS to be windows, the other is the wife's laptop - and when it needs a rebuild it will be going nix.

Overall, for my uses for trading it's been OK, just the occasional headache when it comes to 3rd party stuff like Java.