Building a Market Behavior Analyzer in MQL5
We outline a modular analyzer for MetaTrader 5 that separates detection, interpretation, and visualization. The engine identifies swing highs and lows, assigns structural labels, evaluates impulses and pullbacks, and stores results in a market state object. An on‑chart dashboard and interactive inspection tools make the latest structure and measurements immediately accessible.
Creating a Cairo-Inspired Graphics Library for MetaTrader 5 (Part 5): Fill Rules, Holes and Borders
Part 5 adds a fill rule to the rasterizer and a stroke helper to the path. The engine now supports both non-zero and even-odd fills via a single enum parameter, enabling rings, true borders that do not repaint interiors, and glyph counters. AddThickLine() builds strokes from fills in one path and one pass, preserving uniform opacity at joints and showing why strokes require the non-zero rule.
How to Implement Competition Among LLM Agents in MetaTrader 5
The article describes a competitive architecture for MetaTrader 5 in which ten LLM agents, each with different trading rules, manage their own capital and open independent positions using unique magic numbers. The system prompt and the agent's trading aggressiveness are adjusted based on PnL results and the trade streak. A reproducible framework with operating modes and monitored metrics is presented, suitable for testing and further optimization.
Beyond REST and ZeroMQ: Building a gRPC/Protocol Buffers Bridge for Real-Time MetaTrader 5–Python Inference
This article defines a Protocol Buffers contract for the MetaTrader 5-Python boundary and implements a length-prefixed Protobuf-over-TCP client in MQL5, since MQL5 cannot speak real gRPC natively. A small Python shim relays those frames to a genuine grpc.aio server, unary today, with streaming already live on the backend. You get schema-enforced, strongly-typed messages, explicit errors, retry/backoff, and a Strategy Tester cache for reproducible backtests where sockets don't run.
Creating a Cairo-Inspired Graphics Library for MetaTrader 5 (Part 4): Anti-Aliasing, Coverage and Compositing
The rasterizer now accumulates exact span coverage in X and sampled coverage in Y, and blends it via CairoBlendOver on straight ARGB. CairoAaSamples sets the number of vertical samples at runtime, making the cost nearly linear and localized to edges. Readers get smoother boundaries, correct compositing of translucent shapes, and controllable performance.
Creating a Cairo-Inspired Graphics Library for MetaTrader 5 (Part 3): Edges and the First Filled Shape
Part 3 implements a scanline rasterizer in pure MQL5. We convert path segments into top‑down edges, sweep each row, sort crossings, and apply the non‑zero winding rule to decide which pixels are inside. The result is a single Fill(path, color, buffer, w, h) routine that draws rectangles, stars, glyphs, or 2000‑edge shapes without per‑shape code, ready to integrate into your MQL5 projects.
Building AI-Powered Trading Systems in MQL5 (Part 11): Optimizing the UI with Frame Throttling and Partial Rendering
We optimize an MQL5 canvas interface to stay responsive under rapid input without changing its appearance. The article adds a direct-buffer canvas for block region copies, caches text widths and glyph coverage, caps repaints at 60 fps (16 ms), and limits drawing to panes and regions that actually changed. As a result, hover, scroll, and popups render smoothly without full-panel redraws.
Practical Modules from Other Languages in MQL5 (Part 07): The OS Module from Python
This article introduces a lightweight OS-like helper for MQL5 that streamlines file and path operations using a Python-inspired interface. We implement getcwd, listdir, scandir with DirEntry, remove, rmdir, rename, mkdir, stat, and an os.path subset (exists, isfile, isdir, join, split, pardir). You will learn how to work consistently within the terminal Files/common sandbox and simplify everyday filesystem tasks.
The Dragonfly Algorithm (DA)
In this article, we will examine the Dragonfly Algorithm (DA), inspired by the collective behavior of dragonflies in nature — their ability to coordinate flight in a swarm, avoid collisions, follow prey, and evade predators. Let's look at how five simple behavioral rules and an adaptive mechanism for transitioning from exploration to exploitation are implemented in MQL5, and test the algorithm on our test bench.
Building a PDF Creation Library in MQL5 (Part1): Writing a PDF by Hand
This article shows how a PDF works as plain text by hand‑written two files: a 592‑byte page and an 885‑byte trade ticket. It explains the file structure (header, body, xref, trailer), the required page objects and resources, and the operators that draw text, then provides an MQL5 script to generate them. First part of a pure‑MQL5 PDF library series.
Developing a Multi-Currency Expert Advisor (Part 32): Secrets of the Optimization Project Creation Step (II)
The article discusses the parameters of the second stage of the automatic optimization pipeline for a multi-currency Expert Advisor. We analyze the criteria for filtering first-stage passes and the rules for forming groups of trading strategies. The article demonstrates how settings affect optimization results, discusses aspects of process reliability, and examines the balance between selection strictness and having enough candidates for the algorithm.
Building AI-Powered Trading Systems in MQL5 (Part 10): A Resolution-Independent Vector Icon System
We replace the embedded bitmap icons in our MQL5 canvas interface with a resolution-independent vector icon system. A small set of anti-aliased primitives (strokes, discs, rings, rounded rectangles, and polygons) draws every logo and sidebar glyph procedurally, then plugs into the header, sidebar, and theme toggle. You get smaller builds, theme-aware recoloring, and icons that stay sharp at any size.
Market Replay: Unity Is Strength (II)
Until now, the application being developed as part of this series of articles has focused exclusively on simulating the graphical part. However, to obtain a more complete system in which we can test the Expert Advisor within the replay/simulation service, we also need to simulate the trading server. You'll notice that this simulation will include only the most essential elements. Nevertheless, you, dear reader, will be able to fill in the missing parts. Since these additional components don't affect what I want to show, we already have more than enough to implement what we have in mind.
LLM-Based Trading Agent with Embedded Top Trader Philosophy
The article provides a critical analysis of an LLM strategy in which forecasting the direction is separated from trading decisions, and demonstrates why this leads to a disconnect between metrics and PnL. We will describe procedures for dataset balancing, feature engineering, prompt and response preparation, fine-tuning configuration in Ollama, and reliable parsing. Backtesting and forward testing reveal systematic degradation. The practical conclusion is that the problem must be formulated as a direct optimization of trading outcomes.
Market Replay: Unity Is Strength (I)
We're entering the home stretch. The development of the replay/simulation system is nearly complete. Of course, we still have a few things left to finish, but compared to everything we've already done, completing what's left won't be difficult. However, it is essential to fully absorb and understand everything covered in this article. So I hope you enjoy reading this and, above all, that you enjoy this final stage of the journey.
Developing a Multi-Currency Expert Advisor (Part 31): Secrets of the Optimization Project Creation Step (I)
The article examines two practical aspects of the Adwizard-based optimization pipeline: diagnostics and recovery after failures when generating the final Expert Advisor database, as well as preliminary selection of strategy parameter ranges before project creation. It is shown how analyzing the stages/jobs/tasks tables in SQLite and restarting stages based on their statuses help restore the process, while trial optimization narrows the search space, eliminates redundant parameters, and reduces the risk of getting stuck at local maxima.
Market Simulation: Position View (XVIII)
In this article, I have shown—in the clearest possible way—how to modify and improve code capable of handling specific tasks while making as few changes as possible to the existing code. We will add a volume display and, at the same time, ensure that users or traders cannot effectively remove objects created by the position indicator.
Beetle Swarm Optimization (BSO)
We consider a BAS+PSO (BSO) hybrid, where BAS provides a local direction signal and PSO facilitates the exchange of best solutions within the swarm. The article presents a mathematical model, pseudocode, an implementation of the class in MQL5, and test results from a standard test bench. This material allows reproducing the algorithm, configuring its parameters, and understanding how three objective-function evaluations per iteration affect efficiency.
Market Simulation: Position View (XVII)
In the previous article, we configured the indicator to display the financial result. However, not everyone likes using this display mode. The reasons differ from one trader to another, although in some cases they seem quite reasonable and justified to me. Adapting the code to provide this capability is by no means one of the most difficult tasks. It's actually pretty simple. In this article, we'll look at how to do this.
The ZeroMQ Message Transfer Protocol in MQL5: Implementing the REQ/REP pattern
This article presents a native MQL5 implementation of the ZeroMQ Message Transfer Protocol (ZMTP) built on raw MQL5 sockets. It explains the REQ/REP pattern via the CZmqReqSocket class, including framing, handshake, and strict send/receive alternation. A practical pipeline shows an MQL5 script streaming returns to a Python/R server running MS‑GARCH and receiving regime probabilities, enabling integration without DLLs.
MetaTrader 5 as a Kafka Producer: Event-Bus Architecture for Multi-Terminal Signal Fan-Out
The article details a native MQL5 Kafka producer that speaks the wire protocol over raw TCP. It implements RecordBatch v2 encoding, varints, and CRC32C, and adds batching, acks, and retry logic, all without a sidecar or DLL. Use it to publish JSON-structured trading signals from a single terminal to Kafka, where dashboards and other services subscribe independently.
Butterfly Optimization Algorithm (BOA)
The article discusses the Butterfly Optimization Algorithm, which is based on modeling foraging using the sense of smell. We will analyze the original formulas, identify and correct errors in motion equations, add a mechanism for maintaining population diversity, and present the test results.
Developing a Multi-Currency Expert Advisor (Part 30): From Trading Strategy to Launching a Multi-Currency Expert Advisor
The article outlines the complete process of creating a multi-currency Expert Advisor using the Adwizard library for MetaTrader 5: from setting up the environment for creating optimization projects to obtaining the final multi-currency Expert Advisors, which combine multiple instances of a simple trading strategy. We will walk through setting up the necessary input parameters, conventions for convenient file names, and launching three instances of the final Expert Advisors on different trading accounts with different parameters.
Market Simulation: Position View (XVI)
In this article, we will make the necessary changes so that the position indicator displays the financial result. This way, the trader will be able to get an idea of the financial result of an open position. In addition, I will tell you something that many people do not know, even those who have been using MQL5 for a long time: how to use static variables to share memory and avoid declaring a global variable in the main code.
Enhanced Colliding Bodies Optimization (ECBO)
The article discusses the Colliding Bodies Optimization (CBO) algorithm, which is based on the physics of one-dimensional collisions between bodies. The basic version of the algorithm does not include any configurable parameters, which makes it simple. Therefore, the enhanced ECBO version — supplemented with Colliding Memory and a crossover mechanism — was used as the basis for the implementation, allowing the algorithm to achieve respectable results and earn a place in the ranking table.
Market Simulation: Position View (XV)
In this article, I will try to explain as simply as possible how messaging between applications can be used. The goal is to enable you to create something workable in the simplest and most efficient way possible whenever you can. I am not sure if I will be able to convey the idea behind this concept, since it is not that easy to understand for someone encountering it for the first time. In addition, I will take this opportunity to show you how to modify the replay/simulation system so you can debug an Expert Advisor or any other code you are developing. And all of this is just as simple and straightforward.
Market Simulation: Position View (VI)
In this article, we will implement a number of improvements to ensure that the position indicator accurately reflects the actual state on the trading server in terms of open positions and their current state. I should point out that the applications shown here are in no way intended to replace any of the elements available in MetaTrader 5. They should also not be used without due caution and a balanced approach, since their purpose is to provide educational code—that is, code intended solely for learning how the system works. The reason I call this code “educational” is that, in some cases, using messages is not the best way to implement certain functions.
Cricket Algorithm (CA)
The article discusses the Cricket Algorithm, a metaheuristic optimization method that combines elements of the Bat Algorithm and the Firefly Algorithm with the physical laws governing the propagation of sound in the atmosphere. The algorithm simulates the behavior of crickets that navigate by the chirping of their conspecifics, using Dolbear's law and acoustic formulas to guide the search for best solutions.
Adaptive Position Sizing in MQL5: A Prototype Risk Engine with Generalized Kelly and Bootstrap Calibration
This article presents a modular position sizing engine for MetaTrader 5 that operates on normalized R-multiples. A layered pipeline combines enriched trade statistics, a generalized Kelly edge estimate, volatility-aware adjustment, Monte Carlo calibration under ruin and drawdown limits, a continuous risk policy, an exposure guard, and a broker-aware lot calculator. The output is a broker-valid lot size with an optional CSV audit trail, providing a transparent prototype for implementing modern risk controls in native MQL5.
Building Your Personal Expert Advisor (Part 4): Risk Management III—Risk Models and Order Execution
The EA now defines risk by percentage, fixed cash, or fixed lot and can measure percentage against balance or equity. It supports market, limit, and stop orders, sizes from the planned entry, and enforces spread‑aware stop minima. Additional safeguards include downward volume rounding, explicit handling when the minimum lot exceeds target risk, and pending‑order distance/expiry checks, organized under a Plan–Validate–Execute structure.
Building Your Personal Expert Advisor (Part 3): Risk Management II—Margin and Allowable Risk
Risk-based lot sizing can still exceed what free margin allows. The article adds a margin-aware cap using OrderCalcMargin(), an optional adaptive cap that scales with ACCOUNT MARGIN LEVEL, and a single pre-trade validation gate that unifies position limits, risk sizing, and margin checks. Readers get concrete code to prevent order rejections and over-committing margin, with clear logs when a trade is reduced or skipped.
Eco-inspired Evolutionary Algorithm (ECO)
The article discusses the ECO optimization algorithm, which is based on ecological concepts: populations are grouped into habitats based on territorial proximity, exchange genetic material within habitats, and migrate between them. Despite its wide range of operators and elegant biological metaphor, the algorithm produced a certain result discussed below.
Master MQL5 — From Beginner to Pro (Part VII): Principles of Debugging MQL Applications
Debugging is an integral part of the programming cycle. This article discusses common techniques for debugging any application running in the MetaTrader 5 environment.
Creating a Cairo-Inspired Graphics Library for MetaTrader 5 (Part 2): Points, Contours and the Path
This second part adds the geometry layer to a Cairo‑inspired graphics library for MetaTrader 5. It defines a path of double‑precision points grouped into contours, records open/closed intent, and stores vertices in a flat array with start indices. We implement MoveTo, LineTo, Close, provide basic shape helpers, and include a demo that visualizes the built geometry for inspection and reuse.
Market Simulation: Position View (XIV)
Now we will implement this solution, since MQL5 is based on the same principles as event-driven programmingю Developers often use this model when creating DLLs. I know that at first, the event-driven model will seem confusing and illogical. But in this article, I will explain the principles of event-driven programming in a way that is easier to understand, so that if you are just getting started, you will have a clear grasp of how it works. Understanding what I am about to explain in this article will help you throughout your work as a programmer.
Market Simulation: Position View (XIII)
In this article, we will look at how to easily implement an indicator that shows whether a position is generating a profit or a loss. The procedure is simple and effective. Even without in-depth expertise, this indicator will allow you to easily recognize when to close a position. This way, you will avoid unexpected results, since the calculation reflects the actual outcome you would get if you closed the position.
Bidirectional LSTM and Quantum Computing for Predicting the Direction of Price Movement
The article presents a reproducible implementation of a hybrid quantum-neural network model for algorithmic trading on Forex without using real quantum hardware. A fixed three-qubit quantum circuit in IBM Qiskit converts sliding-window statistics (mean returns, volatility, and range) into a probability distribution, from which seven quantum metrics are calculated. These features are integrated into a bidirectional LSTM architecture with regularization and mechanisms to address class imbalance, including focal loss and a sampler.
Combining 3D Bars, Quantum Computing, and Machine Learning into a Unified Trading System
The article presents the full integration of the 3D-bar module into a quantum-enhanced trading system for forecasting the movement of currency pairs. The system combines stationary four-dimensional features, an 8-qubit quantum encoder, and CatBoost gradient boosting with 52+ features. The system is implemented in Python using MetaTrader 5, Qiskit, CatBoost, and optional integration with the Llama 3.2 LLM for interpreting forecasts.
Market Simulation: Position View (XII)
In this article, you will learn how to create a visual signal on your trading platform so you can determine directly on the chart whether a position is long or short, without having to open the Terminal. In addition, the article also explains how to implement a feature that improves the display when moving Take Profit and Stop Loss lines by hiding the horizontal line that follows the mouse cursor while these lines are being moved, to avoid confusion. The article provides practical insight into setting up market simulation systems.
Ecological Cycle Optimizer (ECO)
The ECO (Ecological Cycle Optimizer) algorithm offers an interesting metaphor for applying the concept of the ecological cycle to the field of metaheuristic optimization. The idea of dividing a population into trophic levels — producers, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers — creates a hierarchical search structure, in which each group contributes to the overall optimization process.