Articles on trading system automation in MQL5

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Read articles on the trading systems with a wide variety of ideas at the core. Learn how to use statistical methods and patterns on candlestick charts, how to filter signals and where to use semaphore indicators.

The MQL5 Wizard will help you create robots without programming to quickly check your trading ideas. Use the Wizard to learn about genetic algorithms.

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Python-MetaTrader 5 Strategy Tester (Part 05): Multi-Symbols and Timeframes Strategy Tester

Python-MetaTrader 5 Strategy Tester (Part 05): Multi-Symbols and Timeframes Strategy Tester

This article presents a MetaTrader 5–compatible backtesting workflow that scales across symbols and timeframes. We use HistoryManager to parallelize data collection, synchronize bars and ticks from all timeframes, and run symbol‑isolated OnTick handlers in threads. You will learn how modelling modes affect speed/accuracy, when to rely on terminal data, how to reduce I/O with event‑driven updates, and how to assemble a complete multicurrency trading robot.
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MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 21): Testing with Economic Calendar Data

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 21): Testing with Economic Calendar Data

Economic Calendar Data is not available for testing with Expert Advisors within Strategy Tester, by default. We look at how Databases could help in providing a work around this limitation. So, for this article we explore how SQLite databases can be used to archive Economic Calendar news such that wizard assembled Expert Advisors can use this to generate trade signals.
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Building A Candlestick Trend Constraint Model (Part 5): Notification System (Part II)

Building A Candlestick Trend Constraint Model (Part 5): Notification System (Part II)

Today, we are discussing a working Telegram integration for MetaTrader 5 Indicator notifications using the power of MQL5, in partnership with Python and the Telegram Bot API. We will explain everything in detail so that no one misses any point. By the end of this project, you will have gained valuable insights to apply in your projects.
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MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 50): Awesome Oscillator

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 50): Awesome Oscillator

The Awesome Oscillator is another Bill Williams Indicator that is used to measure momentum. It can generate multiple signals, and therefore we review these on a pattern basis, as in prior articles, by capitalizing on the MQL5 wizard classes and assembly.
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Neural Networks in Trading: Integrating Chaos Theory into Time Series Forecasting (Final Part)

Neural Networks in Trading: Integrating Chaos Theory into Time Series Forecasting (Final Part)

We continue to integrate methods proposed by the authors of the Attraos framework into trading models. Let me remind you that this framework uses concepts of chaos theory to solve time series forecasting problems, interpreting them as projections of multidimensional chaotic dynamic systems.
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Developing a Replay System (Part 37): Paving the Path (I)

Developing a Replay System (Part 37): Paving the Path (I)

In this article, we will finally begin to do what we wanted to do much earlier. However, due to the lack of "solid ground", I did not feel confident to present this part publicly. Now I have the basis to do this. I suggest that you focus as much as possible on understanding the content of this article. I mean not simply reading it. I want to emphasize that if you do not understand this article, you can completely give up hope of understanding the content of the following ones.
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Developing a Replay System (Part 51): Things Get Complicated (III)

Developing a Replay System (Part 51): Things Get Complicated (III)

In this article, we will look into one of the most difficult issues in the field of MQL5 programming: how to correctly obtain a chart ID, and why objects are sometimes not plotted on the chart. The materials presented here are for didactic purposes only. Under no circumstances should the application be viewed for any purpose other than to learn and master the concepts presented.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 72): Trajectory prediction in noisy environments

Neural networks made easy (Part 72): Trajectory prediction in noisy environments

The quality of future state predictions plays an important role in the Goal-Conditioned Predictive Coding method, which we discussed in the previous article. In this article I want to introduce you to an algorithm that can significantly improve the prediction quality in stochastic environments, such as financial markets.
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Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 9): External Flow

Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 9): External Flow

This article explores a new dimension of analysis using external libraries specifically designed for advanced analytics. These libraries, like pandas, provide powerful tools for processing and interpreting complex data, enabling traders to gain more profound insights into market dynamics. By integrating such technologies, we can bridge the gap between raw data and actionable strategies. Join us as we lay the foundation for this innovative approach and unlock the potential of combining technology with trading expertise.
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Neural Networks in Trading: Spatio-Temporal Neural Network (STNN)

Neural Networks in Trading: Spatio-Temporal Neural Network (STNN)

In this article we will talk about using space-time transformations to effectively predict upcoming price movement. To improve the numerical prediction accuracy in STNN, a continuous attention mechanism is proposed that allows the model to better consider important aspects of the data.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 89): Frequency Enhanced Decomposition Transformer (FEDformer)

Neural networks made easy (Part 89): Frequency Enhanced Decomposition Transformer (FEDformer)

All the models we have considered so far analyze the state of the environment as a time sequence. However, the time series can also be represented in the form of frequency features. In this article, I introduce you to an algorithm that uses frequency components of a time sequence to predict future states.
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Developing a Replay System — Market simulation (Part 19): Necessary adjustments

Developing a Replay System — Market simulation (Part 19): Necessary adjustments

Here we will prepare the ground so that if we need to add new functions to the code, this will happen smoothly and easily. The current code cannot yet cover or handle some of the things that will be necessary to make meaningful progress. We need everything to be structured in order to enable the implementation of certain things with the minimal effort. If we do everything correctly, we can get a truly universal system that can very easily adapt to any situation that needs to be handled.
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Developing a Replay System (Part 54): The Birth of the First Module

Developing a Replay System (Part 54): The Birth of the First Module

In this article, we will look at how to put together the first of a number of truly functional modules for use in the replay/simulator system that will also be of general purpose to serve other purposes. We are talking about the mouse module.
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Neural Networks in Trading: Adaptive Detection of Market Anomalies (DADA)

Neural Networks in Trading: Adaptive Detection of Market Anomalies (DADA)

We invite you to get acquainted with the DADA framework, which is an innovative method for detecting anomalies in time series. It helps distinguish random fluctuations from suspicious deviations. Unlike traditional methods, DADA is flexible and adapts to different data. Instead of a fixed compression level, it uses several options and chooses the most appropriate one for each case.
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Neural Networks in Trading: Market Analysis Using a Pattern Transformer

Neural Networks in Trading: Market Analysis Using a Pattern Transformer

When we use models to analyze the market situation, we mainly focus on the candlestick. However, it has long been known that candlestick patterns can help in predicting future price movements. In this article, we will get acquainted with a method that allows us to integrate both of these approaches.
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Neural Networks in Trading: Superpoint Transformer (SPFormer)

Neural Networks in Trading: Superpoint Transformer (SPFormer)

In this article, we introduce a method for segmenting 3D objects based on Superpoint Transformer (SPFormer), which eliminates the need for intermediate data aggregation. This speeds up the segmentation process and improves the performance of the model.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 62): Using Decision Transformer in hierarchical models

Neural networks made easy (Part 62): Using Decision Transformer in hierarchical models

In recent articles, we have seen several options for using the Decision Transformer method. The method allows analyzing not only the current state, but also the trajectory of previous states and actions performed in them. In this article, we will focus on using this method in hierarchical models.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 64): ConserWeightive Behavioral Cloning (CWBC) method

Neural networks made easy (Part 64): ConserWeightive Behavioral Cloning (CWBC) method

As a result of tests performed in previous articles, we came to the conclusion that the optimality of the trained strategy largely depends on the training set used. In this article, we will get acquainted with a fairly simple yet effective method for selecting trajectories to train models.
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MetaTrader 5 Machine Learning Blueprint (Part 14): Transaction Cost Modeling for Triple-Barrier Labels in MQL5

MetaTrader 5 Machine Learning Blueprint (Part 14): Transaction Cost Modeling for Triple-Barrier Labels in MQL5

The article replaces hardcoded cost assumptions in triple-barrier labeling with measured inputs. An MQL5 script captures spread distribution, swap rates, and symbol metadata from your broker, and a Python model converts them into a broker-calibrated min ret you can pass to get events. Labels then reflect the actual round-trip friction for your instrument and holding period.
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Developing a multi-currency Expert Advisor (Part 10): Creating objects from a string

Developing a multi-currency Expert Advisor (Part 10): Creating objects from a string

The EA development plan includes several stages with intermediate results being saved in the database. They can only be retrieved from there again as strings or numbers, not objects. So we need a way to recreate the desired objects in the EA from the strings read from the database.
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Category Theory in MQL5 (Part 23): A different look at the Double Exponential Moving Average

Category Theory in MQL5 (Part 23): A different look at the Double Exponential Moving Average

In this article we continue with our theme in the last of tackling everyday trading indicators viewed in a ‘new’ light. We are handling horizontal composition of natural transformations for this piece and the best indicator for this, that expands on what we just covered, is the double exponential moving average (DEMA).
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Low-Frequency Quantitative Strategies in Metatrader 5: (Part 1) Setting Up An OLAP-Friendly Data Store

Low-Frequency Quantitative Strategies in Metatrader 5: (Part 1) Setting Up An OLAP-Friendly Data Store

The article outlines a practical data pipeline for quantitative analysis based on Parquet storage, Hive-style partitions, and DuckDB. It details migrating selected SQLite tables to Parquet, structuring market data by source, symbol, timeframe, and date, and querying it with SQL window functions. A Golden Cross example illustrates cross‑symbol evaluation of forward returns. Accompanying Python scripts handle data download, conversion, and execution.
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Optimizing Trend Strength: Trading in Trend Direction and Strength

Optimizing Trend Strength: Trading in Trend Direction and Strength

This is a specialized trend-following EA that makes both short and long-term analyses, trading decisions, and executions based on the overall trend and its strength. This article will explore in detail an EA that is specifically designed for traders who are patient, disciplined, and focused enough to only execute trades and hold their positions only when trading with strength and in the trend direction without changing their bias frequently, especially against the trend, until take-profit targets are hit.
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Developing a multi-currency Expert Advisor (Part 11): Automating the optimization (first steps)

Developing a multi-currency Expert Advisor (Part 11): Automating the optimization (first steps)

To get a good EA, we need to select multiple good sets of parameters of trading strategy instances for it. This can be done manually by running optimization on different symbols and then selecting the best results. But it is better to delegate this work to the program and engage in more productive activities.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 65): Distance Weighted Supervised Learning (DWSL)

Neural networks made easy (Part 65): Distance Weighted Supervised Learning (DWSL)

In this article, we will get acquainted with an interesting algorithm that is built at the intersection of supervised and reinforcement learning methods.
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Swap Arbitrage in Forex: Building a Synthetic Portfolio and Generating a Consistent Swap Flow

Swap Arbitrage in Forex: Building a Synthetic Portfolio and Generating a Consistent Swap Flow

Do you want to know how to benefit from the difference in interest rates? This article considers how to use swap arbitrage in Forex to earn stable profit every night, creating a portfolio that is resistant to market fluctuations.
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Optimizing Liquidity Raids: Mastering the Difference Between Liquidity Raids and Market Structure Shifts

Optimizing Liquidity Raids: Mastering the Difference Between Liquidity Raids and Market Structure Shifts

This is an article about a specialized trend-following EA that aims to clearly elaborate how to utilize trading setups after liquidity raids. This article will explore in detail an EA that is specifically designed for traders who are keen on optimizing and utilizing liquidity raids and purges as entry criteria for their trades and trading decisions. It will also explore how to correctly differentiate between liquidity raids and market structure shifts and how to validate and utilize each of them when they occur, thus trying to mitigate losses that occur from traders confusing the two.
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Hidden Markov Models in Machine Learning-Based Trading Systems

Hidden Markov Models in Machine Learning-Based Trading Systems

Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are a powerful class of probabilistic models designed to analyze sequential data, where observed events depend on some sequence of unobserved (hidden) states that form a Markov process. The main assumptions of HMM include the Markov property for hidden states, meaning that the probability of transition to the next state depends only on the current state, and the independence of observations given knowledge of the current hidden state.
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Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 91): Frequency Domain Forecasting (FreDF)

Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 91): Frequency Domain Forecasting (FreDF)

We continue to explore the analysis and forecasting of time series in the frequency domain. In this article, we will get acquainted with a new method to forecast data in the frequency domain, which can be added to many of the algorithms we have studied previously.
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MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 22): Conditional GANs

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 22): Conditional GANs

Generative Adversarial Networks are a pairing of Neural Networks that train off of each other for more accurate results. We adopt the conditional type of these networks as we look to possible application in forecasting Financial time series within an Expert Signal Class.
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Developing a Replay System — Market simulation (Part 12): Birth of the SIMULATOR (II)

Developing a Replay System — Market simulation (Part 12): Birth of the SIMULATOR (II)

Developing a simulator can be much more interesting than it seems. Today we'll take a few more steps in this direction because things are getting more interesting.
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Neuro-Structural Trading Engine — NSTE (Part I): How to Build a Prop-Firm-Safe Multi-Account System

Neuro-Structural Trading Engine — NSTE (Part I): How to Build a Prop-Firm-Safe Multi-Account System

This article lays the system architecture for a multi‑account algorithmic trading setup that operates cryptocurrency CFDs on MetaTrader 5 while respecting prop‑firm constraints. It defines three core principles—fixed dollar risk, one script per account, and centralized configuration—then details the Python–MQL5 split, the 60‑second processing loop, and JSON-based signaling. Readers get practical lot‑size computation, safety checks, and position management patterns for reliable deployment.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 52): Research with optimism and distribution correction

Neural networks made easy (Part 52): Research with optimism and distribution correction

As the model is trained based on the experience reproduction buffer, the current Actor policy moves further and further away from the stored examples, which reduces the efficiency of training the model as a whole. In this article, we will look at the algorithm of improving the efficiency of using samples in reinforcement learning algorithms.
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Royal Flush Optimization (RFO)

Royal Flush Optimization (RFO)

The original Royal Flush Optimization algorithm offers a new approach to solving optimization problems, replacing the classic binary coding of genetic algorithms with a sector-based approach inspired by poker principles. RFO demonstrates how simplifying basic principles can lead to an efficient and practical optimization method. The article presents a detailed analysis of the algorithm and test results.
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Statistical Arbitrage Through Cointegrated Stocks (Part 7): Scoring System 2

Statistical Arbitrage Through Cointegrated Stocks (Part 7): Scoring System 2

This article describes two additional scoring criteria used for selection of baskets of stocks to be traded in mean-reversion strategies, more specifically, in cointegration based statistical arbitrage. It complements a previous article where liquidity and strength of the cointegration vectors were presented, along with the strategic criteria of timeframe and lookback period, by including the stability of the cointegration vectors and the time to mean reversion (half-time). The article includes the commented results of a backtest with the new filters applied and the files required for its reproduction are also provided.
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Creating Custom Indicators in MQL5 (Part 10): Enhancing the Footprint Chart with Per-Bar Volume Sentiment Information Box

Creating Custom Indicators in MQL5 (Part 10): Enhancing the Footprint Chart with Per-Bar Volume Sentiment Information Box

The article enhances an MQL5 footprint indicator with a compact box above each candle that summarizes net delta, total volume, and buy/sell percentages. We implement supersampled anti‑aliased rendering, rounded corners via arc and quadrilateral rasterization, and per‑pixel alpha compositing. Supporting utilities include ARGB conversion, scanline fills, and box‑filter downsampling. The box delivers fast sentiment reads that stay legible across zoom levels.
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MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 59): Reinforcement Learning (DDPG) with Moving Average and Stochastic Oscillator Patterns

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 59): Reinforcement Learning (DDPG) with Moving Average and Stochastic Oscillator Patterns

We continue our last article on DDPG with MA and stochastic indicators by examining other key Reinforcement Learning classes crucial for implementing DDPG. Though we are mostly coding in python, the final product, of a trained network will be exported to as an ONNX to MQL5 where we integrate it as a resource in a wizard assembled Expert Advisor.
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Big Bang - Big Crunch (BBBC) algorithm

Big Bang - Big Crunch (BBBC) algorithm

The article presents the Big Bang - Big Crunch method, which has two key phases: cyclic generation of random points and their compression to the optimal solution. This approach combines exploration and refinement, allowing us to gradually find better solutions and open up new optimization opportunities.
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Creating Dynamic MQL5 Graphical Interfaces through Resource-Driven Image Scaling with Bicubic Interpolation on Trading Charts

Creating Dynamic MQL5 Graphical Interfaces through Resource-Driven Image Scaling with Bicubic Interpolation on Trading Charts

In this article, we explore dynamic MQL5 graphical interfaces, using bicubic interpolation for high-quality image scaling on trading charts. We detail flexible positioning options, enabling dynamic centering or corner anchoring with custom offsets.
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Developing a multi-currency Expert Advisor (Part 9): Collecting optimization results for single trading strategy instances

Developing a multi-currency Expert Advisor (Part 9): Collecting optimization results for single trading strategy instances

Let's outline the main stages of the EA development. One of the first things to be done will be to optimize a single instance of the developed trading strategy. Let's try to collect all the necessary information about the tester passes during the optimization in one place.