Articles on manual and algorithmic trading in MetaTrader 5

The article presents the Artificial Showering Algorithm (ASHA), a new metaheuristic method developed for solving general optimization problems. Based on simulation of water flow and accumulation processes, this algorithm constructs the concept of an ideal field, in which each unit of resource (water) is called upon to find an optimal solution. We will find out how ASHA adapts flow and accumulation principles to efficiently allocate resources in a search space, and see its implementation and test results.

This article presents CTradeJournal, a self-contained MQL5 class for live tracking of open positions at tick frequency. It maintains MAE, MFE, and initial risk in money, calculates the R-multiple when a position closes, and writes a complete CSV record. The text explains the design choices, provides the implementation, and shows simple EA integration so you can analyze entries, stop placement, and outcome distribution.

Secrets of effective optimization of trading strategies in metaheuristic approaches. Community of Scientists Optimization is a new population-based algorithm inspired by the mechanisms of the scientific community. Unlike traditional nature-inspired metaphors, CoSO models unique aspects of human scientific activity: publishing results in journals, competing for grants, and forming research teams.

This article develops a visual position planning tool in MQL5 for evaluating trade setups before execution. The tool utilizes interactive Entry, Stop-Loss, and Take-Profit lines to calculate the stop distance, risk amount, estimated position size, potential reward, and risk-to-reward ratio directly on the chart. It supports market, limit, and stop order scenarios while keeping the focus strictly on planning and analysis rather than trade execution.

The article describes an approach to trade labeling using oscillators for machine learning models. This eliminates look-ahead bias. It has been shown that this type of labeling does not lead to model overfitting, and the strategies continue to perform well over the long term.

Biogeography-Based Optimization (BBO) is an elegant global optimization method inspired by natural processes of species migration between islands within archipelagos. The algorithm is based on a simple yet powerful idea: high-quality solutions actively share their characteristics, while low-quality ones actively adopt new features, creating a natural flow of information from the best solutions to the worst. A unique adaptive mutation operator provides an excellent balance between exploration and exploitation. BBO demonstrates high efficiency on a variety of tasks.

This article presents a circuit breaker for MQL5 that monitors combined daily P&L (realized plus floating) on every tick and compares it to a configured loss limit. On breach, it closes positions, cancels pending orders, and activates a HALTED state that blocks further order submission in the EA until server‑time midnight. The package provides a chart dashboard, a demo Expert Advisor, a verification script, and notes on extending the halt signal across EAs.

We resume the topic of optimization by the scientific community. CoSO should not be viewed as a ready-made solution, but as a promising research platform. With proper development, CoSO can find its niche in tasks where adaptability and resilience to change are important, and computation time is not critical.

We are adding to our web application the ability to retrieve and display information about the terminal instances’ trading accounts, including balance, profit, connection status, and other important details. We will also implement a flexible configuration system that lets you manage application settings via an external JSON file, and improve the user interface of the main page.

This article develops a market‑structure‑driven intraday breakout system based on Bill Williams fractals. We define session bounds, derive volatility‑scaled stops, use fixed risk and take‑profit multipliers, and limit trades to one per direction. An MQL5 Expert Advisor, visualization and statistics, tick-level backtests, an ORB comparison, and a cross-asset forward test provide a complete, replicable workflow.

The article presents a new metaheuristic method based on the hunting strategies of Australian dingoes: group attack, chase, and scavenging. Let's see how the Dingo Optimization Algorithm (DOA) performs algorithmically.

This article shows how to build rounded speech bubbles in MQL5 by combining a rounded rectangle with a pointer triangle and controlling orientation (up, down, left, right). It details geometry precomputation, supersampled filling, rounded apex arcs, and segmented borders with an extension ratio for seamless joins. Readers get configurable code for size, radii, colors, opacity, and thickness, ready for alerts or tooltips in trading interfaces.

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.

We implement CTrailingEngine, an interface-driven MQL5 engine that evaluates each registered position on every tick and applies one of five trailing methods: fixed-pip, ATR multiplier, Parabolic SAR, percentage-of-profit, or swing high/low. All methods share the ITrailMethod contract, so new trails plug in without engine edits. Strict improvement and a one-point guard block backward moves and no-change SLTP modifications.

The article builds a reusable validation layer for Expert Advisors in MQL5. It implements lot-size rules and normalization, SL/TP and freeze-level guards, price digit normalization, margin sufficiency checks, unchanged-level filtering on modifications, account order-limit control, new-bar detection, symbol tradability checks, economic-calendar news windows, and session detectors. The result is cleaner code and fewer terminal errors in live trading.

A new optimization method, the Bison Algorithm (BIA), uses two strategies, inspired by the behavior of bison, for solving continuous problems with a single objective function. The key features of BIA are two fundamental principles borrowed from the behavior of bison: the ability to move dynamically and a defensive strategy.

What if your trading strategies could learn from each other, like real fighters? Duelist Algorithm is a new optimization method where trading system parameters literally duel for the right to be called the best.

In this article we make the case for merging Divergence Mapping with a Temporal Fusion Proxy in a Trading Robot. Rather than depending on lagging price confirmations, the Divergence Mapping's thesis is that acting like a structural sensor can help identify hidden momentum shifts from price action and indicator anomalies. To establish how these anomalies are interpreted over time we use a Temporal Fusion Transformer proxy. This network incorporates historical context to weigh developing trends such that merging it with Divergence Mapping should set us up to spot shifts in accumulation and distribution before price breakouts.

This article explores an accessibility-focused enhancement that goes beyond default terminal alerts by leveraging MQL5 resource management to deliver contextual voice feedback. Instead of generic tones, the indicator communicates what has occurred and why, allowing traders to understand market events without relying solely on visual observation. This approach is especially valuable for visually impaired traders, but it also benefits busy or multitasking users who prefer hands-free interaction.

The article presents a practical foundation for shape analysis of price series in MQL5. It implements Takens time‑delay embedding to build a phase‑space point cloud and computes the full pairwise distance matrix under selectable norms. The CTDAPointCloud and CTDADistance classes are provided with a demo script that embeds chart data and outputs results, preparing inputs for downstream topological tools.

How can we conveniently monitor multiple terminals running Expert Advisors, especially when they are on different computers? Let's try to create a web interface for managing the launch of MetaTrader 5 trading terminals and viewing detailed information about the operation of each instance.

We extend the supply and demand framework with a strategy layer that converts zone interactions into decisions. Qualified zones pass sequential checks for interaction proximity, approach behavior, higher‑timeframe alignment, and price action before execution is handed to a dedicated trade manager. This architecture improves control, maintainability, and future extensibility without changing the underlying zone engine.

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.

Close-to-close volatility ignores the high, the low, and overnight gaps. We build a reusable MQL5 library implementing four range-based estimators from Parkinson to the gap-robust Yang-Zhang, and put it to work in a comparison indicator and a set of adaptive volatility bands.

This part implements risk-based position sizing for the EA. Lot size is derived from account balance, a chosen risk percent, and ATR-based stop distance, then confined and rounded to the broker's volume rules and minimum stop levels. An optional drawdown-aware layer reduces risk during equity declines. Readers get a reproducible sizing function that keeps per-trade risk consistent and orders acceptable to the server.

This article turns the verified TDA pipeline into a live MQL5 indicator. It reduces each price window to two persistence-entropy lines (H0 and H1), computes a normalized loop-strength metric with an adaptive percentile band, and places fade marks only when loop strength is high and price hits a window extreme. You can attach the indicator, read six buffers from an Expert Advisor, and tune key window, ranking, and performance parameters.

We present a native MQL5 implementation of the catch22 feature set: all 22 canonical time-series characteristics in a reusable class validated against pycatch22. Using a leak-free pipeline (chronological split, purging, embargo), we run a three-arm ablation—classic indicators, catch22, and combined—for volatility-regime classification. Finally, we deploy the combined model as a Strategy Tester regime filter to quantify its impact on a simple baseline strategy.