NautilusTrader: Open-source algorithmic trading platform • Hacker News Board

Re: NautilusTrader: Open-source algorithmic trading platform

#41

Post by TuringNYC » Wed, Aug 06, 2025, 3:55 PM UTC

jebarker wrote: post #21

monkeydust wrote: post #9

A long time ago I figured out the difference between a Trader and Investor and realized I am very much the latter. After a few years this realization lead to my wealth increasing.

Yep, it’s amazing how many people seem to get sucked in by the idea you can reliably make money as a solo/small trading operation.

>> Yep, it’s amazing how many people seem to get sucked in by the idea you can reliably make money as a solo/small trading operation.

You can right!? You can make beta. Sometimes the beta is negative. Hard to make alpha.

Re: NautilusTrader: Open-source algorithmic trading platform

#42

Post by mathiaspoint » Wed, Aug 06, 2025, 3:57 PM UTC

iav wrote: post #36

This is pretty comprehensive. I work at a quant firm, and we don't even have some of this implemented in code. The tricky part is always going to be the integration. Nautilus has its own OMS system, but so does IBKR, and there is no guarantee that they are going to match. For very small funds, running entirely on IBKR platform (or Alpaca if you can live with their constraints) makes sense. For very large funds, you i…

I've heard ibkr will ban you if they can detect algorithmic trading.

Re: NautilusTrader: Open-source algorithmic trading platform

#43

Post by jjangkke » Wed, Aug 06, 2025, 3:59 PM UTC

I used to trade options and had about 99.5% success on all my trades

The problem is the 0.5% of the time, it erases all the gains made on the successful ones.

I'm convinced without information edge or some capital sunk cost edge (for HFT) you are literally just flipping coins when it comes to trading.

What's dangerous is fixation on strategies that form after a period of success.

All in all, I think just buying stock and holding is the best and most successful approach to making money.

Maybe when AI becomes sentient it will know on which days it make sense to buy and sell iron condors with huge ass wings....

Re: NautilusTrader: Open-source algorithmic trading platform

#44

Post by brotchie » Wed, Aug 06, 2025, 4:06 PM UTC

monkeydust wrote: post #9

A long time ago I figured out the difference between a Trader and Investor and realized I am very much the latter. After a few years this realization lead to my wealth increasing.

100%, other than selling RSUs to diversify, every single other investment I have is now buy and hold.

Even did a ~7 year career detour through quant finance "if I like Software Engineering and Mathematics so much, why don't I combine the two?"

Finally realized that the best use of my time was to just to work hard at a career I deeply enjoy (Software Engineering), working on products I actually care about (not valuing arcane derivatives products), and just invest the excess in diversified index funds (with some single stock selections here and there, thanks TSLA and NVDA).

Just as engineers can get "nerd sniped", I feel like "trading" is a somewhat malevolent strong attractor for a lot of folks. Folks do need general financial literacy, but an extra hour spent per day working harder to progress day job / long term career likely has a higher net present value than trading options or crypto.

Re: NautilusTrader: Open-source algorithmic trading platform

#45

Post by blitzar » Wed, Aug 06, 2025, 4:06 PM UTC

mathiaspoint wrote: post #42

iav wrote: post #36

This is pretty comprehensive. I work at a quant firm, and we don't even have some of this implemented in code. The tricky part is always going to be the integration. Nautilus has its own OMS system, but so does IBKR, and there is no guarantee that they are going to match. For very small funds, running entirely on IBKR platform (or Alpaca if you can live with their constraints) makes sense. For very large funds, you i…

I've heard ibkr will ban you if they can detect algorithmic trading.

You heard wrong.

Re: NautilusTrader: Open-source algorithmic trading platform

#46

Post by omarhaneef » Wed, Aug 06, 2025, 4:06 PM UTC

payeurp wrote: post #13

How does this compare with the LEAN engine[1] and QuantConnect[2]? [1]: https://www.lean.io/ [2]: https://www.quantconnect.com/

There are a few dozen of these out there. That’s the first question anyone should answer.

Re: NautilusTrader: Open-source algorithmic trading platform

#47

Post by blitzar » Wed, Aug 06, 2025, 4:09 PM UTC

monkeydust wrote: post #9

A long time ago I figured out the difference between a Trader and Investor and realized I am very much the latter. After a few years this realization lead to my wealth increasing.

Language evolves over time but "Trader" (and to a large extent "Investor") doesn't mean what they imply it means in ads for crypto / leveraged brokerage accounts and even pension accounts. As for grifters on social media / youtube / paid for newsletters - most of the words they say or write dont mean the things they think they mean.

Re: NautilusTrader: Open-source algorithmic trading platform

#48

Post by blitzar » Wed, Aug 06, 2025, 4:11 PM UTC

TuringNYC wrote: post #41

jebarker wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, it’s amazing how many people seem to get sucked in by the idea you can reliably make money as a solo/small trading operation.

>> Yep, it’s amazing how many people seem to get sucked in by the idea you can reliably make money as a solo/small trading operation. You can right!? You can make beta. Sometimes the beta is negative. Hard to make alpha.

Everyone that bought and held on the up movement this week is a legendary "Trader".

Re: NautilusTrader: Open-source algorithmic trading platform

#49

Post by cosmicgadget » Wed, Aug 06, 2025, 4:16 PM UTC

jjangkke wrote: post #43

I used to trade options and had about 99.5% success on all my trades The problem is the 0.5% of the time, it erases all the gains made on the successful ones. I'm convinced without information edge or some capital sunk cost edge (for HFT) you are literally just flipping coins when it comes to trading. What's dangerous is fixation on strategies that form after a period of success. All in all, I think just buying stock…

Held stocks provide minimal gains. Perhaps a bot to sell calls. Then your main risk is wiping out potential upside as you cry into your pile of realized gains.

Re: NautilusTrader: Open-source algorithmic trading platform

#50

Post by mtillman » Wed, Aug 06, 2025, 4:20 PM UTC

iav wrote: post #36

This is pretty comprehensive. I work at a quant firm, and we don't even have some of this implemented in code. The tricky part is always going to be the integration. Nautilus has its own OMS system, but so does IBKR, and there is no guarantee that they are going to match. For very small funds, running entirely on IBKR platform (or Alpaca if you can live with their constraints) makes sense. For very large funds, you i…

I wrote homegrown systems for HFT firms (citadel, RGM, etc) 23 years ago and it’s incredible what they just open sourced but agree with you that it’s the backend that might be the limiting factor. We got to a point where we had to license dark fiber at an alarming rate to stay competitive for our customers too.