Stefan
Latest posts by Stefan (see all)
- Day 1 – Setting Up for Algo Trading with an AI-Powered IDE - December 2, 2024
- Revisiting Trading Bots and Shaping AI-Driven Developer Education 🤖 - December 2, 2024
- Building High-Impact AI Products: The Dual Gravity Approach 🌕 - June 18, 2024
Today marks the beginning of my journey into algo trading with an AI-first IDE. Diving into this world again was a mix of excitement and learning curves, especially since my Python skills have gathered some dust. Here’s how the day unfolded:
I began by setting up the IDE and installing Python3—something I hadn’t realized wasn’t included in the IDE itself. A quick reminder: knowing your environment setup is key, and videos often gloss over this foundational step. To refresh my basics, I leaned on a few beginner-friendly YouTube tutorials (linked below) and revisited old accounts like Alpaca, my go-to for market data.
Configuring a .env file for environmental variables was a new concept for me. I struggled initially, but the generative AI assistant in the IDE proved to be a game-changer. With just a few prompts, it explained the concept, helped me set up the file, and even guided me to update my .gitignore for better security practices. This felt like jumping straight to best practices without years of accumulated knowledge.
The highlight of the day was successfully connecting my Alpaca paper account through Python. Using generative AI, I could take the example code from Alpaca’s website and enhance it, transforming a “greenfield” starting point into a functional “seedling.” The AI didn’t just speed up the process; it also improved the quality of the setup.
Today reaffirmed the power of AI in development. It’s like having an expert mentor on demand. While I have a long way to go, I’m thrilled by the possibilities ahead. Stay tuned for more as I tackle the next steps in this adventure!
Helpful links I used today:
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