2020-04-15 Learning phase
This has been going on for about 3 weeks. So far accomplished:
ACTIONS ITEMS:
2020-04-16 Learning Phase
Continuing the above.
ACTION ITEMS
TRADES:
None
2020-04-20 Learning Phase
Continuing the above.
ACTION ITEMS
COMMENTS
Altho, I know a lot of the indicators, I am learning quite a lot of new ones as well. I always preferred the Technicals anyways. The Learning Phase will be long, which is fine.
TRADES:
None
2020-05-01 Learning Phase
Continuing the above.
ACTION ITEMS
WIP: Babypips now at 202/337.
COMPLETED: Investigate long term real provider for a Canadian. From reviews, I think Oanda will work for me.
Developed one strategy in MT4, early backtesting appear worth further backtesting.
TRADES:
None
2020-05-08 Learning Phase
Continuing the above.
ACTION ITEMS
TRADES:
None
2020-05-15 Early Strategy development
ACTION ITEMS
Strategies:
3MA+2MA:
Engulfing Pattern
TRADES:
None. Opened a real account, will start with small amount ($500), so you could call it Demo Live with real $.
PS: Not sure if anyone is reading this, but I like that it keeps me honest and helps me document my progression.
Awesome trading journal, love the accountability! What does WIP stand for? 
This is the best way to learn, as long as you stick to your rules. You can tweak your strategy as you go, but remember, money management is the key to keeping your account.
Oh, thank you. Really didn’t know if anyone paid attention.
WIP is Work In Progress.
Correct, I am only risking 1% per trade.
2020-05-22 Early Strategy development
This week, I spent a lot of time fixing / improving my EAs as re-usable libraries, as I was finding that I was cut’n’pasting too much. None of my EA were successful yet in unattended demo mode. Next week I’ll spend more time on reviewing them.
So unfortunately not a lot of progress per say.
ACTION ITEMS
Strategies:
3MA+2MA:
Engulfing Pattern
TRADES:
None.
This sounds like a lot of work! How much time in a week would you say are you spending on working on your EAs? 
Yes, it is a lot of work. I’m probably spending about 20hours right on and off. I am hoping once my Ea stabilizes a bit it will get simpler. It is already getting simpler.
2020-05-29 Expert Advisor development
Maybe this phase will take longer than I had expected. Spending quite a bit of time, cleaning up bugs, in reusable libraries, which hopefully will allow me to have some winners faster.
I do not mind as I am learning a lot about Forex as well. This week for example I learned something that I should have taken into considerations. A BUY STOP gets filled at the ASK. Probably pretty basic for everyone, but I kept noticing my EA getting tripped earlier than anticipated, now I have reworked it into the my BUY STOP process. PS: I knew about ASK for a SELL transaction to take into account the distance of the STOPLOSS, It just didnt dawn on me on the BUY side. Duh!
Strategies:
3MA+2MA: still reviewing, have not had much chance this week, real work kept me busy!
Engulfing: made some adjustments, now testing in UAT.
TRADES:
None
Interesting, I also didn’t know this!
2020-06-05 Expert Advisor Development (continued)
Continuing to develop and test advisors. Its been a busy week at work too.
I also worked on developing and automating some reporting to better review the results of my EAs. I believe it is really important to review all fake trades to see if acceptable or not.
This helps me by aggregating the results and review successes or failures. Maybe I am too geeky in this, oh well I am learning and having fun.
Strategies :
3MA+2MA: did not progress on review (lack of time).
Engulfing: Testing in PreProd (basically live Demo). Does not create many signals, 5 or so this week alone, will review results this weekend.
TRADES:
None
2020-06-19 Expert Advisor Development and Testing
I did take a week off, so the reason why I have not posted any updates.
Progress still slow, I learned and developed my own indicator (more below).
Strategies
3MA+2MA: on back burner for now, may revisit later
Engulfing: Testing continuing well, may promote to Prod soon (with real money).
Box Breakout: I developed an indicator and an EA with it, to help me identify breakouts, so far when it works, it does really well. It does have many false breakout however, so I need to see what I can use to weed them out.
TRADES
None, Engulfing may be promoted soon.
Thoughts: it appears really difficult to develop successful completely automated EAs. Are people successful at it? I like the idea, as it takes my emotions out. I guess that is the Holy Grail!
2020-06-26 Expert Advisor Dev and Testing (continued)
This week, I had to rewrite my indicator. I had issues that calculations of new bars were not being reflected properly. So, so now its much better, and much more efficient.
Strategies
Engufing: good demo testing this week. Will try it with real money soon.
Box Breakout: as mentioned above, indicator, which is the base, had to be completely rewritten and simplified, but now the indicator is reliable vs complete redraw and new ticks.
TRADES
None.
Comment: its a real balance between using wide stops to make sure your profit runs, and get out of bad trades early. In Demo, I have been stopped a couple times for a stop too tight, and where the direction ultimately was correct and would have yielded good results.
As I was reading your journal you sounded like someone who would develop a product. With the way you have kept your journal I am sure you will be successful. I have not found one that really works yet to my satisfaction so I continue to do manual trading.
Wish You Well
TabiusLee
That’s funny, no, I am not developing a product. I just have an IT background and Im trying to apply some of the practices in this MT4 programming.
I am afraid that my emotions will seep in if I do manual trading, I am willing to settle halfway with live monitoring of EAs, only take the reins when I see it not going the wanted direction.
