Big announcement!
Get a FREE Pro+ upgrade by connecting a qualifying Tradier Brokerage account! Learn more.

Testing Automations

Testing automations enables you to check all the logic and decision criteria to be confident your bots will perform how you anticipate.

Testing your bots and automations is a critical step when building your portfolio. Testing allows you to observe how your bot works, diagnose potential issues, and ensure that automations function as you intend.

There are multiple ways to test your bots. We recommend running bots in a paper trading account before using live capital.

We encourage you to continuously test all facets of a bot to feel confident your strategies execute correctly. It is important to test in multiple environments, capital structures, and trading limits.

You can always test any automation type individually by clicking the “Run Test” button.

Testing automations

The test feature allows you to verify the automation’s logic will function the way you expect it to and identify where any issues may occur.

You can choose any bot to run the test in and even assign custom inputs. Testing an automation in different bots lets you view the results for additional capital allocations and position limits.

When testing an automation, live market data is used when evaluating decision recipes. You can view all information immediately in the Automation Log.

Automation log

Testing your bots is also a proactive way to review how different variables affect the bot. For example, changing a technical indicator may determine whether or not a position will be opened or closed at the end of the automation.

Remember, this is only running a test inside the bot. Positions will not be opened, and no actions will be visible in the Bot Log. Testing is a great way to verify your bot’s decision-making parameters and outcomes.

FAQs

What is the best way to test a bot?

When building an automation, select the "Test" button in the upper right of the automation page. The test feature runs the automation and displays the results for each decision action using live market data. 

Does an automations need to be turned on for me to run a button click?

Your bot does not need to be on for you to run an automation using a "button" or the "lightning bolt.”

Can I test all of my bot variables and decisions or only certain ones?

You can test every aspect of an automation with the “Test” button. You can also use paper trading mode to see how the bot reacts to changing market conditions.

What is the difference between backtesting and forward-testing?

"Backtesting" is the process of testing a strategy’s performance with historical data.

"Forward-testing" uses specific rules and implements them against all new data going forward to evaluate their effectiveness. 

How can I see if the logic in my bot flows as expected?

You can use the “Test” button in the automation editor to see the bot’s steps.

Should I always test my bots in paper trading first?

We recommend paper trading all your strategies to ensure the bot functions correctly.

Can I see the actual decisions, values, or properties of each action inside automations?

Yes. You can use the “Test” button in the automation editor to see the bot’s steps and evaluate live market data for each action.

Can I manually open or close a position even if the bot's automations are off?

Yes. You can manually open and close positions in the Position Statement.

What are "buttons," and how can I use them for testing my bots?

You can use a button to run any automation. For example, users who trade complex options positions may set all of their entry conditions with buttons so that when they click the button, the order is sent immediately.

How long should I paper trade a bot before live trading?

This will vary with each user and each strategy. We recommend only trading live after you are confident that you have thoroughly and critically thought through your entire bot.

Was this helpful?

Please share feedback with our team.
Author
Kirk Du Plessis
Founder
No items found.

Find new trade ideas

Option Alpha calculates probabilities for millions of potential options positions using live market data so you can find new ideas without the guesswork.
MacBook mockup