Lightweight Quantitative Backtesting Framework — Local PTrade API Simulation
Local compatibility for a tested subset of PTrade backtest APIs. Portability depends on the APIs and broker behavior a strategy uses; review the support matrix. See also: ptradeAPI
| SimTradeLab | PTrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 100–160x faster | Baseline |
| Startup | Sub-second (data persists in memory) | Minutes |
| API Coverage | See the tested support matrix | Full platform |
| Strategy Porting | Depends on the tested API subset | Native platform |
| Environment | Local, free, open-source | Cloud, licensed |
Core capabilities:
- ✅ Tested API classifications — current full, partial, pending, and unsupported behavior is tracked in the support matrix
- ⚡ 100–160x faster than PTrade platform
- 🚀 In-memory data persistence — singleton pattern, sub-second startup after first load
- 💾 Multi-level caching — LRU caches for MA/VWAP/adjustment factors/history, >95% hit rate
- 🧠 Smart data loading — AST analysis of strategy code, loads only required data
- 🔧 Lifecycle control — 7 lifecycle phases, strict simulation of PTrade's API restrictions
- 📊 Full stats reporting — returns, risk metrics (Sharpe/Sortino/Calmar), trade details, FIFO dividend tax, CSV export
- 🔌 Multi-market — Built-in CN (A-shares) and US market profiles with automatic trading rule adaptation
- 🌐 i18n — Backtest output in Chinese, English, or German
SimTradeDesk is a professional desktop application built on SimTradeLab — no coding required.
| Feature | SimTradeLab (this repo) | SimTradeDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Target users | Developers & quant engineers | All traders |
| Interface | Python API | Desktop GUI |
| Strategy editing | Code editor | Built-in editor with syntax highlighting |
| Visualization | PNG charts | Interactive real-time charts |
| Data management | Manual setup | One-click download & update |
| Parameter tuning | Write code | Visual optimizer |
pip install simtradelab
# Optional: technical indicators (requires system ta-lib)
pip install simtradelab[indicators]
# Optional: parameter optimizer
pip install simtradelab[optimizer]Verify the installed command-line entry point:
simtradelab --help
simtradelab --versionData: Use SimTradeData to download China A-share and US stock historical data.
Strategy environment: Read the strategy runtime boundaries before using files, external datasets, or network libraries in strategy code.
Run a backtest:
from simtradelab.backtest.runner import BacktestRunner
from simtradelab.backtest.config import BacktestConfig
config = BacktestConfig(
# --- Required ---
strategy_name='my_strategy', # Strategy folder name under strategies/
start_date='2024-01-01', # Backtest start date
end_date='2024-12-31', # Backtest end date
# --- Capital & Market ---
initial_capital=100000.0, # Starting capital (must be > 0)
market='CN', # Market: 'CN' (A-shares) | 'US'
broker_profile='auto', # Broker API profile: 'auto' | 'guosheng' | 'dongguan' | 'shanxi'
t_plus_1=None, # T+1 override: None=market default (CN=True, US=False)
benchmark_code='', # Benchmark code, empty=market default
# --- Frequency ---
frequency='1d', # Bar frequency: '1d' (daily) | '1m' (minute)
# --- Paths ---
data_path='~/.simtradelab/data', # Market data directory
strategies_path='./strategies', # Strategies root directory
# --- Performance ---
enable_multiprocessing=True, # Enable parallel data loading
num_workers=None, # Worker count (None=auto, must be >= 1)
use_data_server=True, # Use in-memory data server (singleton)
# --- Output ---
enable_charts=True, # Generate PNG chart
enable_logging=True, # Write log file
enable_export=False, # Export trade details to CSV
# --- i18n ---
locale='auto', # Log language: 'zh' | 'en' | 'de' (auto: CN market→zh, else system locale)
optimization_mode=False, # Optimization mode: skip validation/logging (managed by optimizer)
# --- Entry file ---
strategy_file='backtest.py', # Entry file: 'backtest.py' | 'live.py'
)
runner = BacktestRunner()
report = runner.run(config=config)See the tested PTrade backtest API support matrix for the current classifications and behavioral evidence.
| Category | APIs |
|---|---|
| Trading | order, order_target, order_value, order_target_value, cancel_order, get_positions, get_trades |
| Data | get_price, get_history, get_fundamentals, get_stock_info |
| Sector | get_index_stocks, get_industry_stocks, get_stock_blocks |
| Indicators | get_MACD, get_KDJ, get_RSI, get_CCI |
| Config | set_benchmark, set_commission, set_slippage, set_universe, set_parameters |
| Lifecycle | initialize, before_trading_start, handle_data, after_trading_end |
Dual license model:
- AGPL-3.0 — Free for open-source projects and personal research. See LICENSE
- Commercial License — For closed-source / commercial use. See LICENSE-COMMERCIAL.md or contact kayou@duck.com
- 🐛 Report issues
- 💻 Implement missing API features
- 📚 Improve documentation
See CONTRIBUTING.md for CLA details.
SimTradeLab is a community-developed, open-source backtesting framework inspired by PTrade's event-driven design. It does not contain PTrade's source code, trademarks, or any protected content. This project is not affiliated with or endorsed by PTrade. Users are responsible for compliance with local regulations and platform terms.
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