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TypeScript Trading Quickstart

Create and start a self-hosted TradeJS project from the public npm packages:

npx create-tradejs

This is the recommended starting point for external users. It creates tradejs-project, installs aligned TradeJS packages, starts the local Docker infrastructure, and opens the Web UI. On the install page, choose and confirm the password for the local root account. TradeJS signs you in and opens the dashboard.

The dashboard loads the default Coinbase BTCUSDT chart. Select Create backtest in the top-right corner to open the backtest launcher. See Run your first backtest for the complete UI walkthrough.

After validating a strategy, continue with Run a Strategy in Production. Production uses an exact Git-owned configuration and a separately deployed runtime; a backtest does not enable live execution.

Generated Project​

The project contains:

  • tradejs.config.ts with basePreset;
  • .env with local auth URLs and a generated auth secret;
  • docker-compose.dev.yml for Redis and PostgreSQL/Timescale;
  • npm scripts for the UI, CLI backtests, and infrastructure;
  • .tradejs/app as generated UI output after the first app launch.

tradejs-app creates .tradejs/app as generated UI output. Configure TradeJS from the project root; do not edit the generated app copy.

The generated basePreset registers the built-in strategy catalog. It does not start strategies by itself. A running strategy must be selected explicitly in a named runtime.deployments entry; see Run a Strategy in Production for the config and launch sequence.

Daily Commands​

Run these from tradejs-project:

npm run infra-up
npm run doctor
npm run dev

Useful routes:

  • /routes/dashboard — market charts, signals, and Create backtest;
  • /routes/backtest — launch jobs and inspect progress;
  • /routes/strategies — deployed strategy settings, status, and pause controls.

Stop local services with:

npm run infra-down

Manual Package Installation​

Use manual installation only when integrating TradeJS into an existing project. Keep engine packages on a compatible major version and let the lockfile resolve independently versioned Base and strategy packages:

npm install @tradejs/app @tradejs/core @tradejs/node @tradejs/types @tradejs/base @tradejs/cli

Then follow Installation for config, infra, and login setup.

Common Errors​

Docker is unavailable​

Start Docker Desktop or the Docker daemon and verify docker compose version, then run npx create-tradejs again in a new empty directory.

The default directory already exists​

Pass another directory name:

npx create-tradejs my-trading-project

Package or module versions do not match​

Delete node_modules, restore the committed lockfile, and reinstall. When upgrading, update engine packages together and regenerate the lockfile; do not force every @tradejs/strategy-* package to the engine's exact patch version.