Algo Trading on WebNotes

How to backtest a strategy on Streak

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Streak is a no-code algorithmic trading platform integrated with Zerodha that allows traders to build, backtest, and deploy rule-based strategies on equities and F&O contracts without writing a single line of code. This guide focuses on the backtesting workflow: how to define a strategy, run it against historical data, and critically evaluate the results.

For the deployment workflow once a backtest is satisfactory, see How to deploy a Streak strategy live. For the underlying brokerage platform see Streak platform overview and Kite, Zerodha’s trading platform.

How to deploy a Streak strategy live

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Streak allows a backtested rule-based strategy to be promoted to live execution, routing orders directly into Zerodha Kite without manual intervention for each signal. This guide covers the steps from backtested strategy to live market deployment, including paper trading validation, margin checks, risk controls, and ongoing monitoring.

For the backtest workflow that precedes this step see How to backtest a strategy on Streak. For the platform overview see Streak platform overview.

Why paper trade before going live

Backtesting uses historical data with idealised fill assumptions. Paper trading (Streak’s virtual portfolio mode) runs the strategy on live market data with the same logic but without real money. This intermediate step validates:

How to deploy a Streak strategy on Zerodha

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Streak is a no-code algorithmic trading platform that integrates with Zerodha’s Kite Connect API to execute live trading strategies based on technical conditions defined in its visual strategy builder. Deploying a Streak strategy on Zerodha moves a strategy from paper simulation or backtest mode to live market execution, where the platform automatically places buy and sell orders in your Zerodha account when entry and exit conditions are met. This guide covers the deployment flow, the required Kite Connect authorisation, parameter configuration, and live monitoring.

How to generate a Kite Connect API key

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Kite Connect API requires a valid api_key and api_secret pair to authenticate every session and API call. These credentials are issued by Zerodha’s developer console at kite.trade after you register an app and subscribe to the Kite Connect service. This guide walks through every step of that process.

Why Kite Connect requires an API key

Kite Connect authenticates API clients using a two-credential model: the api_key (an identifier, safe to share with users of your app) and the api_secret (a private signing credential that must never be exposed). Every authenticated session begins with the OAuth-style login flow that uses both credentials to produce a short-lived access_token. The api_key also governs which Zerodha client IDs your app is authorised to act for, and is the billing identifier that Zerodha uses to track subscription status and usage.

How to paper-trade a Streak strategy

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Paper trading a Streak strategy runs the strategy’s entry and exit logic against live real-time market data, logging simulated orders at current market prices, without placing any actual orders in your Zerodha account. Paper trading bridges the gap between historical backtesting (which uses past data) and live trading (which uses real capital): it tests the strategy’s signal logic under live market conditions, including intraday price movements and volatility patterns that may not be captured in historical data, while eliminating the financial risk of live execution.

How to place an order via the Kite Connect REST API

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Kite Connect API exposes a clean REST interface for order management that supports all major Indian exchanges and order types. Once you have a valid access_token (see How to generate the request_token and access_token), you can place, modify, and cancel orders programmatically using the kiteconnect Python SDK. This guide covers the full order-placement workflow, parameter reference, and production-grade error handling.

Order model in Kite Connect

Kite Connect organises every order placement call around four orthogonal dimensions.

How to write a basic Python script using kiteconnect

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The kiteconnect Python SDK is the official client library for the Kite Connect API from Zerodha. It wraps every REST endpoint and the WebSocket tick stream into a clean, Pythonic interface. This guide takes you from a blank directory to a working script that authenticates with Kite Connect, fetches your portfolio, queries live market prices, and places a paper-trade-style order. By the end you will have a reusable project structure suitable as the foundation for any algo trading strategy.

Zerodha Pi discontinuation and migration

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Overview

Zerodha Pi was a Windows-based desktop trading application launched by Zerodha around 2015 as the broker’s primary advanced trading platform. Pi offered a more feature-rich environment than the web-based tools of the time, including integrated charting with advanced technical analysis indicators, strategy testing using AmiBroker integration, multi-window layouts, and direct market access features for more active traders. The platform was positioned as Zerodha’s answer to the institutional-grade desktop terminals used by professional traders, adapted for the retail client.