Free checklist
Trading Strategy Automation Rules Checklist
Use this before you pay for a bot, script, indicator, conversion, repair, or custom tool. If you can’t answer an item clearly, that piece isn’t ready to build yet.
1. Market and account context
- Symbol(s) and broker class (or specific broker if required)
- Account type: hedging vs netting
- Timezone used for session rules (broker server vs UTC vs local)
- Minimum lot, lot step, and contract size assumptions
2. Entry rules (must be clear)
- Exact conditions that allow a new entry
- Timeframe(s) used for each condition
- Whether signals confirm on bar close or can fire mid-bar
- Filters that block entries (news, session, max trades, etc.)
3. Exit rules
- Stop-loss definition (fixed, ATR, structure, etc.)
- Take-profit / scale-out / trailing definition
- Time-based or session-end exits
- Manual override policy (if any)
4. Position sizing and exposure
- Risk % formula or fixed lots
- Max open trades / max risk across correlated symbols
- What happens if margin is insufficient
5. Signal lifecycle
- When a signal becomes invalid
- Duplicate-signal handling while a position is open
- Conflicting simultaneous signals — priority order
- Re-entry rules after stop or target
6. Execution realism
- Max spread / slippage filters
- Retry behavior on trade failures
- Behavior after disconnect, terminal restart, or VPS reboot
- Partial fills policy (if relevant)
7. Indicators and data integrity
- Indicator names, inputs, and versions
- Confirmation that signals do not repaint / use future bars
- Any external data feeds, calendars, or webhooks
- Fallback if external data is unavailable
8. Evidence package for developers
- Written rules (bullet form is fine if precise)
- Annotated screenshots of valid and invalid setups
- Trade log samples or journal notes
- Known edge cases and “do not trade” conditions
- Existing source code location (if repair / rewrite)
9. Acceptance and testing expectations
- What “done” means for v1 (must-have behaviors)
- Strategy Tester assumptions and limits you accept
- Demo checklist before live use
- Out-of-scope items (GUI, multi-symbol portfolio, etc.)
GreyStyle Trading provides technical development services only. This checklist is educational. It is not financial advice, and it does not promise that any strategy will make money when automated.