# Coding Patterns — NT8 SDK Required Patterns

All code in the NT8 SDK MUST follow these patterns without exception.

---

## 1. Thread Safety — Lock Everything Shared

Every class with shared state must have a lock object:
```csharp
private readonly object _lock = new object();
```

Every access to shared `Dictionary`, `List`, `Queue`, or any field touched by multiple threads:
```csharp
// ❌ NEVER
_activeOrders[orderId] = status;

// ✅ ALWAYS
lock (_lock)
{
    _activeOrders[orderId] = status;
}
```

### Read-then-write must be atomic
```csharp
// ❌ WRONG — race condition between check and write
if (!_orders.ContainsKey(id))
    _orders[id] = newOrder;

// ✅ CORRECT
lock (_lock)
{
    if (!_orders.ContainsKey(id))
        _orders[id] = newOrder;
}
```

---

## 2. Error Handling — Try-Catch on All Public Methods

```csharp
public ReturnType MethodName(Type parameter)
{
    // 1. Validate parameters first
    if (parameter == null)
        throw new ArgumentNullException("parameter");

    // 2. Wrap the main logic
    try
    {
        // Implementation
        return result;
    }
    catch (SpecificException ex)
    {
        _logger.LogError("Specific failure in MethodName: {0}", ex.Message);
        throw;
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        _logger.LogError("Unexpected failure in MethodName: {0}", ex.Message);
        throw;
    }
}
```

---

## 3. Logging — Always string.Format, Never $""

```csharp
// ❌ NEVER — C# 6 syntax, breaks NT8 compile
_logger.LogInformation($"Order {orderId} filled");

// ✅ ALWAYS
_logger.LogInformation("Order {0} filled", orderId);
_logger.LogWarning("Risk check failed for {0}: {1}", symbol, reason);
_logger.LogError("Exception in {0}: {1}", "MethodName", ex.Message);
_logger.LogCritical("Emergency flatten triggered: {0}", reason);
```

### Log level guide
| Level | When to use |
|---|---|
| `LogTrace` | Entering/exiting methods, fine-grained flow |
| `LogDebug` | State reads, normal data flow |
| `LogInformation` | Important events: order submitted, filled, cancelled |
| `LogWarning` | Recoverable issues: validation failed, limit approaching |
| `LogError` | Failures: exceptions, unexpected states |
| `LogCritical` | System integrity issues: emergency flatten, data corruption |

---

## 4. Events — Never Raise Inside Locks

Raising events inside a lock causes deadlocks when event handlers acquire other locks.

```csharp
// ❌ DEADLOCK RISK
lock (_lock)
{
    _state = newState;
    OrderStateChanged?.Invoke(this, args);  // handler may try to acquire _lock
}

// ✅ CORRECT
OrderState newState;
lock (_lock)
{
    newState = CalculateNewState();
    _state = newState;
}
// Raise AFTER releasing lock
RaiseOrderStateChanged(orderId, previousState, newState);
```

---

## 5. Constructor — Validate All Dependencies

```csharp
public MyClass(ILogger<MyClass> logger, ISomeDependency dep)
{
    if (logger == null)
        throw new ArgumentNullException("logger");
    if (dep == null)
        throw new ArgumentNullException("dep");

    _logger = logger;
    _dep = dep;

    // Initialize collections
    _activeOrders = new Dictionary<string, OrderStatus>();

    _logger.LogInformation("MyClass initialized");
}
```

---

## 6. XML Documentation — Required on All Public Members

```csharp
/// <summary>
/// Brief one-line description of what this does.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="intent">The trading intent to validate.</param>
/// <param name="context">Current strategy context with account state.</param>
/// <returns>Risk decision indicating allow or reject.</returns>
/// <exception cref="ArgumentNullException">Thrown when intent or context is null.</exception>
public RiskDecision ValidateOrder(StrategyIntent intent, StrategyContext context)
{
    ...
}
```

---

## 7. NT8-Specific Patterns (NinjaScript)

When writing code that runs inside NinjaTrader (in `NT8.Adapters/`):

```csharp
// Always guard OnBarUpdate
protected override void OnBarUpdate()
{
    if (BarsInProgress != 0) return;
    if (CurrentBar < BarsRequiredToTrade) return;
    // ...
}

// Managed order pattern — set stops BEFORE entry
SetStopLoss("SignalName", CalculationMode.Ticks, stopTicks, false);
SetProfitTarget("SignalName", CalculationMode.Ticks, targetTicks);
EnterLong(contracts, "SignalName");

// Use string.Format for Print() too
Print(string.Format("Order submitted: {0} contracts at {1}", qty, price));
```

---

## 8. Checklist Before Marking Any Method Complete

- [ ] Parameter null checks at the top
- [ ] `try-catch` wrapping the body
- [ ] All `Dictionary`/collection access inside `lock (_lock)`
- [ ] All logging uses `string.Format()` (no `$""`)
- [ ] XML `/// <summary>` on every public method, property, class
- [ ] No C# 6+ syntax
- [ ] Events raised outside lock blocks
- [ ] `verify-build.bat` passes