nt8-sdk/docs/DEPLOYMENT_GUIDE.md

NT8 SDK - Deployment Guide

Version: 0.2.0
Target Platform: NinjaTrader 8
Last Updated: February 15, 2026

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Table of Contents

• Prerequisites
• Development Deployment
• Simulation Deployment
• Production Deployment
• Verification
• Troubleshooting

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Prerequisites

System Requirements

Minimum:

• Windows 10 (64-bit)
• .NET Framework 4.8
• 8GB RAM
• NinjaTrader 8.0.20.1 or higher

Recommended:

• Windows 11 (64-bit)
• .NET Framework 4.8
• 16GB RAM
• SSD storage
• NinjaTrader 8.1.x (latest)

Software Requirements

1. Visual Studio 2022 (recommended)
   • Or VS Code with C# extension
2. Git for version control
3. NinjaTrader 8 installed and licensed
4. Build Tools
   • .NET Framework 4.8 SDK
   • MSBuild

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Development Deployment

Step 1: Build SDK

# Navigate to repository
cd C:\dev\nt8-sdk

# Clean previous builds
dotnet clean

# Build in Release mode
dotnet build --configuration Release

# Verify build
.\verify-build.bat

Expected Output:

✅ All checks passed!
Build is ready for NT8 integration

Step 2: Run Tests

# Run all tests
dotnet test --configuration Release

# Verify test results
# Expected: 90+ tests passing, 0 failures

Step 3: Copy SDK DLLs

Source Location:

src/NT8.Core/bin/Release/net48/NT8.Core.dll
src/NT8.Core/bin/Release/net48/NT8.Core.pdb

Destination:

C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\

PowerShell Copy Command:

$source = "C:\dev\nt8-sdk\src\NT8.Core\bin\Release\net48"
$dest = "$env:USERPROFILE\Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom"

Copy-Item "$source\NT8.Core.dll" $dest -Force
Copy-Item "$source\NT8.Core.pdb" $dest -Force

# Copy dependencies
Copy-Item "$source\Microsoft.Extensions.*.dll" $dest -Force
Copy-Item "$source\Newtonsoft.Json.dll" $dest -Force

Step 4: Deploy Strategy Wrappers

Source Location:

src/NT8.Adapters/Wrappers/*.cs

Destination:

C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\Strategies\

Copy Command:

$wrapperSource = "C:\dev\nt8-sdk\src\NT8.Adapters\Wrappers"
$strategyDest = "$env:USERPROFILE\Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\Strategies"

Copy-Item "$wrapperSource\*.cs" $strategyDest -Force

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Simulation Deployment

Step 1: Compile in NinjaTrader

1. Open NinjaTrader 8
2. Click Tools → NinjaScript Editor (F5)
3. Wait for editor to load
4. Click Compile → Compile All (F5)
5. Verify: "Compilation Successful" message

If Errors:

• Check that all DLLs copied correctly
• Verify .NET Framework 4.8 installed
• See Troubleshooting

Step 2: Configure Simulation Account

1. Tools → Connections
2. Select Kinetick - End Of Day (free)
3. Click Connect
4. Verify connection status: Connected

Step 3: Create Strategy Instance

1. New → Strategy
2. Select your strategy (e.g., "SimpleORBNT8")
3. Configure parameters:

Symbol: ES 03-26
Data Series: 5 Minute
From Template: Default

Risk Parameters:
- Stop Ticks: 8
- Target Ticks: 16
- Daily Loss Limit: $1000
- Risk Per Trade: $200

4. Click Apply → OK

Step 4: Enable Strategy on Chart

1. Open chart for ES 03-26 (5 minute)
2. Right-click chart → Strategies
3. Select your strategy
4. Enabled: Check
5. Calculate: On bar close
6. Click OK

Step 5: Monitor Simulation

Watch For:

• Strategy loads without errors
• No log errors in Output window
• Orders appear in "Strategies" tab
• Risk controls trigger appropriately

Simulation Test Checklist:

• Strategy compiles
• Strategy enables on chart
• Orders submit correctly
• Stops placed correctly
• Targets placed correctly
• Daily loss limit triggers
• Position limits enforced
• Emergency flatten works

Run For: Minimum 1 hour live market or 1 day sim/replay

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Production Deployment

⚠️ Pre-Production Checklist

CRITICAL: Complete ALL items before live trading:

• All simulation tests passed
• Strategy profitable in simulation (100+ trades)
• Risk controls tested and validated
• Drawdown limits tested
• Weekly limits tested
• Emergency flatten tested
• Connection loss recovery tested
• All edge cases handled
• Monitoring and alerting configured
• Backup plan documented

Step 1: Production Configuration

Create Production Config:

{
  "Name": "Production - ES ORB",
  "Version": "0.2.0",
  "Environment": {
    "Mode": "Live",
    "DataProvider": "NinjaTrader",
    "ExecutionProvider": "NinjaTrader"
  },
  "Strategies": [
    {
      "Name": "ES ORB Strategy",
      "Symbol": "ES",
      "Parameters": {
        "StopTicks": 8,
        "TargetTicks": 16,
        "ORBMinutes": 30
      },
      "RiskSettings": {
        "DailyLossLimit": 500,
        "WeeklyLossLimit": 1500,
        "MaxTradeRisk": 100,
        "MaxOpenPositions": 1,
        "TrailingDrawdownLimit": 0.10
      },
      "SizingSettings": {
        "Method": "FixedDollarRisk",
        "MinContracts": 1,
        "MaxContracts": 2,
        "RiskPerTrade": 100
      }
    }
  ],
  "GlobalRisk": {
    "MaxAccountRisk": 0.02,
    "DailyLossLimit": 500,
    "WeeklyLossLimit": 1500,
    "MaxConcurrentTrades": 1,
    "EmergencyFlattenEnabled": true,
    "TradingHours": ["09:30-16:00"]
  },
  "Alerts": {
    "EmailEnabled": true,
    "EmailRecipients": ["your-email@example.com"],
    "DiscordEnabled": false
  }
}

Conservative First-Week Settings:

• Start with 1 contract only
• Use wider stops initially (12 ticks vs 8)
• Lower daily loss limit ($500 vs $1000)
• Enable all risk tiers
• Monitor continuously

Step 2: Connect Live Account

1. Tools → Connections
2. Select your broker connection
3. Enter credentials
4. Click Connect
5. VERIFY: Real account connected (check account name)

Step 3: Enable Strategy (Cautiously)

1. Open chart for exact contract (e.g., ES 03-26)
2. Double-check all parameters
3. Start Small: 1 contract, conservative settings
4. Enable strategy
5. Monitor continuously for first day

Step 4: Production Monitoring

Required Monitoring (First Week):

• Watch every trade live
• Verify order placement correct
• Check risk controls triggering
• Monitor P&L closely
• Log any anomalies

Daily Checklist:

• Review all trades
• Check risk control logs
• Verify P&L accurate
• Review any errors
• Check system health
• Backup configuration

Step 5: Gradual Scale-Up

Week 1: 1 contract, wide stops
Week 2: 1 contract, normal stops (if Week 1 successful)
Week 3: 2 contracts (if Week 2 successful)
Week 4: 2-3 contracts (if Week 3 successful)

Scale-Up Criteria:

• Profitable or break-even
• No system errors
• Risk controls working
• Comfortable with behavior

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Verification

Build Verification

# Run verification script
.\verify-build.bat

# Should output:
# ✅ All checks passed!
# Build is ready for NT8 integration

Runtime Verification

Check Logs:

C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\NinjaTrader 8\log\

Look For:

• Strategy initialization messages
• No error exceptions
• Risk validation logs
• Order submission confirmations

Expected Log Entries:

[INFO] SimpleORB initialized: Stop=8, Target=16
[INFO] Risk controls active: Daily limit=$1000
[DEBUG] ORB complete: High=4205.25, Low=4198.50
[INFO] Trade approved: Risk Level=Low
[INFO] Order submitted: ES Buy 2 @ Market
[INFO] Order filled: ES 2 @ 4203.00

Health Checks

Every Hour:

• Strategy still enabled
• No error messages
• Orders executing correctly
• P&L tracking accurate

Every Day:

• Review all trades
• Check risk control logs
• Verify position reconciliation
• Backup critical data

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Troubleshooting

Compilation Errors

Error: "Could not find NT8.Core.dll"
Solution: Copy DLL to NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\

Error: "Method not found"
Solution: Ensure DLL version matches strategy code

Error: "Could not load file or assembly"
Solution: Copy all dependencies (Microsoft.Extensions.*, Newtonsoft.Json)

Runtime Errors

Error: "NullReferenceException in OnBarUpdate"
Solution: Add null checks:

if (CurrentBar < 1) return;
if (Instrument == null) return;

Error: "Order rejected by broker"
Solution:

• Check account margin
• Verify contract is valid
• Check trading hours

Error: "Risk manager halted trading"
Solution:

• Check daily loss limit
• Review risk logs
• Reset daily limits (if appropriate)

Performance Issues

Symptom: Strategy lagging behind market
Diagnosis:

var sw = Stopwatch.StartNew();
// ... strategy logic
sw.Stop();
_logger.LogDebug("OnBar execution: {0}ms", sw.ElapsedMilliseconds);

Solutions:

• Optimize calculations
• Reduce logging in production
• Check for excessive LINQ
• Profile hot paths

Connection Issues

Symptom: Orders not submitting
Check:

• Connection status
• Account status
• Symbol validity
• Market hours

Recovery:

• Reconnect data feed
• Disable/re-enable strategy
• Emergency flatten if needed

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Rollback Procedure

If Issues in Production

1. Immediate: Disable strategy
2. Flatten: Close all open positions
3. Disconnect: From live account
4. Investigate: Review logs
5. Fix: Address issue
6. Re-test: On simulation
7. Deploy: Only when confident

Version Rollback

Save Previous Version:

# Before deployment
Copy-Item "NT8.Core.dll" "NT8.Core.dll.backup"

Restore Previous Version:

# If issues
Copy-Item "NT8.Core.dll.backup" "NT8.Core.dll" -Force

Re-compile in NT8

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Best Practices

Pre-Deployment

1. Always test on simulation first
2. Run for minimum 100 trades
3. Test all risk control scenarios
4. Verify edge case handling
5. Document expected behavior

During Deployment

1. Deploy outside market hours
2. Start with minimal position size
3. Monitor continuously first day
4. Have emergency procedures ready
5. Keep broker support number handy

Post-Deployment

1. Review daily performance
2. Monitor risk control logs
3. Track any anomalies
4. Maintain configuration backups
5. Document lessons learned

Production Operations

1. Never modify code during market hours
2. Always test changes on simulation
3. Document all configuration changes
4. Backup before every deployment
5. Monitor continuously

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Emergency Procedures

Emergency Flatten

Via Code:

await _riskManager.EmergencyFlatten("Manual intervention");

Via NT8:

1. Click "Flatten Everything"
2. Or right-click strategy → "Disable"
3. Manually close positions if needed

System Halt

If Critical Issue:

1. Disable all strategies immediately
2. Flatten all positions
3. Disconnect from broker
4. Investigate offline
5. Do not re-enable until resolved

Data Backup

Daily Backup:

# Backup configuration
$date = Get-Date -Format "yyyyMMdd"
Copy-Item "config.json" "config_$date.json"

# Backup logs
Copy-Item "logs\*" "backup\logs_$date\" -Recurse

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Support

Internal Support

• Documentation: /docs directory
• Examples: /src/NT8.Strategies/Examples/
• Tests: /tests directory

External Support

• NinjaTrader: support.ninjatrader.com
• Community: Forum, Discord

Reporting Issues

1. Collect error logs
2. Document reproduction steps
3. Include configuration
4. Note market conditions
5. Create detailed issue report

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Remember: Test thoroughly, start small, monitor continuously ✅