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  EVAL PASS BOT  v1.0  -  START HERE
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This runs a trading bot against a Topstep evaluation account.
It starts in SAFE MODE and will not place real orders until you
explicitly tell it to.


WHAT YOU NEED FIRST
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1. Your own Topstep account with an active Trading Combine.

2. Your own API key. Get it here:
     TopstepX  ->  Settings (gear icon)  ->  API tab
   You subscribe there ($29/month, or $14.50 with code: topstep)
   then click "Add API Key". Copy the key when it appears -
   you usually only get to see it once.

3. Python 3.9 or newer.
   Mac: already installed. Windows: get it from python.org and
   TICK THE BOX that says "Add Python to PATH".


SETUP  (you only do this once)
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The setup does almost everything for you:

   - finds Python, or installs it / opens the download page
   - installs everything the bot needs
   - OPENS the TopstepX API page in your browser for you
   - reads your API key straight from your clipboard
   - checks the key actually works with Topstep
   - lists your accounts and balances

MAC:
   Double-click:   SETUP - double click me.command

   FIRST TIME ONLY: macOS may say the file "cannot be opened
   because it is from an unidentified developer." That is normal
   for anything downloaded from the internet. To get past it:

     RIGHT-CLICK the file  ->  choose Open  ->  click Open again

   You only have to do that once per file.

WINDOWS:
   Double-click  setup.bat

   FIRST TIME ONLY: Windows may show a blue "Windows protected
   your PC" box. Click "More info" then "Run anyway".

The setup will ASK YOU for your username and API key and save
them for you. You do not need to edit any files by hand.


RUNNING IT
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MAC:      double-click  START THE BOT - double click me.command
WINDOWS:  double-click  go.bat

This is SAFE MODE. It connects to your real account, reads your
balance, watches the market and works out what trades it would
make - but it does NOT send any orders. Everything gets written
to logs/session.log so you can review it.

Leave it in safe mode for at least two weeks.


WHEN YOU ARE READY FOR REAL ORDERS
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MAC:      bash go.sh --live --risk 75
WINDOWS:  double-click go-live.bat

It will make you type a confirmation sentence first. There is no
way to turn this on by accident.


IMPORTANT - STOPPING IT
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Press Ctrl+C in the window to stop. This closes any open trade.

Do NOT just close the window. That leaves a trade running with
nothing watching it, which can fail your evaluation.


IMPORTANT - RULES
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* Topstep requires trading to come from your own computer.
  No VPS, no VPN, no remote servers.

* Keep your computer awake while it runs.

* Never share your API key with anyone. It can place and cancel
  orders on your account.

* If someone else is also running this bot, use a DIFFERENT
  instrument or strategy than they do. Prop firms shut down
  accounts that place matching trades. See SETUP.md.


HONEST WARNING
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The safety and risk-control part of this bot is thoroughly
tested. The trading strategies are NOT. Nobody has yet shown
that they make money on real market data.

Run it in safe mode and look at the logs before you trust it
with an evaluation you paid for.

Trading futures involves substantial risk of loss. This is not
financial advice. See LICENSE.txt for the full terms - by
running this you accept responsibility for any losses.

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