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   TEST BOT  -  START HERE
================================================================

  Do the numbered files in order. That is the whole thing.

     1 - SETUP FIRST
     2 - PRACTICE ON TEST DATA
     3 - DOWNLOAD REAL MARKET DATA
     4 - RECORD ORDER FLOW
     5 - RUN LIVE (SAFE MODE)

  On a Mac, double-click them.
  On Windows, use the .bat files with the same numbers.

  FIRST TIME on a Mac, the computer will say the file "cannot be
  opened because it is from an unidentified developer".
  That is normal for anything downloaded.

     RIGHT-CLICK the file  ->  Open  ->  Open

  Once per file, then double-clicking works normally.


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   WHAT EACH STEP DOES
================================================================

  1 - SETUP FIRST                          (once, 2 minutes)
      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

      If you do not have an API key yet, press RETURN to skip.
      Step 2 still works without one.

  2 - PRACTICE ON TEST DATA                (a few minutes)
      Runs the bot over past price history and tells you three
      things: did it make money, could that have been luck, and
      did it still work on data it was not tuned on.

      No account is touched. Nothing is at risk. Run this as
      often as you like.

  3 - DOWNLOAD REAL MARKET DATA            (needs API key)
      Downloads a year of real MES history. After this, run
      step 2 again - it automatically switches to the real data.

      THIS IS THE IMPORTANT ONE. Until you do this, step 2 is
      practicing against made-up prices and cannot tell you
      whether the bot actually works.

  4 - RECORD ORDER FLOW                    (during market hours)
      Captures live order flow to a file. Topstep does not sell
      this history, so recording it yourself is the only way to
      get it. Start it in the morning, stop it at the close.

  5 - RUN LIVE (SAFE MODE)                 (needs API key)
      Connects to your real account, watches the market, and
      writes down every trade it would have made - without
      sending a single order.


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   WHAT YOU NEED
================================================================

  For steps 1 and 2:   nothing but this folder

  For steps 3, 4, 5:   a Topstep account, and an API key from
                       TopstepX -> Settings (gear) -> API tab
                       ($29/month, or $14.50 with code: topstep)


================================================================
   WHERE THINGS GO
================================================================

  mes_1min.csv      the real price history you download
  data/flow/        recorded order flow, one file per day
  logs/             what the bot did in each session
  .env              your credentials, never leaves this computer


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   IMPORTANT
================================================================

  * TEST BOT IS NOT READY TO TRADE REAL MONEY.

    It has never been tested on real market data. Nobody knows
    yet whether it makes money. Steps 2 and 3 exist to answer
    that question BEFORE you risk an evaluation on it.

  * Stop it with CONTROL + C, not by closing the window.
    Closing the window can leave a trade running unattended.

  * Topstep requires trading from your own computer.
    No VPS, no VPN, no remote servers.

  * Keep your computer awake while it runs.

  * Never share your API key. It can place real orders.


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   IF YOU ALSO HAVE "EVAL PASS BOT"
================================================================

  They are different tools:

    EVAL PASS BOT  - simple strategies, built to pass a Topstep
                     evaluation. Has a working live runner.

    TEST BOT       - order flow strategy following Fabio
                     Valentini's method, with a 2% daily loss
                     limit and a proper testing harness.
                     Newer, more capable, and NOT yet validated.

  Do not run both against the same account at the same time.
  They would double your position size and break the risk
  protection in both.

================================================================
