[TheNegotiator]

Well, as I mentioned that I would do in the earlier thread on platforms here:-

http://www.traderslaboratory.com/for...platforms.html

I had the chance to take a look at Sierra Chart over the weekend. This doesn't really qualify as a review, as I don't believe I have explored the platform fully enough. But it is a summary of what I have seen in it so far.

The great features I have found for me bearing in mind that the trial has all the features of the top package available:-

Market Profile/Volume profile- comprehensive looking. Seems to be able to do everything you could ask of it.

Numbers bars- this is basically what you'd see in Market Delta for the amount of volume traded at a price or the amount traded at bid x ask and other options here too.

Delta studies - self explanatory.

As well as these, there are more features which are pretty great for anyone.

Custom indicator development based on C++ language, Depth of Market trading, Chart replay function, virtually any indicator or chart type you could ask for and this is just what I have come across so far.

The other things to mention are that I really like how quickly a large database seems to load. I'm not entirely sure how it handles tick data and how customisable this is in charting, but I think this is more of finding out rather than it not being able to do this. There are a few different data sources you can use. It's cheap. If you want mp/vp and numbers bars, it costs $45 per month and that's if you are paying a month at a time. That can reduce to as low as $35.10 if you pay 12 months at a time. They discount by 2% per additional month paid in advance up to 1 year. If you don't need mp/vp or numbers bars, it's $26-20.28 or for the absolute basic it's $19-14.82. At these prices there's gotta be a catch right? Well the one thing is tel/remote support is charged for at $0.58 per minute. I can't see that being a problem but if you chat say 2 hours a month because you are doing lots of advanced stuff, that'll add an extra $69.60 on your bill. Not bad I still say but on the other hand I can't say how good the support is. The other option is the free support forum. It seems pretty good for most issues.

So I would definitely consider subscribing for a couple of months longer myself. I wouldn't just plunge into changing platform but then that'd be the same with any software. I think it's got the lot as far as features go. It seems to be pretty robust from a programming aspect. It's very cheap compared with packages which offer similar functionality. I'm looking at this and thinking it's a buy. It's a real contender from what I've seen so far and so I'll look at it some more.

I'd be very interested to hear from anyone else who has tried, subcribes or used to subscribe and moved to an alternative platform so we can get a range of views.

[TheNegotiator]

The other thing that I forgot to mention is that it looks as though there are some instructions to install Sierra Chart with Wine in Ubuntu. I have been looking for something like this for a while and so may try it later this week. I think I saw that there's a version without CLR too. It doesn't use .NET in the main version except to for add-on features. I'm no programming guru, but I would think this will make it stabler so long as you don't require external features. Maybe Tams or someone knowledgable could comment on this!

[onnb]

first for disclosure - i am new to the forum. i am a novice trader and professional software developer. i develop custom projects for several platforms namely Ninja, SC, TOS and sometimes TS. as you will see below, i like SC the most, and my additions reflect that.

i have been using and developing with SC for around 3 years. just a few things to add to your summary:

1. regarding the support - they have a rock solid forum that answers questions same day. it is one of the reasons i have stayed with them. i have never had a question go unanswered and i have never required a phone call.

2. the documentation is thorough, is constantly updated and covers in depth the features and architecture of the product for traders and developers alike.

3. they release frequently so bug fixes and enhancement are regularly resolved

4. i don't use this myself, but they also have a Spreasheet feature built into the product. so all price and indicator data you have on the chart can also be written to a built in spreasheet (you can choose either the builit in one or excel) that is refreshed to sync with the chart. you can write your own indicator or trade logic into the excel that produces either visuals on the chart or trade orders. you can also use the excel to integrate with some other system or data source. for those that are not c++ developers, this comes as a "simple" alternative.

i have experience with Ninja, TOS and TS - from these I like SC the best.

my humble 2 cents.

Onn

[SIUYA]

I have used SC and loved it for all the reasons given.
BUT I would say that unless you wish to really learn the system and all that it offers then it can be frustrating and hard work as there is a lot there. Its not a simple system that is made for simple charting. Its a powerful and flexible system at a great price.
If you are not going to get into the most of this system then an easier system to grasp may be worthwhile.....if you can find it for the great price SC comes at.
Basically if you like the SC its unlikely you will switch to something else unless SC just does not offer something you need.

[TheNegotiator]

Thanks for your comments guys. I really think this is a bit of a gem the more I look at it. I hadn't even seen the Spreadsheet functionality. I remember when I had CQG IC a while ago and they charged extra for the api to do that- like $100 or something I seem to remember. Then again they are pretty pricey imo, however you use the platform!

[SpideySense]

I've been a Sierra Chart user since about version 35. I've also suggested it to a few other people.

Siuya's comment about complexity is a good one but need not be important to the adopter. There are two issues with SC: one is that it does a lot of things a little differently to other platforms so if you were on another platform do expect that for a few weeks you may get "huh ... thats weird .. I expected it to work that way" feelings but you will get past that before your first month is up. Second is that it has enormous potential complexity: but in this case its like when you first met word or excel or open office and there were so many things it could do. What you do is do what you need to do and then gradually add to it.

The support board is very good. I've never had a phone call to SC in 8 years; and they normally answer board questions by the evening you ask them. They can be a bit blunt at times and do appreciate if you keep questions short. But they do answer them and they will make a prerelease half a day later to resolve an issue.

There are 10+ times as many prereleases as releases. The software is modular and prereleases almost never have issues in areas other than the thing being changed at present but its probably still wise for newbies to stay with the release version rather than install every prerelease. Also, many don't even bother to stay up to date with releases.

It is a great program. Very flexible. Very capable. Cheap. And a lot of contributions from other users on the support board. You can develop your systems on it or you can use it to export data and information to something like R and use R to do system development and testing before handing your operational management back to SC.

[dlattl]

I have used SC for over a year now and agree with everyone's comments. I can code, ACSIL C++ version of SC, but it easier to test ideas with collection of studies that other Chart programs would not offer without heavy programming. For instance, I can overlay, do calculation (*/-+) on any exposed member of an indicator (called them subgraphs). For example you can subtract two averages and produce one line for clarity (when crosses zero - it is a crossover) in matter of seconds(for me- for you minutes. Overlaying includes other time frame based charts (prices or indicators) and again without any programing.
It is a very robust and reliable and fast product, much more than NT as it does not rely on .Net (except for one component but they are looking for alternatives)
Support is great but can be very rude. The connectivity is good for most US based traders but lacks for the international traders. TT, Rithmic, OEC are covered. Still, I would love them to have CQG.
I hope this helps.

[khamore1]

I am a full time day trader for the last 3 years, my experience with charting companies and or new platforms is: if they don’t offer a free technical support over the phone I don’t need them.