Pineify logo

Code migration guide

Pine Script to cTrader converter

A TradingView script can become a cTrader C# indicator or cBot after its bar-series logic is moved into typed Bars and DataSeries APIs, with cBot lifecycle and trade execution designed separately from Pine strategy simulation.

Open the cTrader Coding AgentReview cTrader AI Coding Agent

Generate a cTrader C# draft, then build it in cTrader Algo and test it with the intended symbol and account settings.

Conversion map

What changes between TradingView and cTrader

The migration is a model translation. Use this map to decide where the source behavior belongs before writing target syntax.

Source and target platform conversion map
ConcernSource modelTarget modelMigration decision
LifecycleCode runs sequentially across chart bars. Realtime behavior depends on script type and calculation settings.Robots use lifecycle methods including OnStart, OnTick, OnBar, OnStop, and OnException; indicators calculate by index.Choose when each TradingView calculation should run in cTrader; matching syntax alone does not preserve timing.
Market data and historyBuilt-in series values such as close carry bar history and use history references such as close[1].Bars and DataSeries expose typed C# collections, while multi-timeframe data is requested explicitly.Recheck bar indexing, warm-up requirements, timeframe requests, and behavior on an unfinished bar.
Indicators and chart outputindicator(), plot(), drawing objects, alerts, and the ta.* namespace define chart output.Indicator classes expose output series and use the cTrader Algo indicators API.Map calculations before recreating plots, labels, colors, and platform-specific drawing objects.
Orders and positionsstrategy.* commands create broker-emulator orders for TradingView strategy tests.Robot methods submit and manage trades through Symbol, Positions, PendingOrders, and volume measured in units.Define fill timing, sizing, pyramiding or hedging, stops, and position ownership for the target platform.
Native validationSave in Pine Editor, resolve compiler errors, add to a chart, then inspect plots, alerts, and Strategy Tester behavior.Build the C# project in cTrader Algo, resolve build output, attach it to the intended symbol, and run a cTrader backtest.Treat generated cTrader C# as a draft until it passes the target editor, chart, and backtest workflow.

Code example

Moving-average cross: Pine Script to cTrader C#

These fragments show where the same signal starts in each API. They are not complete standalone programs; lifecycle setup, inputs, plots, and order handling still depend on the selected artifact.

Pine Script source fragment
//@version=6
indicator("MA cross", overlay = true)
fast = ta.sma(close, 10)
slow = ta.sma(close, 20)
longSignal = ta.crossover(fast, slow)
plot(fast)
plot(slow)
cTrader C# target fragment
var fast = Indicators.SimpleMovingAverage(Bars.ClosePrices, 10);
var slow = Indicators.SimpleMovingAverage(Bars.ClosePrices, 20);
bool longSignal = fast.Result.Last(2) <= slow.Result.Last(2)
    && fast.Result.Last(1) > slow.Result.Last(1);

Workflow

A four-step migration path

Keep generation, target-platform validation, and behavior comparison as separate stages.

  1. 1

    Inventory the source behavior

    Separate calculations, plots, alerts, orders, external dependencies, and assumptions in a Pine Editor indicator or strategy source file.

  2. 2

    Choose the target artifact

    Decide whether the result is a C# cBot or custom indicator project. This choice controls lifecycle methods and available APIs.

  3. 3

    Rewrite through target APIs

    Translate state, series, indicators, drawings, and orders into cTrader concepts instead of replacing function names.

  4. 4

    Validate behavior natively

    Build the C# project in cTrader Algo, resolve build output, attach it to the intended symbol, and run a cTrader backtest.

Manual decisions

Decisions code replacement cannot make

  • Choose a cTrader indicator for chart output or a cBot for trade execution and position management.
  • Place each calculation in Calculate, OnBar, or OnTick based on the Pine realtime behavior you intend to keep.
  • Convert Pine quantity rules into cTrader volume units and add symbol-specific normalization.

Limitations

What the draft cannot prove

  • TradingView and cTrader do not share one execution, data, or order model, so behavior can change even when both versions compile.
  • Broker, symbol, session, timezone, history, and fill settings can change signals and backtest results on cTrader.
  • Pineify can generate and revise a cTrader C# draft, but the target platform remains the authority for compilation, loading, backtesting, and runtime behavior.

Use cases

When this conversion is useful

  • Turn a TradingView indicator into a cTrader custom indicator.
  • Rebuild a Pine strategy as a cBot with cTrader-native risk controls.
  • Migrate cAlgo-era requirements into the current cTrader Algo C# API.

FAQ

Pine Script to cTrader C# questions

Official references

Build the cTrader C# draft with its native model in view

Bring the complete source and your artifact, timing, data, and order requirements. Validate the result in cTrader.

Open the cTrader Coding AgentProduct details