One of the most important characteristics of good software design is its extensibility. This design principle has become more and more of a must for any software architecture in an increasingly connected and interdependent world. The introduction of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) was the solution for extensible software architectures. The use of APIs gave programmers the ability to allow other programmers to access their code in a controllable way. Modern software platforms leverage their capabilities through APIs by exposing and allowing the reuse of their internal methods. Google, Facebook, Amazon, Twitter among others offer APIs to their platforms. As a result, trading platforms could not be excluded from this paradigm shift. As both, trading methods and trading itself becomes more advanced, the use of trading APIs becomes a necessity.
The advantages of an API are usually obvious. They have many uses, such as data sharing, system integration, system extension and many more, but more importantly they can be used to handle cases unknown at design time. On the side of the API provider, the business benefit is the ability to integrate the software system into different business processes and leverage its use. On the side of the consumer, the benefit is that he can reuse functionality built by others and develop added value without the need to reinvent the wheel. Through the use of APIs, such cases ought to be handled without the need to modify the internal system. Moreover, APIs are used as a tool to build win-win relationships and avoid unnecessary competition. Different business entities do not need to get into an unnecessary elimination war, since through the use of an API they can develop different components of a larger system side by side.
In trading, via an extensible open API architecture, traders, brokers and third-party developers can gain the ability to build tools on top of a trading platform’s infrastructure. Such an API can permit users to get information about trading accounts, trading history and historical price data, as well as execute trading on behalf of trading accounts. For some this technology has allowed the creation of a whole ecosystem of applications that expose the capabilities of a trading platform’s API, such as connection to trading analysis services, integration with other trading applications and even the creation of custom-made trading interfaces by brokers.
Trading software and the trading industry overall have gone through some major transformations during the last few years. As technological landscape became more and more complicated, and as new technologies, like the web and mobile devices, were introduced, brokers were forced to move from developing proprietary incompatible trading platforms to widely used third-party software, MT4/5 and cTrader, to name a few. This allowed brokers to manage the technological complexity, as well as to reduce their development costs by outsourcing the trading platform development effort to third-party providers, as well as to offer a common user experience to traders. With the rise of third-party trading platforms and the decline of proprietary development, the need for APIs became more prominent. Brokers needed to offer value-added services to their clientele and to accommodate custom client needs, but development didn’t take place in-house any more. Therefore, trading platforms had to provide APIs to accommodate these evolved requirements.
No matter how well a trading platform has been designed, and regardless of the number of features it offers, it is impossible to cover all brokers’ and traders’ needs and imagination. API-enabled platforms can create unlimited opportunities for innovation and new business. In the trading world, API economy will be in the centre of the next major developments and software companies that have the API thinking as part of their vision and in the core of their strategy, will dominate the industry.
Spotware Systems Ltd. is a software development company that provides software solutions (products) and development services to enterprises and corporate clients.
Editors’ Picks
AUD/USD: Next upside target comes at 0.6550
AUD/USD managed well to shrug off the marked advance in the Greenback as well as geopolitical tensions, regaining the area above the 0.6500 hurdle ahead of preliminary PMIs in Australia.
EUR/USD: Further losses now look at 1.0450
Further strength in the US Dollar kept the price action in the risk-associated assets depressed, sending EUR/USD back to the 1.0460 region for the first time since early October 2023 prior to key releases in the real economy.
Gold faces extra upside near term
Gold extends its bullish momentum further above $2,660 on Thursday. XAU/USD rises for the fourth straight day, sponsored by geopolitical risks stemming from the worsening Russia-Ukraine war. Markets await comments from Fed policymakers.
Ethereum Price Forecast: ETH open interest surge to all-time high after recent price rally
Ethereum (ETH) is trading near $3,350, experiencing an 10% increase on Thursday. This price surge is attributed to strong bullish sentiment among derivatives traders, driving its open interest above $20 billion for the first time.
A new horizon: The economic outlook in a new leadership and policy era
The economic aftershocks of the COVID pandemic, which have dominated the economic landscape over the past few years, are steadily dissipating. These pandemic-induced economic effects are set to be largely supplanted by economic policy changes that are on the horizon in the United States.
RECOMMENDED LESSONS
Making money in forex is easy if you know how the bankers trade!
Discover how to make money in forex is easy if you know how the bankers trade!
5 Forex News Events You Need To Know
In the fast moving world of currency markets, it is extremely important for new traders to know the list of important forex news...
Top 10 Chart Patterns Every Trader Should Know
Chart patterns are one of the most effective trading tools for a trader. They are pure price-action, and form on the basis of underlying buying and...
7 Ways to Avoid Forex Scams
The forex industry is recently seeing more and more scams. Here are 7 ways to avoid losing your money in such scams: Forex scams are becoming frequent. Michael Greenberg reports on luxurious expenses, including a submarine bought from the money taken from forex traders. Here’s another report of a forex fraud. So, how can we avoid falling in such forex scams?
What Are the 10 Fatal Mistakes Traders Make
Trading is exciting. Trading is hard. Trading is extremely hard. Some say that it takes more than 10,000 hours to master. Others believe that trading is the way to quick riches. They might be both wrong. What is important to know that no matter how experienced you are, mistakes will be part of the trading process.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.