# Start the bot This page explains the different parameters of the bot and how to run it. ## Bot commands ``` usage: freqtrade [-h] [-v] [--version] [-c PATH] [-d PATH] [-s NAME] [--strategy-path PATH] [--dynamic-whitelist [INT]] [--db-url PATH] {backtesting,edge,hyperopt} ... Free, open source crypto trading bot positional arguments: {backtesting,edge,hyperopt} backtesting Backtesting module. edge Edge module. hyperopt Hyperopt module. optional arguments: -h, --help show this help message and exit -v, --verbose Verbose mode (-vv for more, -vvv to get all messages). --version show program's version number and exit -c PATH, --config PATH Specify configuration file (default: None). Multiple --config options may be used. -d PATH, --datadir PATH Path to backtest data. -s NAME, --strategy NAME Specify strategy class name (default: DefaultStrategy). --strategy-path PATH Specify additional strategy lookup path. --dynamic-whitelist [INT] Dynamically generate and update whitelist based on 24h BaseVolume (default: 20). DEPRECATED. --db-url PATH Override trades database URL, this is useful if dry_run is enabled or in custom deployments (default: None). ``` ### How to use a different configuration file? The bot allows you to select which configuration file you want to use. Per default, the bot will load the file `./config.json` ```bash python3 ./freqtrade/main.py -c path/far/far/away/config.json ``` ### How to use multiple configuration files? The bot allows you to use multiple configuration files by specifying multiple `-c/--config` configuration options in the command line. Configuration parameters defined in the last configuration file override parameters with the same name defined in the previous configuration file specified in the command line. For example, you can make a separate configuration file with your key and secrete for the Exchange you use for trading, specify default configuration file with empty key and secrete values while running in the Dry Mode (which does not actually require them): ```bash python3 ./freqtrade/main.py -c ./config.json ``` and specify both configuration files when running in the normal Live Trade Mode: ```bash python3 ./freqtrade/main.py -c ./config.json -c path/to/secrets/keys.config.json ``` This could help you hide your private Exchange key and Exchange secrete on you local machine by setting appropriate file permissions for the file which contains actual secrets and, additionally, prevent unintended disclosure of sensitive private data when you publish examples of your configuration in the project issues or in the Internet. See more details on this technique with examples in the documentation page on [configuration](https://github.com/freqtrade/freqtrade/blob/develop/docs/bot-configuration.md). ### How to use **--strategy**? This parameter will allow you to load your custom strategy class. Per default without `--strategy` or `-s` the bot will load the `DefaultStrategy` included with the bot (`freqtrade/strategy/default_strategy.py`). The bot will search your strategy file within `user_data/strategies` and `freqtrade/strategy`. To load a strategy, simply pass the class name (e.g.: `CustomStrategy`) in this parameter. **Example:** In `user_data/strategies` you have a file `my_awesome_strategy.py` which has a strategy class called `AwesomeStrategy` to load it: ```bash python3 ./freqtrade/main.py --strategy AwesomeStrategy ``` If the bot does not find your strategy file, it will display in an error message the reason (File not found, or errors in your code). Learn more about strategy file in [optimize your bot](https://github.com/freqtrade/freqtrade/blob/develop/docs/bot-optimization.md). ### How to use **--strategy-path**? This parameter allows you to add an additional strategy lookup path, which gets checked before the default locations (The passed path must be a folder!): ```bash python3 ./freqtrade/main.py --strategy AwesomeStrategy --strategy-path /some/folder ``` #### How to install a strategy? This is very simple. Copy paste your strategy file into the folder `user_data/strategies` or use `--strategy-path`. And voila, the bot is ready to use it. ### How to use **--dynamic-whitelist**? !!! danger "DEPRECATED" Dynamic-whitelist is deprecated. Please move your configurations to the configuration as outlined [here](/configuration/#dynamic-pairlists) Per default `--dynamic-whitelist` will retrieve the 20 currencies based on BaseVolume. This value can be changed when you run the script. **By Default** Get the 20 currencies based on BaseVolume. ```bash python3 ./freqtrade/main.py --dynamic-whitelist ``` **Customize the number of currencies to retrieve** Get the 30 currencies based on BaseVolume. ```bash python3 ./freqtrade/main.py --dynamic-whitelist 30 ``` **Exception** `--dynamic-whitelist` must be greater than 0. If you enter 0 or a negative value (e.g -2), `--dynamic-whitelist` will use the default value (20). ### How to use **--db-url**? When you run the bot in Dry-run mode, per default no transactions are stored in a database. If you want to store your bot actions in a DB using `--db-url`. This can also be used to specify a custom database in production mode. Example command: ```bash python3 ./freqtrade/main.py -c config.json --db-url sqlite:///tradesv3.dry_run.sqlite ``` ## Backtesting commands Backtesting also uses the config specified via `-c/--config`. ``` usage: freqtrade backtesting [-h] [-i TICKER_INTERVAL] [--timerange TIMERANGE] [--eps] [--dmmp] [-l] [-r] [--strategy-list STRATEGY_LIST [STRATEGY_LIST ...]] [--export EXPORT] [--export-filename PATH] optional arguments: -h, --help show this help message and exit -i TICKER_INTERVAL, --ticker-interval TICKER_INTERVAL Specify ticker interval (1m, 5m, 30m, 1h, 1d). --timerange TIMERANGE Specify what timerange of data to use. --eps, --enable-position-stacking Allow buying the same pair multiple times (position stacking). --dmmp, --disable-max-market-positions Disable applying `max_open_trades` during backtest (same as setting `max_open_trades` to a very high number). -l, --live Use live data. -r, --refresh-pairs-cached Refresh the pairs files in tests/testdata with the latest data from the exchange. Use it if you want to run your backtesting with up-to-date data. --strategy-list STRATEGY_LIST [STRATEGY_LIST ...] Provide a commaseparated list of strategies to backtest Please note that ticker-interval needs to be set either in config or via command line. When using this together with --export trades, the strategy-name is injected into the filename (so backtest-data.json becomes backtest-data-DefaultStrategy.json --export EXPORT Export backtest results, argument are: trades. Example --export=trades --export-filename PATH Save backtest results to this filename requires --export to be set as well Example --export- filename=user_data/backtest_data/backtest_today.json (default: user_data/backtest_data/backtest- result.json) ``` ### How to use **--refresh-pairs-cached** parameter? The first time your run Backtesting, it will take the pairs you have set in your config file and download data from Bittrex. If for any reason you want to update your data set, you use `--refresh-pairs-cached` to force Backtesting to update the data it has. !!! Note Use it only if you want to update your data set. You will not be able to come back to the previous version. To test your strategy with latest data, we recommend continuing using the parameter `-l` or `--live`. ## Hyperopt commands To optimize your strategy, you can use hyperopt parameter hyperoptimization to find optimal parameter values for your stategy. ``` usage: freqtrade hyperopt [-h] [-i TICKER_INTERVAL] [--timerange TIMERANGE] [--customhyperopt NAME] [--eps] [--dmmp] [-e INT] [-s {all,buy,sell,roi,stoploss} [{all,buy,sell,roi,stoploss} ...]] optional arguments: -h, --help show this help message and exit -i TICKER_INTERVAL, --ticker-interval TICKER_INTERVAL Specify ticker interval (1m, 5m, 30m, 1h, 1d). --timerange TIMERANGE Specify what timerange of data to use. --customhyperopt NAME Specify hyperopt class name (default: DefaultHyperOpts). --eps, --enable-position-stacking Allow buying the same pair multiple times (position stacking). --dmmp, --disable-max-market-positions Disable applying `max_open_trades` during backtest (same as setting `max_open_trades` to a very high number). -e INT, --epochs INT Specify number of epochs (default: 100). -s {all,buy,sell,roi,stoploss} [{all,buy,sell,roi,stoploss} ...], --spaces {all,buy,sell,roi,stoploss} [{all,buy,sell,roi,stoploss} ...] Specify which parameters to hyperopt. Space separate list. Default: all. ``` ## Edge commands To know your trade expectacny and winrate against historical data, you can use Edge. ``` usage: freqtrade edge [-h] [-i TICKER_INTERVAL] [--timerange TIMERANGE] [-r] [--stoplosses STOPLOSS_RANGE] optional arguments: -h, --help show this help message and exit -i TICKER_INTERVAL, --ticker-interval TICKER_INTERVAL Specify ticker interval (1m, 5m, 30m, 1h, 1d). --timerange TIMERANGE Specify what timerange of data to use. -r, --refresh-pairs-cached Refresh the pairs files in tests/testdata with the latest data from the exchange. Use it if you want to run your edge with up-to-date data. --stoplosses STOPLOSS_RANGE Defines a range of stoploss against which edge will assess the strategy the format is "min,max,step" (without any space).example: --stoplosses=-0.01,-0.1,-0.001 ``` To understand edge and how to read the results, please read the [edge documentation](edge.md). ## A parameter missing in the configuration? All parameters for `main.py`, `backtesting`, `hyperopt` are referenced in [misc.py](https://github.com/freqtrade/freqtrade/blob/develop/freqtrade/misc.py#L84) ## Next step The optimal strategy of the bot will change with time depending of the market trends. The next step is to [optimize your bot](bot-optimization.md).