Futures Strategy Generator for Automated Trading
Genetic System Builder (GSB) is a futures strategy generator for Windows. It builds and tests thousands of candidate systems for your market. Then it writes the code that TradeStation, MultiCharts or NinjaTrader 8 runs as your automated futures trading software.
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What GSB does
Most futures traders who automate face the same three problems. Building systems by hand is slow, most backtests are curve-fit, and writing the code takes time. GSB, developed by Peter Zwag at Trademaid, is built around all three.
- Find the indicators that suit your market. GSB builds systems from its built-in indicators and ranks each by how often it appears in the best systems compared with the worst.
- Check them on unseen data. Compare the indicator statistics in sample and out of sample, and keep only the ones that hold up.
- Build and walk-forward test full systems. A genetic search builds complete systems from your chosen indicators, then walk-forward tests them and checks them on other data.
- Export to your platform. Copy a system's code into your platform, check the results match GSB's, then paper trade.
No programming is needed: GSB writes the code. Understanding basic trading and testing ideas helps, and that is what the free course covers.
Which futures markets the case studies cover
GSB isn't tied to one market; you load data for the market you trade. The site's case studies follow Trademaid's own builds step by step:
| Market | Case study | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 e-mini (ES) | Long-only swing systems | Multi-day holds, fitness testing, anchored and rolling walk-forwards |
| S&P 500 e-mini (ES) | Long/short swing systems | Building both directions and selecting strictly |
| Nasdaq (NQ) | Swing systems on 23-hour data | Long-only swing systems built on 23-hour data |
| ES, NQ and YM | Index futures day trading | Finding indicators, then building day-trading systems |
| Crude oil (CL) | Methodology setup guide | Market-specific settings for crude |
| Crude oil (CL) | Fast revised methodology | A quicker way to pick indicators |
| Crude oil (CL) | Day-of-week strategy | Trading selected weekdays only |
| Bitcoin futures and GBTC | Bitcoin trading systems | Volatility, liquidity and slippage problems |
| Any market | Core methodology | Measuring every change against a baseline |
Any results in the case studies are hypothetical backtests, shown to teach the method. They are not a recommendation to trade those markets.
Platforms GSB exports to
GSB doesn't place trades or connect to a broker. It builds the strategy; your platform runs it. Code comes straight from GSB's Scripts tab, with a walk-forward version for each system.
| Platform | Code | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| TradeStation | EasyLanguage (import GSB's functions first) | GSB for TradeStation |
| MultiCharts | EasyLanguage (import GSB's functions first) | GSB for MultiCharts |
| NinjaTrader 8 | NinjaScript strategy | GSB for NinjaTrader |
One caveat from Trademaid: NinjaTrader may use volume differently from TradeStation and MultiCharts, which affects volume-based indicators. Always check your platform's results match GSB's before you rely on a system. See platform export.
From trial to a live system: the workflow
- Install GSB on a Windows PC (installation).
- Export price data for your market from the platform you'll trade on, and load it (uploading data).
- Find the indicators that suit the market, then build systems (building strategies).
- Select candidates by family, not by one standout backtest (selecting systems).
- Walk-forward test them and run the robustness checks (validation and robustness).
- Export the walk-forward version of the code and check the platform results match.
- Paper trade, then go live with small size (live trading).
The Strategy Guide writes every step down with screenshots, and the free course teaches it on video.
What it costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GSB licence | US$1,500 | Bought from Trademaid, GSB's developer, and paid directly to Trademaid |
| Free trial | Free | 14 days on up to 2 machines; a smaller indicator set than the full version |
| GSB Pro course and Strategy Guide | Free | 53 video lessons, from install to going live |
| Extra machine | US$400 (US$300 if bundled at purchase) | Per Trademaid's help |
| Optional add-ons | EWFO US$500, Portfolio Analyst Pro US$400 | Not needed to build or export systems |
GSB Pro is an authorised Trademaid reseller and earns a commission on sales. You pay Trademaid's official price either way. Trademaid's licence terms say all GSB sales are final, which is why the trial comes first. See pricing for details.
You also need a trading platform and its data. GSB Automation needs a full GSB licence, not the trial.
Honest limits
- Windows only. There is no Mac or Linux version.
- Hardware. Plan on 16 GB of RAM or more. Trademaid's rough guide is about 10 GB per GSB worker, plus a few GB for the manager.
- A learning curve. GSB has a lot of settings, and forum users call it complicated. The free course and Strategy Guide exist to shorten that curve.
- Three platforms. Export covers TradeStation, MultiCharts and NinjaTrader 8 only. There is no MetaTrader or TradingView export.
- No guarantees. Walk-forward and robustness checks reduce the risk of trading a curve-fit system. They don't remove it, and backtests are hypothetical.
To see how GSB compares with StrategyQuant X, Build Alpha and Adaptrade on these points, read the comparison.
Who GSB is not for
- Traders who want to code their own hand-made ideas. GSB discovers systems rather than building yours.
- Mac-only users, or anyone trading through MetaTrader.
- Anyone looking for a signals service or ready-made profitable systems. GSB is a research tool; you do the testing and the deciding.
- Anyone not ready to paper trade first and risk only money they can afford to lose.
Trade futures on TradeStation, MultiCharts or NinjaTrader 8, and want evidence a system holds up before you risk money? GSB is worth a trial. Start on the get started page, or read about GSB Pro.
Frequently asked questions
Is GSB automated futures trading software?
GSB builds and tests futures strategies and writes their code. The automated trading itself runs on TradeStation, MultiCharts or NinjaTrader 8, not inside GSB.
Do strategy generators work for futures like ES, NQ and crude oil?
GSB is built around futures, and the site's case studies cover ES, NQ, YM, crude oil and Bitcoin futures. Whether any system works going forward is never certain, so every system needs out-of-sample testing and paper trading first.
Can I build futures strategies without coding?
Yes. GSB builds the systems and writes the code for your platform. Knowing basic trading and testing ideas helps, and the free course covers them.
How much does GSB cost?
A GSB licence is US$1,500, paid directly to Trademaid. The 14-day trial and the GSB Pro course are free.
Does GSB export to NinjaTrader 8?
Yes. GSB exports to TradeStation, MultiCharts and NinjaTrader 8. Check that your platform's results match GSB's, especially for volume-based indicators on NinjaTrader.
Does GSB run on a Mac?
No. GSB runs on Windows, and Trademaid suggests 16 GB of RAM or more.
Try it on your own market
Start a free 14-day GSB trial and learn the method with our free 53-lesson video course. GSB Pro is an authorised Trademaid reseller and earns a commission if you buy.