OurStreet Trading Platform Tutorial

Learn how to set up your Alpaca account and start using our advanced trading algorithms

Part 1: Alpaca API Setup

Step 1: Create an Alpaca Account

  1. Go to Alpaca Markets.
  2. Click Sign Up and fill out registration (name, email, etc.).
  3. Verify your email, complete any required KYC / identity requirements (if doing live trading).
  4. Once your account is approved, log in.

Note: Some users in non-US jurisdictions only get access to paper trading initially.

Step 2: Navigate to the API Keys section and generate your keys

  1. After logging in, go to your dashboard / home screen.
  2. Look for a section labeled "API Keys", "Your API Keys", or "Developer / API".
    • In the dashboard view, there's often a card or panel that shows your Key ID and Secret Key.
  3. Click Generate New Keys (or "Create API Key") if there isn't already one.
  4. The system will show your API Key ID and Secret Key together. Important: copy / save the Secret Key immediately — many dashboards only surface it once (you won't be able to view it again later).
  5. If you already have a key but need a new one, you can regenerate it; but that invalidates the old one.
  6. Enter the keys into your OurStreet dashboard.

Here's what the Alpaca API Keys page looks like:

Alpaca API Keys Interface

Security Warning: Your secret key will disappear after refreshing or navigating away from this page. Make sure to copy it immediately!

Part 2: Using OurStreet Trader

Step 1: Configure Your Alpaca API Keys

  1. Navigate to the Settings page from the dashboard menu.
  2. Scroll down to the "Alpaca API Configuration" section.
  3. Enter your API Key ID in the "API Key ID" field.
  4. Enter your Secret Key in the "API Secret Key" field.
  5. Click Save API Keys.

Security: Your API keys are encrypted and stored securely in our database.

Step 2: Verify Your Alpaca Account Connection

  1. After saving your API keys, navigate to the Trader tab.
  2. Look for the "Alpaca Account" section.
  3. You should see your account information:
    • Account Status (Active/Inactive)
    • Account Type (Paper/Live)
    • Buying Power
    • Portfolio Value
    • Cash Balance

Tip: Start with paper trading to test algorithms without risking real money.

Step 3: Set Your Capital Allocation

  1. In the Trader tab, find the "Capital Allocation" section.
  2. Set what percentage of your buying power you want to allocate per trade.
  3. For example:
    • 10% = Each trade uses 10% of your available buying power
    • 25% = More aggressive, uses 25% per trade
    • 5% = Conservative approach
  4. Click Save Capital Allocation.

Risk Management: Lower percentages reduce risk but also limit potential gains. Higher percentages increase both risk and potential reward.

Step 4: Optimize Trading Algorithms

  1. Navigate to the Multi-Criteria Optimization tab.
  2. Enter a stock symbol (e.g., AAPL, TSLA, SPY).
  3. Choose algorithm type:
    • Daily - For swing trading and longer timeframes
    • Hourly - For intraday trading strategies
  4. Adjust the backtest limit (Gold tier: up to 500 combinations).
  5. Click Run Multi-Criteria Optimization.
  6. Review the results table showing:
    • Total Return %
    • Sharpe Ratio (risk-adjusted return)
    • Win Rate
    • Maximum Drawdown
    • And more...

Step 5: Save and Deploy Algorithms

  1. Click on any algorithm result in the optimization table.
  2. Review the detailed parameters and performance metrics.
  3. Click Save Algorithm to add it to your saved algorithms.
  4. Navigate to the Algorithm List tab to view all saved algorithms.
  5. Toggle algorithms on/off to control which ones are actively trading.
  6. Monitor your Trade History to see executed trades.

Success: You're now ready to start algorithmic trading! Monitor your positions regularly and adjust strategies as needed.

Pro Tips for Success

  • •Start with Paper Trading: Test your strategies without risking real capital.
  • •Diversify: Use multiple algorithms across different stocks and timeframes.
  • •Monitor Performance: Regularly check your trade history and adjust strategies that aren't performing well.
  • •Risk Management: Never allocate more than you can afford to lose on any single trade.
  • •Stay Informed: Market conditions change. What works today may not work tomorrow.
  • •Use Filters: In the optimization results, use the filter sliders to narrow down to algorithms that meet your specific criteria.

Need Help?

If you encounter any issues or have questions, please contact our support team.

Contact Support