CLI and GUI tools for Interactive Brokers futures trading.
- Python 3.12+
- Interactive Brokers TWS or IB Gateway running with API enabled
- TWS API port configured (default: 7497 for paper, 7496 for live)
uv syncCreate a .env file in your working directory:
# Connection settings
IB_HOST=127.0.0.1
IB_PORT=7497 # 7497=paper, 7496=live
IB_TIMEOUT=10.0
IB_READONLY=false
# Client ID management (for running multiple tools simultaneously)
IB_CLIENT_ID_MODE=auto # "auto" or "fixed"
IB_CLIENT_ID_START=1 # Base for auto-allocated IDs
IB_CLIENT_ID=1 # Used when mode="fixed"
# Account nicknames for Click Trader dropdown
IB_ACCOUNT_NICKNAMES={"U1234567": "Main", "U7654321": "IRA"}Fast order entry GUI for futures trading.
iborker-traderFeatures:
- One-click buy/sell/flatten/reverse
- Auto-selects front month contract (just type "ES", "NQ", etc.)
- Points-based P&L display (per-contract, position-size agnostic)
- Multi-account support with nicknames
- Keyboard shortcuts for rapid order entry
Keyboard Shortcuts:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Q | Focus quantity input |
| B | Highlight BUY |
| S | Highlight SELL |
| F | Highlight FLATTEN |
| R | Highlight REVERSE |
| Ctrl+Enter | Execute highlighted action |
| P | Toggle points/dollars P&L |
CLI flags:
--no-roll-check— skip the futures-roll lookup when setting a contract--no-reverse— remove the REVERSE button (forces enter–exit discipline)--guardrails-on— discipline mode (see below)
iborker-trader --guardrails-on enforces a pre-trade checklist, no-pyramid lock,
loss cooldowns, and a typed-reason gate for trading past your daily goal. Useful
if you have specific overtrading patterns to break.
Required env vars (trader exits at startup with a list of any missing):
| Var | Meaning |
|---|---|
IB_DAILY_GOAL |
Daily session goal in points; once cumulative ≥ goal, trade buttons disable until you re-arm with a typed reason |
IB_LOSS_COOLDOWN_THRESHOLD |
Per-trade realized loss (points) above which the long loss cooldown triggers |
IB_LOSS_COOLDOWN_SECONDS |
Length of the loss cooldown |
IB_TRADE_COOLDOWN_SECONDS |
Length of the per-trade cooldown that fires after every close that isn't a big loss |
IB_REARM_COOLDOWN_SECONDS |
Length of the post-re-arm cooldown |
IB_MAX_ROUND_TRIPS |
Hard cap on round trips per session; once hit the lifecycle locks out terminally until clock-out |
IB_CLOCK_IN_COUNTDOWN_MINUTES |
(optional, default 15) length of the clock-in countdown |
Lifecycle (per session):
- Clock In — all trade buttons disabled until you click Clock In. A countdown then runs.
- Checklist — three free-text questions (≥20 chars each, tab-navigable) you have to answer.
- Arm prompt — explicit yes/no to enable trading.
- Armed — BUY / SELL / FLATTEN enabled. REVERSE is hidden in this mode.
- In position — BUY and SELL disable; only FLATTEN exits.
- After every close — exactly one cooldown fires: a big loss (>
IB_LOSS_COOLDOWN_THRESHOLD) triggers the long loss cooldown, anything else triggers the short per-trade cooldown. - Goal hit — when cumulative points ≥
IB_DAILY_GOAL, trade buttons disable and a Re-arm button appears. Click it, type a reason, then wait outIB_REARM_COOLDOWN_SECONDS. - Max round trips — once you've taken
IB_MAX_ROUND_TRIPSround trips, the lifecycle locks out terminally for the session. No re-arm. Only clock-out / disconnect resets the counter. - Disconnect resets the lifecycle to clocked-out — no persisted state across reconnects.
Clock-in time, checklist responses, and re-arm reasons are appended to
workspace/journal/YYYY-MM-DD.md (gitignored).
Download OHLCV data for futures contracts.
# Download 5-minute bars (default)
iborker history download ES --duration "1 D"
# Download 1-minute bars
iborker history download ES --bar-size 1m --duration "1 D"
# Download 4-hour bars
iborker history download ES --bar-size 4h --duration "5 D"
# Download daily bars
iborker history download NQ --bar-size 1d --duration "1 Y"Valid bar sizes: 1m, 5m, 15m, 30m, 1h, 4h, 1d, 1w
Output columns: date, open, high, low, close, volume, average (VWAP), bar_count
Default filename: {contract}_{barsize}_{from}_{to}.csv (e.g., ESH6_5m_20250110_20250114.csv)
Look up contract details and margin requirements.
# Look up contract details
iborker contract lookup ES
# List known futures symbols
iborker contract list
# Query margin requirements
iborker contract margin ES --quantity 4Calculate expected price moves using options-implied volatility.
# Full analysis with sigma bands
iborker stdev analyze ES
# Quick daily expected move using SPX 0DTE options
iborker stdev spx0dte
# Get ATM implied volatility
iborker stdev iv ES
# Calculate expected move for specific timeframe
iborker stdev move ES --hours 24The following contracts are pre-configured:
| Symbol | Name | Exchange | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| ES | E-mini S&P 500 | CME | $50 |
| NQ | E-mini NASDAQ-100 | CME | $20 |
| YM | E-mini Dow | CBOT | $5 |
| RTY | E-mini Russell 2000 | CME | $50 |
| MES | Micro E-mini S&P 500 | CME | $5 |
| MNQ | Micro E-mini NASDAQ-100 | CME | $2 |
| CL | Crude Oil | NYMEX | $1000 |
| GC | Gold | COMEX | $100 |
| ZB | 30-Year Treasury Bond | CBOT | $1000 |
| ZN | 10-Year Treasury Note | CBOT | $1000 |
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