# cTrader cBot scaffold — project rules

A Linux-native toolchain for building cTrader cBots in C# and compiling them to
`.algo`, plus running/backtesting them headless via Spotware's official cTrader CLI
Docker image. No Windows, no cTrader desktop app. See `README.md` and
`docs/research-findings.md`.

## Domain facts (load-bearing, verified)

- cBots are .NET 6 class libraries referencing the **official** NuGet package
  `cTrader.Automate` (owner **spotware**). Do **not** use the third-party `cAlgo.API`
  package — it is not the Spotware SDK.
- `dotnet build` emits the `.algo`; the cTrader desktop app is not needed to compile.
- `.algo` is a proprietary, encrypted container (file magic = ASCII `algo`), not a ZIP.
- `cTrader.Automate` 1.0.17 names the `.algo` after the project's **parent folder**
  (no override property); `scripts/build.sh` renames artifacts to `<ProjectName>.algo`.
- Run/backtest on Linux requires cTrader 5.4+ console image (`ghcr.io/spotware/ctrader-console`).

## Conventions

- Everything committed is **English** (code, comments, docs, commit messages).
- New cBots go under `src/<BotName>/`, one class-library project each.

## Skills plugin: project facts

- **Code roots:** `src/` (cBots/indicators), `scripts/` (toolchain).
- **Build command:** `./scripts/build.sh` (wraps `dotnet build -c Release`, collects
  `dist/<ProjectName>.algo`). Requires the .NET SDK on PATH or in `~/.dotnet`
  (`./scripts/install-dotnet.sh`).
- **Test command:** none yet (no test project). Build success + a valid `.algo`
  (magic bytes `algo`) is the current acceptance check.
- **Run/backtest:** `./scripts/run-console.sh` (Docker, official cTrader console).
- **Issue tracker:** none yet.