> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.innova-trading.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quick Start

> Send your first trading signal in 5 minutes

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

<Check>An InnovaTrading account</Check>
<Check>An API key from [Dashboard Settings](/authentication)</Check>
<Check>Python 3.8+ or Node.js 18+ installed</Check>

## Step 1: Install the SDK

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Python theme={null}
  pip install requests
  ```

  ```bash JavaScript theme={null}
  npm install node-fetch
  # Or use native fetch in Node 18+
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Step 2: Get Market Data

First, fetch OHLC bars to analyze:

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests

  API_KEY = "your_api_key_here"
  BASE_URL = "https://api.innova-trading.com"

  # Fetch 500 bars of EURUSD H1
  response = requests.get(
      f"{BASE_URL}/api/external/bars",
      params={
          "symbol": "EURUSD",
          "timeframe": 60,
          "limit": 500
      },
      headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}"}
  )

  bars = response.json()["bars"]
  print(f"Fetched {len(bars)} bars")
  print(f"Latest bar: {bars[-1]}")
  ```

  ```javascript JavaScript theme={null}
  const API_KEY = "your_api_key_here";
  const BASE_URL = "https://api.innova-trading.com";

  const response = await fetch(
    `${BASE_URL}/api/external/bars?symbol=EURUSD&timeframe=60&limit=500`,
    {
      headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${API_KEY}` }
    }
  );

  const { bars } = await response.json();
  console.log(`Fetched ${bars.length} bars`);
  console.log("Latest bar:", bars[bars.length - 1]);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<ResponseExample>
  ```json Response theme={null}
  {
    "success": true,
    "symbol": "EURUSD",
    "timeframe": 60,
    "count": 500,
    "bars": [
      {
        "bar_number": 0,
        "time": 1765540800,
        "datetime_utc": "2025-12-12T04:00:00Z",
        "open": 1.1732,
        "high": 1.1740,
        "low": 1.1725,
        "close": 1.1738,
        "volume": 2500
      }
    ]
  }
  ```
</ResponseExample>

## Step 3: Create a Signal

Now let's send a BUY signal with Stop Loss and Take Profits:

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Python theme={null}
  # Get the latest bar
  latest_bar = bars[-1]
  bar_time = latest_bar["time"]  # IMPORTANT: Use this timestamp!
  entry_price = latest_bar["close"]

  # Calculate levels
  stop_loss = entry_price - 0.0030  # 30 pips
  tp1 = entry_price + 0.0030  # 1:1 RR
  tp2 = entry_price + 0.0060  # 1:2 RR
  tp3 = entry_price + 0.0090  # 1:3 RR

  # Create signal with multiple points
  signal = {
      "symbol": "EURUSD",
      "timeframe": 60,
      "indicator_name": "My First Signal",
      "points": [
          {
              "time": bar_time,
              "type": "low",
              "price": entry_price,
              "label": "BUY",
              "color": "#3b82f6",
              "shape": "arrowUp",
              "size": 2
          },
          {
              "time": bar_time,
              "type": "low",
              "price": stop_loss,
              "label": "SL",
              "color": "#ef4444",
              "shape": "square",
              "size": 1
          },
          {
              "time": bar_time,
              "type": "high",
              "price": tp1,
              "label": "TP1",
              "color": "#22c55e",
              "shape": "circle",
              "size": 1
          },
          {
              "time": bar_time,
              "type": "high",
              "price": tp2,
              "label": "TP2",
              "color": "#22c55e",
              "shape": "circle",
              "size": 1
          },
          {
              "time": bar_time,
              "type": "high",
              "price": tp3,
              "label": "TP3",
              "color": "#22c55e",
              "shape": "circle",
              "size": 1
          }
      ],
      "metadata": {
          "signal_type": "BUY",
          "strategy": "Quick Start Example"
      }
  }

  # Submit the signal
  response = requests.post(
      f"{BASE_URL}/api/external/indicators/my_first_signal",
      json=signal,
      headers={
          "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}",
          "Content-Type": "application/json"
      }
  )

  result = response.json()
  print(f"Signal submitted! {result['points_received']} points")
  print(f"Expires at: {result['expires_at']}")
  ```

  ```javascript JavaScript theme={null}
  // Get the latest bar
  const latestBar = bars[bars.length - 1];
  const barTime = latestBar.time; // IMPORTANT: Use this timestamp!
  const entryPrice = latestBar.close;

  // Calculate levels
  const stopLoss = entryPrice - 0.0030; // 30 pips
  const tp1 = entryPrice + 0.0030; // 1:1 RR
  const tp2 = entryPrice + 0.0060; // 1:2 RR
  const tp3 = entryPrice + 0.0090; // 1:3 RR

  // Create signal
  const signal = {
    symbol: "EURUSD",
    timeframe: 60,
    indicator_name: "My First Signal",
    points: [
      {
        time: barTime,
        type: "low",
        price: entryPrice,
        label: "BUY",
        color: "#3b82f6",
        shape: "arrowUp",
        size: 2
      },
      {
        time: barTime,
        type: "low",
        price: stopLoss,
        label: "SL",
        color: "#ef4444",
        shape: "square",
        size: 1
      },
      {
        time: barTime,
        type: "high",
        price: tp1,
        label: "TP1",
        color: "#22c55e",
        shape: "circle",
        size: 1
      }
    ]
  };

  // Submit
  const response = await fetch(
    `${BASE_URL}/api/external/indicators/my_first_signal`,
    {
      method: "POST",
      headers: {
        Authorization: `Bearer ${API_KEY}`,
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
      },
      body: JSON.stringify(signal)
    }
  );

  const result = await response.json();
  console.log(`Signal submitted! ${result.points_received} points`);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<ResponseExample>
  ```json Response theme={null}
  {
    "success": true,
    "indicator_id": "my_first_signal",
    "points_received": 5,
    "symbol": "EURUSD",
    "timeframe": 60,
    "expires_at": "2025-12-13T12:00:00Z",
    "message": "Indicator data stored successfully"
  }
  ```
</ResponseExample>

## Step 4: View Your Signal

1. Go to [InnovaTrading Chart](https://innova-trading.com/trading)
2. Select **EURUSD** and **H1** timeframe
3. Open the **Indicators** panel
4. Find **"My First Signal"** under External Indicators
5. Enable it to see your signal on the chart!

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/innova-team/images/signal-example.png" alt="Signal on chart" />
</Frame>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Signal Format" icon="paintbrush" href="/concepts/signals">
    Learn about all signal options
  </Card>

  <Card title="Build an Indicator" icon="chart-line" href="/guides/first-indicator">
    Create a full indicator system
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Reference" icon="book" href="/api-reference/introduction">
    Explore all endpoints
  </Card>

  <Card title="Best Practices" icon="check" href="/guides/signal-best-practices">
    Production-ready patterns
  </Card>
</CardGroup>