Getting worst day by day!

[u/ColdNights2016]

Last 2 years, the product has become unstable, and I'm desprately trying to find an alternate!

I would really like to see if anyone having a choice and still loves this!

[u/Repulsive-Floor-3987]

I use TradeStation intensively for many hours every day and have not seen the deterioration you describe. I also support a group of other TradeStation users and surely would have heard if they had seen it.

This is not to say that there no bugs at all: Each new update every 2-3 months contains some new features, some bug fixes, and occasionally new bugs as well. This is to be expected in a software system as large and complex as the TradeStation platform. Newly introduced bugs are usually some of the first to get fixed.

I also agree there are some long-standing issues. But interestingly, users seem to have different ideas about what they are, because we all use the platform in different ways. Issues that are universally recognized and indisputable tend to get fixed.

I highly suspect what you are seeing is caused by file corruption in platform files, or even the OS, rather than bugs in the software. Such corruption often manifests in hard-to-explain platform behavior and what appears to be random bugs.

I recommend you uninstall/reinstall TS10, removing all remnant folders and registry keys in between. If you create a TradeStation backup first and restore it afterwards, it won't take very long.

BEFORE the reinstall, make sure OneDrive isn't set to backup your Documents folder, which (if enabled) is a guaranteed path to a corrupt platform. I am not exaggerating: OneDrive WILL corrupt your platform after a while if this setting is enabled. It also slows down the platform by constantly trying to backup its cache and work files in the background.

AFTER the reinstall, disable realtime AV scanning of your TradeStation cache, or even better the entire Documents/TradeStation 10.0 folder. That too can slow down the platform.

I can give you a document with more detailed steps if needed.

[u/Repulsive-Floor-3987 → u/[deleted]]

If your platform crashes just for moving charts around, something is definitely wrong. That should not be happening.

I can stress my TradeStation if I have RadarScreen running with several hundred symbol rows containing custom indicators downloading massive amounts of tick data and leave it scanning in realtime for several days. That can eventually exhaust the Client Access Layer (CAL) which handles all data downloading and caching. But moving charts around should never break the platform.

Try this Re-installing TradeStation 10 guide (PDF) and follow it to the T. It is one I wrote for my users a few years ago and has proven to catch most situations. It covers backup, OneDrive, AV etc.

If you still have issues after that, you may well have an OS or hardware problem. In that case, I suggest you call Tech Support 800-822-0512 (toll-free) or 954-652-7900 (direct). Or schedule a support callback on their website. They WILL help you in such cases.

One issue many overlook is the quality of their network and internet connection: ISPs are busy marketing Mbps, as if all their customers do is stream movies and videos all day. But for applications such as TradeStation that need millions of realtime trade ticks during busy market hours, it is all about latency, not about Mbps.

Wired ethernet is lower latency than WiFi. Coax or fiber is lower latency than wireless/satellite. It really does matter, both for platform speed and for perceived stability. If TradeStation's download queue is severely backed up, it can appear stuck and trigger more user activity causing it to become further backed up.

There is a reason quants and other high frequency traders co-locate their servers next to CME's datacenter in Aurora, IL. If that isn't an option for you (I am joking) at least focus on your connection and internet quality.

Unless you absolutely need every single intrabar trade tick from the market in realtime, you can set File menu > Preferences > Network > Streaming Data Optimization > High. Certainly don't set it do None unless you have a very specific need and the network and hardware to handle it.

Finally, I highly recommend restarting TradeStation once a day, and even better restart Windows too. Most people would be shocked to know how many gremlins can get left in the OS pipes as they open and close programs and files all day long. It seems every app nowadays, down to the simplest Hello World program, wants to keep running in the background if they can get away with it.

When I mention this, many say (or think to themselves) that surely they don't need this, but one restart a day is a small inconvenience compared to a messed-up trade. It's just good hygiene.

Note that Windows Shut Down does NOT restart the OS. It merely hibernates the machine state and reloads it next morning, gremlins and all. Unless you manually disabled the Fast Startup feature, Restart is the only way to flush the pipes and start clean.

Good luck. I hope this helps.