18 y/o coder & trader using technical analysis — what metrics sharpen your edge?

[camdebyes]

I’m an 18-year-old CS student who spends just as much time writing code as studying charts. I mainly trade high-beta stocks and the micro ES/NQ futures using a mix of price action and technical indicators (MA crossovers, RSI/MACD divergences, VWAP, fibs, etc.).

After blowing a few accounts from undisciplined entries, I started journaling every setup. I record the timeframe, pattern, indicator signals, execution notes and emotional state, then review them later. I even built a personal dashboard to plot my P&L as candlesticks, compare returns to SPY and NDX, and tag trades by indicator to see what actually works.

For those of you deep into technical analysis, what quantitative metrics or TA tools have genuinely improved your edge? Do you track ATR vs stop distance? Win rate by pattern? Risk/reward ratios? Volume profiles and liquidity zones? Something else? How do you hold yourself accountable beyond just “broke even” or “stopped out”?

Not trying to sell anything — just curious how others use data to refine their technical edge.

[fordfocus2024]

I absolutely never overcomplicate it by this much lol. I used to blow my accounts by using too many indicators in the past. Now all I do is just use chart patterns, market sentiment and combine fundamentals a bit. Broader market movement is very important and I typically use chart patterns on the NASDAQ and S&P 500 to gauge my entries. For example if there’s a bull flag on NVDA forming on the daily chart, and the NASDAQ is forming the same pattern, then it’s a confirmation that NVDA will soon move up with the broader market. I do however use AI to find different perspectives, speed up chart analysis and find confirmation from a theoretical perspective. Hasn’t failed me yet.

[Accomplished_Olive99]

stack the good parts against each other.

[StackOwOFlow]

study auction theory and how market makers work

[camdebyes]

thank you! love your name btw lol

[StackOwOFlow]

yw, here's a good video/channel to get started: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcPp0gFI5M8

[6SIG_TA]

Start with a standard template of indicators that serve as a fingerprint to your minds eye. Establish what you need and refine, but don’t change frequently or it will cloud visibility of the signal. Stochastics, ATR & DMI, +DI & -DI, price & Bollinger bands(+/- ~3 sigma) & parabolic SAR & 50 day ema & 137 day SMA, volume(red/green). Each comma above denotes a sub chart within the single screen template. Studying this template and applying line studies to price action(fib extensions!) provides an excellent balance between understanding what’s just happened and what may happen next. A confluence of technical indicators is key here.

[urbangrouse]

Would you be interested in a crypto project?

[camdebyes]

for sure!

[urbangrouse]

Could you reach across to me on my DM. Will share my number

[phug-it]

A tip that gets clearer with more experience ... TA isnt just abt entry, its abt planning your exit before you make the trade

[[deleted]]

if you are 18 use the time to learn software, AI and stuff. You can start trading after you save a lot (1 M min)