Simulation Mode Before Going Live: How to Test an Automated Setup
Why and how to use simulation mode before going live with an automated futures setup: what to verify, how to log it, where simulation differs from real fills.
Simulation mode is the safest place to find out whether an automated setup does what you think it does. Before any real order is placed, you can send test alerts, watch how they are read, and see which orders would have been created, all without touching your broker account. This guide explains what simulation mode is in WeCore, what to verify in it, how long to run it, and, just as important, what it cannot tell you.
Nothing here is trading advice, and a clean simulation run does not predict how a strategy will perform with real money.
Why test before real money
An automated chain has several links: a chart or script produces an alert, the alert travels to a bridge, the bridge checks it against your risk rules and sizing, and an order goes to the broker. A mistake in any link can cost real money:
- the alert sends `sell` when you meant `buy`;
- the quantity is 10 because a mini was chosen instead of a micro;
- the symbol points to a contract you did not intend;
- a risk rule blocks an entry and you do not notice;
- the alert simply never arrives.
Each of these is cheap to find in simulation and expensive to find live. Testing the plumbing first is the same idea as checking the brakes before a drive.
How WeCore Simulation mode behaves
These are the facts that matter, as the product works today:
- New broker accounts always start in Simulation. Orders are checked and recorded, but nothing is sent to the broker.
- Going live is a deliberate step. It becomes possible only after the account's risk rules have been saved at least once (in the Risk section), and only you can switch Simulation off.
- WeCore Paper is a built-in simulation account. It needs no broker login, so you can practice before connecting anything.
- Signals and trades are recorded. Each alert received appears as a signal, and each account it was sent to gets its own trade row, with the reason if an order was blocked. One signal can create several trades, which is why counts can differ.
On a WeCore Paper account, a limit entry from an engine strategy fills only when the price actually traded through the level, and it fills at the limit price. Touching the level is not enough. If a position is already open in the same strategy and symbol, an additional entry is rejected, as it would be in a real account. This is useful to know so that you are not surprised when a limit order sits unfilled.
WeCore is software, not a broker. It does not hold your money and does not trade for you, in simulation or live.
What to verify
Treat this as a test plan. Run each item on purpose, do not wait for it to happen.
1. Alert delivery
Create the alert in TradingView, paste the private webhook URL and message, and trigger it. Then check that a signal appears in the Signals list within seconds. If it does not, the problem is upstream of WeCore; see TradingView alert not firing: troubleshooting. Also check that the alert has an expiry date you know about.
2. Action and quantity
For each alert you use, confirm the recorded action (`buy`, `sell`, `exit`, and so on) and the quantity match what you intended. Test the exit alert too, not only the entry; an entry without a working exit is the most dangerous half-setup. See how to connect TradingView alerts to WeCore for the message format.
3. Symbol and contract
Check which symbol the order was created for. A continuous ticker such as `MNQ1!` resolves to the current front-month contract, so you do not type a dated contract. What you must get right is mini versus micro, because they differ about tenfold in point value. See micro vs mini futures and futures contract rollover.
4. Risk blocks
Do not assume risk rules work; trigger them. Set a small maximum position size and send an oversized order, or send a symbol not on your allowed list, and read the block reason shown on the order. Confirm that exits still pass while an entry is blocked. Your own limits are an extra layer on top of any prop firm's rules, which still apply at the firm. For setup details see how to set risk limits in WeCore.
5. Stops, targets and sizing
If your alert carries a stop-loss or take-profit in points, check that the values are what you expect. If you use dollar-based sizing, remember it needs price, stop distance and account equity; a missing input leads to a rejected order with a reason, not a guess.
How long to run it, and how to log it
There is no magic number of days. A useful rule of thumb is to run until you have seen every alert type you plan to use, in different market conditions and sessions, without a surprise. For many people that means several trading days at minimum, including a full session open and close. Longer is fine; there is no deadline.
Keep a simple log, on paper or in a spreadsheet:
| Date and time | Alert or signal | Expected result | Actual result | Match? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example | Entry, 1 contract | Order created, correct symbol | As expected | Yes | |
| Example | Exit | Position closed | Blocked? | No | Check reason |
Log mismatches, not impressions. A mismatch is a setup question to resolve. Do not turn the log into a performance scoreboard; simulation results say little about live results, and counting simulated profit invites exactly the overconfidence this stage is meant to prevent.
The limits of simulation
Simulation answers "does my setup behave as I intended?" It does not answer "what would I have earned?" Reasons:
- Fills differ from live. In a real market your order joins a queue, price can jump past your level, and liquidity changes by time of day.
- Slippage and costs. A simulated fill at the exact limit price may not happen live. See slippage and execution costs.
- Different market conditions. A calm simulation week says nothing about a fast news day.
- Psychology. Following your own rules with real money at stake feels different. See trading psychology and discipline.
- Backtests are hypothetical. Historical tests and simulated runs are both partial evidence at best; read backtesting vs live trading.
A go-live checklist
If you decide to go live, whether on a personal account or a prop-firm account, work through this table first. Going live is optional and your decision alone.
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Firm rules | The firm's own current page allows automation for your account type |
| Risk rules saved | Daily loss, maximum position size, allowed symbols |
| Alert delivery | Signals appeared for every alert type, with an expiry date noted |
| Action and quantity | Entry and exit both tested; quantity matches the intended contract size |
| Symbol | Correct product, mini or micro confirmed |
| Risk blocks | At least one block triggered on purpose and understood |
| Webhook secret | URL is private and has not been shared |
| Starting size | Smallest size you can use, with a written maximum loss |
| Monitoring | You know where to look (Signals, Trades) and when the market is open |
| Stop plan | You decided in advance what makes you pause or switch back to Simulation |
You can switch back to Simulation at any time if something looks wrong.
Next step
If you want to practice with no broker connected, you can create a WeCore account and begin with the WeCore Paper simulation account; see the plans for what is included. If you prefer ready-made logic rather than your own alerts, read about WeAlgo strategies, which you can also check in simulation first. For the bigger picture, start with automated futures trading for beginners.
FAQ
What is simulation mode?
It is a state in which orders are checked and recorded but not sent to your broker. In WeCore, every new broker account starts in Simulation until you save risk rules and switch it off yourself.
How long should I run a simulation?
Until you have seen every alert type you plan to use behave as intended across different sessions. There is no set number of days, and staying longer costs nothing.
Does a good simulation mean my strategy will work live?
No. Simulation tests your setup, not the strategy. Live fills, slippage and conditions can differ, and no result is promised.
Why did my limit order not fill in the WeCore Paper account?
In Paper, a limit entry fills only when the price traded through the level, not when it merely touched it. A second entry in the same strategy and symbol is also rejected while a position is open.
Can I go live without finishing the risk rules?
No. Live trading can be switched on only after the account's risk rules have been saved at least once.
Is it worth simulating if I only use a ready-made strategy?
Yes. You still need to confirm that the account, symbols, sizes and risk rules are set up as you intended before real money is involved.
This article is general information, not investment advice, and makes no promise of results. Futures trading carries a high risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.