The first two bot-editor steps decide how fast you can move. Templates shorten setup time, while the Basic step locks in the exchange account, market, leverage, and sizing context the rest of the bot depends on.

What this is

This article explains how to choose a starting point for a bot and how to fill the Basic step correctly in the current editor.

When to use it

Use this article if:

you are creating a new bot
you are not sure whether to start from a template or from scratch
you want to understand the required fields in the Basic step

Before you start

Before opening the editor, make sure you already have:

at least one validated exchange account
a symbol or market idea in mind
a rough sense of whether you want long or short exposure

Important current product behavior:

the Basic step only offers validated exchange accounts
the symbol mode can be single_pair or all_coins
the market type can be spot or futures
sizing can be based on balance percent or a fixed amount

Step by step

Step 1: Choose the right starting mode

The editor currently supports these entry paths:

Template
Manual
Import from file
Edit existing bot

For new users, a template is usually the best option because it pre-fills more of the strategy and reduces setup mistakes.

Step 2: Select a validated exchange account

In the Basic step, choose the account that will define the execution environment.

If you do not see any accounts in the dropdown, the usual reasons are:

you have not added one yet
the account exists but still fails validation

Step 3: Set market scope

Choose whether the bot should trade:

a single pair
all coins

If you choose a single pair, use the symbol search. The current symbol picker matches the symbol code, display name, and base or quote fragments.

Step 4: Set side, leverage, and margin context

Confirm the trading direction:

Long
Short

Then confirm:

market type
leverage
isolated or cross margin

In practice, futures is where leverage, margin, and funding-sensitive features matter most. Spot and futures should not be treated as interchangeable contexts.

Step 5: Set position sizing

The sizing block currently supports:

Percent of Balance
Fixed Amount

Use percent sizing when you want order value to move with account balance. Use fixed amount when you want a constant nominal size.

The editor can also show useful market context such as:

current account balance
estimated order value
estimated leveraged position size
minimum quantity or minimum notional when available

Step 6: Save only after the context is coherent

Before moving on, confirm that these fields line up logically:

exchange account
market type
symbol mode
symbol
side
leverage
margin type
sizing mode
sizing value

Every later step depends on this context.

What you should see

By the time you finish the Templates and Basic steps, you should have:

a clear setup source
a validated exchange account attached
a chosen symbol or all-coins scope
a chosen side
leverage and sizing values that match the account and market

Common mistakes

starting manually when a template would get you to a valid test faster
forgetting that only validated exchange accounts appear in the Basic step
setting leverage before confirming the market type and symbol
ignoring minimum quantity or notional hints
changing symbol mode later without retesting filters and backtests