A Rough and Ready
Guide to Algorithmic
Trading
QuantInsti's Free Algorithmic Trading Book
The introductory map to algo and quant trading, fully revised for 2026.
What's New in the 2026 Edition
The first edition appeared in 2020. The field has moved fast since, so we rewrote what aged and kept what held up. Here is what the new edition adds.
AI, ML and LLMs in trading
A full chapter where the original had only a short addendum, plus how practitioners really use LLMs to research and build strategies, and where they fall short.
An expanded data chapter
Traditional market data now sits alongside alternative data and cryptocurrency data, with notes on quality and sources.
Cryptocurrency as an asset class
Its own microstructure, strategies and career paths, rather than a passing mention.
Today's brokers and platforms
A refreshed landscape including Blueshift, QuantConnect, Zipline, Backtrader and VectorBT.
A broader strategies chapter
Beyond momentum and mean reversion, into execution strategies, position sizing and strategy decay.
Careers and learning, rewritten
For today's job market and the impact of AI on quant roles, with an updated learning path.
About Our Guide
QuantInsti's Free Algorithmic Trading Book
What is this book?
A Rough and Ready Guide to Algorithmic Trading is an introductory guide to algo and quant trading. First published in 2020, it has been fully revised and expanded for 2026 to reflect how much the field has changed. The goal is not to teach you one specific strategy. It is to give you a mental map of the field: what it contains, how it is structured, what skills it demands, and where you might fit within it.
Who is this book for?
- University students
- Technology professionals
- Retail traders of every kind, from full-time professionals to hobbyists managing their own portfolio
- Anyone curious about applied quantitative finance
How it is structured
It opens with the history and terminology of the field, weighs the pros and cons of automated trading, then walks through the components of a robust trading system with examples. It covers data, brokers and platforms, programming, strategies, AI and machine learning, careers, and a learning path, and closes with a reading list for going deeper.
What this book is not
We do not discuss advanced algorithms or quantitative strategies in significant detail, and we do not teach programming. Nothing here is financial advice. If you want to learn Python with a markets flavour, we point you to Python Basics: With Illustrations from the Financial Markets, co-written by the author.
Take a Peek Inside the Handbook
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this book up to date?
Yes. This is the 2026 revised and expanded edition, updated from the original 2020 release. We refresh the guide as the field evolves, most recently to cover AI and large language models in trading, alternative and cryptocurrency data, the current broker landscape, and today's quant job market.
Who wrote this book?
The 2026 edition is written by Vivek Krishnamoorthy, Head of Research and Head of Placements at QuantInsti. The first edition (2020) was co-written with Ashutosh Dave, credited as the original co-author.
What are the prerequisites for reading this book?
We assume no programming background. A grasp of finance, mathematics or computer science helps but is not necessary. What matters more is curiosity and a willingness to engage with ideas at the intersection of these disciplines.
Is this algorithmic trading guide really free?
Absolutely. This algo trading handbook is free and always will be. We believe in sharing some knowledge that we hope you will find useful.
Get Your Free Copy
The complete 2026 revised and expanded edition, delivered to your inbox as a PDF.
- 14 chapters, fully updated for 2026
- Free forever, no payment required
- Written for readers with no coding background
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