Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need coding experience to use MangoLabs?

No! MangoLabs features a visual drag-and-drop strategy builder. You create strategies by connecting nodes on a canvas - no code required. However, understanding basic trading concepts (indicators, entry/exit signals) is helpful.

Is MangoLabs free to use?

Yes, MangoLabs is currently free during the beta period. You get unlimited strategies, backtests, and paper trading accounts. Future pricing will be announced with advance notice to existing users.

What markets does MangoLabs support?

Currently, cryptocurrency markets (Binance and Hyperliquid exchanges). We support all major pairs: BTC, ETH, SOL, AVAX, etc. Future updates will add stocks, forex, and commodities.

Do I need an exchange account to use MangoLabs?

Not for paper trading! You can backtest and paper trade without any exchange account. For live trading (coming soon), you'll connect your exchange via API keys.

What are Features in MangoLabs?

Features are technical indicators and custom calculations used in your strategies. Examples: RSI, MACD, moving averages, Bollinger Bands, or custom formulas. You create features once and use them in multiple strategies.

How long does feature calculation take?

Simple indicators (RSI, SMA) calculate in 15-30 seconds. Complex features or those requiring lots of historical data might take 1-2 minutes. Features are calculated once and cached for reuse.

Can I create custom indicators?

Yes! Use the Math nodes in the feature builder to create custom formulas. Combine existing indicators, apply transformations, or build entirely new calculations. For example: (RSI + Stochastic) / 2 for a composite oscillator.

Why is my feature showing "Error" status?

Common causes: invalid parameters (negative periods), insufficient data (trying to calculate 200 SMA but only 100 bars available), or calculation timeout. Check feature configuration and try with different symbols or timeframes.

How do I know if my strategy is good?

Look for these metrics in backtests:

• • Sharpe Ratio >1.5 (risk-adjusted returns)
• • Max Drawdown <25% (largest peak-to-trough decline)
• • Win Rate 50-70% (percentage of profitable trades)
• • Annualized Return >30% for crypto
• • Smooth equity curve (consistent growth)

My strategy validation failed. What does this mean?

Strategy validation checks for structural issues:

• • Missing Entry or Exit signals
• • Disconnected nodes (logic not connected to signals)
• • Invalid connections (incompatible node types)
• • Circular dependencies (Node A depends on B, B depends on A)
• • Missing required features

Check the validation error message for specifics and review your node connections.

Can I copy/duplicate an existing strategy?

Yes! Open the strategy, click "Duplicate" or "Save As" to create a copy. This is useful for testing variations (e.g., RSI 14 vs RSI 20) without modifying the original.

How many strategies can I create?

Unlimited! Create as many strategies as you want. However, we recommend focusing on quality over quantity. 3-5 well-tested, robust strategies are better than 50 untested ones.

How long does a backtest take?

Typically 30-90 seconds for 6-12 months of data on hourly timeframe. Complex strategies with many indicators or longer timeframes (daily over multiple years) might take 2-3 minutes.

Why does my backtest show no trades?

Common reasons:

• • Entry conditions too strict (never met during test period)
• • Features not calculated for selected symbol/timeframe
• • Logic error (AND instead of OR, inverted comparisons)
• • Insufficient data period (strategy needs time to develop signals)

Try relaxing conditions, extending test period, or testing on different symbols.

What's the difference between in-sample and out-of-sample testing?

In-sample (IS) is data used to develop/optimize your strategy. Out-of-sample (OOS) is reserved data never touched during development, used to validate the strategy works on unseen data. Always test OOS before going live to avoid overfitting.

Should I trust backtest results?

Backtests are useful but imperfect. They don't account for slippage, real-time execution delays, or changing market conditions. Use backtests to filter out bad strategies, then validate winners in paper trading before live deployment.

What is paper trading?

Paper trading simulates real trading using live market prices but with virtual money. Your strategies execute in real-time with actual market data, allowing you to validate performance without financial risk.

My paper trading strategy shows "Running" but no trades executing. Why?

This is often normal. Strategies wait for favorable conditions before trading. If no trades after 1 week, review current market data to see if entry conditions would be met. The market might simply not be suitable for your strategy right now.

Paper trading performance is worse than backtest. What happened?

Several possible causes:

• • Overfitting - strategy was curve-fit to historical data
• • Market regime change - current conditions differ from backtest period
• • Implementation bugs - logic error only visible in live execution
• • Normal variance - short-term results don't match long-term expectations

Paper trade for at least 2-4 weeks before judging. If still underperforming, re-evaluate strategy.

Can I reset a paper trading account?

Not directly, but you can create a new account with fresh capital. We recommend keeping old accounts for historical reference rather than resetting them.

The platform is loading slowly. What can I do?

Try these steps:

• • Refresh the page (Ctrl+R or Cmd+R)
• • Clear browser cache and cookies
• • Try a different browser (Chrome/Firefox recommended)
• • Check your internet connection speed
• • Disable browser extensions temporarily

I'm getting "Authentication Error" or logged out unexpectedly.

JWT tokens expire after a period of inactivity. Simply log in again with Google. If the issue persists, clear cookies and cache, or try incognito mode to diagnose.

Strategy canvas is not saving my changes.

Ensure you:

• • Click the "Save" button after making changes
• • Wait for the "Saved successfully" confirmation
• • Have stable internet connection
• • Aren't navigating away before save completes

Data seems outdated or incorrect.

MangoLabs pulls live data from exchanges. If you see stale data, it might be a temporary API issue. Wait a few minutes and refresh. If problem persists, report it via the Report Issue page.

When will live trading be available?

Live trading is currently in development. Expected release Q2 2025. You'll be able to connect exchange API keys and deploy strategies to trade with real money.

Will MangoLabs have access to my exchange funds?

No. You'll create API keys with "trading only" permissions (no withdrawals). MangoLabs can execute trades but never withdraw or transfer your funds. Your capital stays on the exchange.

Which exchanges will be supported for live trading?

Initially Binance and Hyperliquid. More exchanges will be added based on user demand (Coinbase, Kraken, OKX, Bybit, etc.).