Prerequisites
Everything you need before writing your first MZpack indicator or strategy.
Software
| Requirement | Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NinjaTrader 8 | 8.0.27 or later | v8.1.6 required for C# 13 |
| .NET Framework | 4.8 | Included with Windows 10/11 |
| Visual Studio | 2022 (any edition) | Community edition is free; optional if you use the NinjaTrader built-in editor |
IDE Choice
You can write NinjaScript code in two ways:
| IDE | Best For |
|---|---|
| NinjaTrader built-in editor | Quick edits, single-file strategies, no project setup needed |
| Visual Studio 2022 | Multi-file projects, IntelliSense, debugging, refactoring |
The built-in editor compiles code automatically when you save. Visual Studio gives you full IDE features but requires a project referencing NinjaTrader and MZpack assemblies — see Project Setup.
MZpack License
The API requires one of the following license editions:
| Edition | API Access |
|---|---|
| MZpack Strategies w/ Divergence | Full strategy pipeline + all indicator interfaces |
| MZpack Indicators & Strategies w/ Divergence | Full strategy pipeline + all indicator interfaces |
The FREE and Indicators-only editions do not include strategy API access.
Required Knowledge
| Topic | Why |
|---|---|
| C# | All MZpack code is C#. Familiarity with classes, interfaces, generics, and events is expected |
| NinjaScript | MZpack strategies extend NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.Strategies.Strategy. Understanding State lifecycle, OnStateChange, OnBarUpdate, data series, and order methods is essential |
| Order flow concepts | Footprint, volume profile, delta, DOM — the data the API exposes. See the MZpack Indicators documentation |
tip
If you are new to NinjaScript, start with the NinjaTrader 8 Help Guide — particularly the Strategy and Indicator development sections.
Verify Your Environment
Before proceeding to Project Setup, confirm:
- NinjaTrader 8 launches and connects to a data feed (live or Sim101)
- MZpack Strategies/API is installed — verify that
MZpackStrategiesappears in the Strategies dialog - Your license is active — add any MZpack strategy to a chart and confirm it loads without a license error
- Visual Studio 2022 is installed (if you plan to use it instead of the built-in editor)