Running Backtests

Execute backtests via Rust API, load market data, and interpret results

The NanoARB backtesting engine uses an event-driven architecture to simulate realistic trading with configurable latency, fills, and risk management.

Quick Start

Basic Backtest Example

use nano_backtest::{BacktestConfig, BacktestEngine};
use nano_core::traits::Strategy;

// Create configuration
let config = BacktestConfig::default();
let mut engine = BacktestEngine::new(config);

// Register instruments
let instrument = Instrument::es_future(1, "ESH24");
engine.register_instrument(instrument);

// Load market data and schedule events
load_market_data(&mut engine, "data/es_20240115.bin");

// Run backtest with your strategy
let mut strategy = MyStrategy::new();
engine.run(&mut strategy);

// Get results
let metrics = engine.metrics();
println!("Total P&L: ${:.2}", metrics.total_pnl);
println!("Sharpe Ratio: {:.2}", engine.stats().sharpe_ratio);

Backtest Engine Architecture

The engine is defined in nano-backtest/src/engine.rs:33-64.

Engine Components

Component	Purpose
EventQueue	Priority queue for time-ordered event processing
SimulatedExchange	Order matching and fill simulation
LatencySimulator	Network and exchange latency modeling
PositionTracker	Real-time P&L and position tracking
RiskManager	Pre-trade and real-time risk checks
MetricsCollector	Performance statistics and analytics

Event-Driven Workflow

The backtest processes events in chronological order (engine.rs:260-276):

while !engine.event_queue.is_empty() {
    let event = engine.event_queue.pop();
    engine.process_event(event, &mut strategy);
}

Event Processing

Event Types

From events.rs:10-76, the engine processes:

Event Type	Description	Triggered By
MarketData	Order book update	Market data feed
OrderSubmit	Order arrives at exchange	Strategy + latency
OrderAck	Exchange confirms order	Exchange + ack latency
OrderFill	Order execution	Exchange matching
OrderCancel	Cancel confirmation	Strategy cancel request
OrderReject	Order rejected	Risk checks or exchange
Timer	Scheduled callback	Strategy timers
Signal	Inter-strategy signal	Strategy signals
EndOfData	Backtest complete	Data exhaustion

Event Flow Example

Market data event → Strategy decision → Order submission:

1. MarketData event (t=0)
   ↓ market_data_latency_ns
2. Strategy sees update (t=50μs)
   ↓ strategy computation
3. Strategy submits order (t=52μs)
   ↓ order_latency_ns
4. OrderSubmit arrives at exchange (t=152μs)
   ↓ exchange processing
5. OrderAck sent (t=154μs)
   ↓ ack_latency_ns
6. Strategy receives ack (t=254μs)

Engine API

Creating an Engine

use nano_backtest::{BacktestConfig, BacktestEngine};

// Default configuration
let mut engine = BacktestEngine::new(BacktestConfig::default());

// Aggressive HFT preset
let mut engine = BacktestEngine::new(BacktestConfig::aggressive_hft());

// Custom configuration
let config = BacktestConfig {
    initial_capital: 500_000.0,
    latency: LatencyConfig { /* ... */ },
    // ... other config
};
let mut engine = BacktestEngine::new(config);

Registering Instruments

From engine.rs:94-99:

use nano_core::types::Instrument;

// Register E-mini S&P 500 futures
let es = Instrument::es_future(1, "ESH24");
engine.register_instrument(es);

// Register multiple instruments
let instruments = vec![
    Instrument::es_future(1, "ESH24"),
    Instrument::nq_future(2, "NQH24"),
];

for instrument in instruments {
    engine.register_instrument(instrument);
}

Scheduling Events

From engine.rs:113-115:

use nano_core::types::Timestamp;
use nano_backtest::events::EventType;

// Schedule market data event
let timestamp = Timestamp::from_nanos(1_000_000_000);
engine.schedule_event(timestamp, EventType::MarketData {
    instrument_id: 1,
});

// Using EventQueue methods
engine.event_queue.schedule_market_data(timestamp, instrument_id);
engine.event_queue.schedule_timer(timestamp, timer_id, None);

Running the Backtest

From engine.rs:260-276:

// Run complete backtest
engine.run(&mut strategy);

// Run with progress tracking
let total_events = engine.pending_events();
while engine.state() == EngineState::Running {
    let processed = engine.run_n(&mut strategy, 1000);
    let progress = engine.events_processed() as f64 / total_events as f64;
    println!("Progress: {:.1}%", progress * 100.0);
}

// Run until specific time
while let Some(event) = engine.event_queue.peek() {
    if event.timestamp > cutoff_time {
        break;
    }
    engine.run_n(&mut strategy, 1);
}

Loading Market Data

From Binary MDP3 Feed

use nano_feed::mdp3::MdpDecoder;
use std::fs::File;
use std::io::BufReader;

fn load_market_data(engine: &mut BacktestEngine, path: &str) -> Result<()> {
    let file = File::open(path)?;
    let mut reader = BufReader::new(file);
    let mut decoder = MdpDecoder::new();
    
    let mut sequence = 0u64;
    
    while let Some(message) = decoder.decode(&mut reader)? {
        match message {
            MdpMessage::BookUpdate(update) => {
                let timestamp = Timestamp::from_nanos(update.transact_time);
                engine.schedule_event(
                    timestamp,
                    EventType::MarketData {
                        instrument_id: update.security_id,
                    },
                );
                
                // Update the order book
                if let Some(book) = engine.get_book_mut(update.security_id) {
                    book.apply_book_update(&update);
                }
            }
            _ => {}
        }
        sequence += 1;
    }
    
    // Schedule end of data
    engine.schedule_event(Timestamp::now(), EventType::EndOfData);
    
    Ok(())
}

From CSV Data

use csv::Reader;
use nano_core::types::{Price, Quantity, Timestamp};

fn load_csv_data(engine: &mut BacktestEngine, path: &str) -> Result<()> {
    let mut reader = Reader::from_path(path)?;
    
    for result in reader.deserialize() {
        let record: TickRecord = result?;
        
        // Create synthetic book update
        let timestamp = Timestamp::from_nanos(record.timestamp_ns);
        
        engine.schedule_event(
            timestamp,
            EventType::MarketData {
                instrument_id: record.instrument_id,
            },
        );
        
        // Update book with bid/ask
        if let Some(book) = engine.get_book_mut(record.instrument_id) {
            update_book_from_tick(book, &record);
        }
    }
    
    Ok(())
}

#[derive(Deserialize)]
struct TickRecord {
    timestamp_ns: i64,
    instrument_id: u32,
    bid_price: f64,
    bid_size: u32,
    ask_price: f64,
    ask_size: u32,
}

Strategy Integration

Your strategy must implement the Strategy trait:

use nano_core::traits::Strategy;
use nano_core::types::{Order, Fill, OrderId};
use nano_lob::OrderBook;

struct MyStrategy {
    position: i64,
    // ... strategy state
}

impl Strategy for MyStrategy {
    fn on_market_data(&mut self, book: &OrderBook) -> Vec<Order> {
        // Analyze market data
        let (bid, _) = book.best_bid()?;
        let (ask, _) = book.best_ask()?;
        let spread = ask.raw() - bid.raw();
        
        // Generate orders
        if spread > self.min_spread {
            vec![
                self.create_bid_order(book),
                self.create_ask_order(book),
            ]
        } else {
            vec![]
        }
    }
    
    fn on_fill(&mut self, fill: &Fill) {
        // Update position
        match fill.side {
            Side::Buy => self.position += fill.quantity.value() as i64,
            Side::Sell => self.position -= fill.quantity.value() as i64,
        }
        
        // Update P&L
        self.realized_pnl += self.calculate_fill_pnl(fill);
    }
    
    fn on_order_ack(&mut self, order_id: OrderId) {
        // Order confirmed by exchange
        self.active_orders.insert(order_id);
    }
    
    fn on_order_reject(&mut self, order_id: OrderId, reason: &str) {
        // Handle rejection
        tracing::warn!("Order {} rejected: {}", order_id, reason);
    }
    
    fn position(&self) -> i64 {
        self.position
    }
}

Accessing Results

From engine.rs:319-348:

// Get basic metrics
let metrics = engine.metrics();
println!("Total P&L: ${:.2}", metrics.total_pnl);
println!("Win Rate: {:.1}%", metrics.win_rate() * 100.0);
println!("Profit Factor: {:.2}", metrics.profit_factor());
println!("Max Drawdown: {:.2}%", metrics.max_drawdown_pct * 100.0);

// Get detailed statistics
let stats = engine.stats();
println!("Sharpe Ratio: {:.2}", stats.sharpe_ratio);
println!("Sortino Ratio: {:.2}", stats.sortino_ratio);
println!("Calmar Ratio: {:.2}", stats.calmar_ratio);

// Get position tracking
let positions = engine.positions();
println!("Realized P&L: ${:.2}", positions.realized_pnl());
println!("Unrealized P&L: ${:.2}", positions.unrealized_pnl(&current_prices));

// Get risk metrics
let risk = engine.risk();
println!("Max Position Reached: {}", risk.max_position_reached());
println!("Risk Breaches: {}", risk.breach_count());

// Engine state
let state = engine.state();
let events_processed = engine.events_processed();
let pending = engine.pending_events();
let current_time = engine.current_time();

Engine State Management

From engine.rs:18-30:

pub enum EngineState {
    Ready,      // Ready to run
    Running,    // Currently processing events
    Paused,     // Temporarily paused
    Completed,  // Successfully completed
    Stopped,    // Stopped due to error or risk breach
}

// Check state
match engine.state() {
    EngineState::Ready => println!("Engine ready"),
    EngineState::Running => println!("Processing..."),
    EngineState::Completed => println!("Backtest complete"),
    EngineState::Stopped => println!("Stopped: {}", engine.stop_reason()),
    _ => {}
}

Resetting the Engine

From engine.rs:368-385:

// Reset for new backtest run
engine.reset();

// Engine state is cleared:
// - Event queue emptied
// - Positions reset
// - Metrics cleared
// - Order books cleared
// - State set to Ready

// Re-register instruments
engine.register_instrument(instrument);

// Load new data
load_market_data(&mut engine, "data/new_data.bin");

// Run again
engine.run(&mut strategy);

Performance Optimization

Event Capacity Pre-allocation

// Pre-allocate event queue for better performance
let expected_events = 1_000_000;
let mut queue = EventQueue::with_capacity(expected_events);

Batch Event Processing

// Process events in batches
let batch_size = 10_000;
loop {
    let processed = engine.run_n(&mut strategy, batch_size);
    if processed < batch_size {
        break;  // No more events
    }
    
    // Optional: checkpoint state
    if engine.events_processed() % 100_000 == 0 {
        save_checkpoint(&engine);
    }
}

Disable Expensive Recording

let config = BacktestConfig {
    output: OutputConfig {
        record_tick_pnl: false,  // Major performance impact
        record_fills: true,
        record_orders: false,    // Disable if not needed
        snapshot_interval: 50000, // Reduce snapshot frequency
        verbosity: 0,            // Minimal logging
    },
    ..Default::default()
};

Complete Example

use nano_backtest::prelude::*;
use nano_core::traits::Strategy;
use nano_core::types::Instrument;

fn main() -> Result<()> {
    // Configure backtest
    let config = BacktestConfig::aggressive_hft();
    let mut engine = BacktestEngine::new(config);
    
    // Setup
    let instrument = Instrument::es_future(1, "ESH24");
    engine.register_instrument(instrument);
    
    // Load market data
    load_market_data(&mut engine, "data/es_20240115.bin")?;
    
    println!("Starting backtest with {} events", engine.pending_events());
    
    // Run backtest
    let mut strategy = MyMarketMakingStrategy::new();
    engine.run(&mut strategy);
    
    // Print results
    let metrics = engine.metrics();
    let stats = engine.stats();
    
    println!("\n=== Backtest Results ===");
    println!("Total P&L: ${:.2}", metrics.total_pnl);
    println!("Sharpe Ratio: {:.2}", stats.sharpe_ratio);
    println!("Win Rate: {:.1}%", metrics.win_rate() * 100.0);
    println!("Max Drawdown: {:.2}%", metrics.max_drawdown_pct * 100.0);
    println!("Total Trades: {}", metrics.num_trades);
    println!("Maker Ratio: {:.1}%", metrics.maker_ratio() * 100.0);
    
    Ok(())
}

Related

• Backtest Configuration - Configure latency, fees, and risk
• Performance Metrics - Detailed metrics explanation
• Strategy Development - Building trading strategies