Pine Script migration: MT4, MT5, Indie, Lipi and cTrader compatibility
Official sources reviewed ·
Pine Script to MQL5, MQL4, Indie or Lipi is a software port. First decide whether the original is a plotted indicator, an alert, or a strategy with simulated orders. A target that supports indicators may not provide the same strategy engine or live execution.
Languages are part of the migration
Scroll the table sideways to read every column →
| Target | Language | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 | MQL4 | Reimplement and compare behavior in the target runtime. |
| MetaTrader 5 | MQL5 | Reimplement and compare behavior in the target runtime. |
| TakeProfit | Indie (Python-based) | Pine code needs conversion and validation. |
| GoCharting | Lipi | Current Lipi documentation describes indicators, not strategy or order-placement constructs. |
| cTrader | C# / Python | Current official documentation supports both C# and Python. |
| NinjaTrader | Desktop: NinjaScript (C#); web indicators: JavaScript | Reimplement and compare behavior in the target runtime. |
| Sierra Chart | ACSIL (C++) | Reimplement and compare behavior in the target runtime. |
| MotiveWave | Java SDK | Reimplement and compare behavior in the target runtime. |
| MultiCharts | PowerLanguage; .NET edition: C# / VB.NET | Reimplement and compare behavior in the target runtime. |
| ProRealTime | ProBuilder | Reimplement and compare behavior in the target runtime. |
Preserve the reference
Keep the original source, language version, license, attribution and a reference output. Check whether modification and redistribution are permitted before sharing a port.
Match data and time
Use the same instrument, timeframe, session, timezone, adjustment policy and warm-up period. Broker symbols and histories may differ; a matching indicator name does not prove matching inputs.
Translate calculation behavior
Check series indexing, missing values, persistent state, multi-timeframe requests and bar updates. Separate confirmed-bar output from changes during the current bar. Compare plots on a small shared sample before adding orders.
Test orders independently
Strategy simulation, alerts and live orders are separate systems. Define lot units, tick size, stop distances, costs, fills and order lifecycle in the target. Validate in an isolated test or demo workflow before considering live use.
Can an AI converter guarantee an identical strategy?
No. A generated translation is a draft. Compare numerical outputs, alert timing and order histories against the reference. BSV does not provide a guaranteed automatic converter, and its reference catalogue does not claim completed compilation or runtime testing.
Inspect a Pine example and a MetaTrader tool
Browse the public catalogue and provenance. Free source view, copy and download require verified email registration. No native Indie, Lipi, cTrader or NinjaTrader source collection is claimed here.
Primary documentation
MetaTrader 4 · Official documentation
MetaTrader 5 · Official documentation
TakeProfit · Official documentation 1 · Official documentation 2
GoCharting · Official documentation 1 · Official documentation 2
cTrader · Official documentation
NinjaTrader · Official documentation 1 · Official documentation 2
Sierra Chart · Official documentation 1 · Official documentation 2
MotiveWave · Official documentation 1 · Official documentation 2
MultiCharts · Official documentation 1 · Official documentation 2 · Official documentation 3
ProRealTime · Official documentation 1 · Official documentation 2
The comparison describes current documented language support. The porting checklist is BSV’s editorial engineering guidance, not a certification by the platform providers.
thinkorswim uses thinkScript
Schwab documents thinkScript for custom studies, strategies and watchlist columns. It is a separate language/runtime; a Pine port needs implementation and comparison in the target environment. BSV does not claim a native thinkScript collection.
Schwab · thinkScriptPine reference
TradingView · Execution model · TradingView · Migration guides