What happened to my bots on May 13th?

Schwab shut down the TD Ameritrade API without warning. All bots started throwing `HTTP 401: Unauthorized - API access has been terminated` errors. No migration guide, no advance notice, just dead code everywhere.

Can I sue Schwab for this?

No. Corporate mergers routinely kill services. TD's terms of service covered their liability. Your time is better spent migrating to a broker that doesn't hate developers.

I have dozens of bots using tda-api - what now?

You're completely screwed. The `tda-api` Python library (last version 1.4.0 from March 2024) is completely useless now - every call returns `requests.exceptions.HTTPError: 401 Client Error: Unauthorized`. You need to rewrite everything for Interactive Brokers (`ibapi`), Alpaca (`alpaca-trade-api`), or deal with Schwab's weekly-auth nightmare. Could be 6 weeks to 4 months depending on how much custom code you built. I had a dozen strategies and it took me 3.5 months working evenings and weekends - and that was with IB's documentation making me want to throw my laptop out the window.

Does the Schwab API actually work or is it marketing bullshit?

It technically works, but the 7-day token expiration makes it worthless for real automation. Your bots die every week unless you manually refresh tokens. That's not automation, that's a weekly chore.

What's the fastest way to migrate to Interactive Brokers?

Open an IB account, fund it with $10,000+ (they're picky about account minimums), download TWS or IB Gateway, and start rewriting your code. Their Python API library is `ibapi` version 9.81+. Expect different order types ("combo orders" instead of "spreads"), different data formats (contract objects instead of simple symbols), and documentation that reads like it was translated from German by a drunk intern. But it actually works long-term - my bots have been running 6+ months without manual intervention. Just prepare for `EClientException: INVALID_ORDER_TYPE` errors until you figure out their weird order syntax.

Can I still run my momentum strategies on thinkorswim?

Only through thinkScript conditional orders, which is like performing surgery with a butter knife. You can set basic "if price breaks X, buy Y shares" logic, but forget about complex multi-leg strategies or real-time data analysis.

Will Schwab fix the weekly authentication requirement?

They've said they're "working on improvements" but provided zero timeline. Corporate speak for "maybe never." Don't hold your breath - they clearly prioritize institutional clients over retail developers.

Is Alpaca a decent alternative for simple strategies?

Yeah, if you only trade stocks and ETFs. Their API is clean, well-documented, and actually designed for developers. But options support is limited, and you're stuck with US markets only. Good for buy-and-hold or momentum strategies. Haven't tried their newer features though.

Can I use TradingView alerts to replace my API bots?

Sort of. TradingView can send webhook alerts to TradersPost, which executes trades on various brokers. But you're adding latency and another service that can break. Fine for swing trading, terrible for scalping or high-frequency strategies. No idea what their uptime is like.

Does thinkScript suck as much as people say?

It's not terrible for basic indicator math, but you're trapped in thinkorswim's ecosystem. No external data, no portfolio management across brokers, no real automation. Think of it as Excel macros for trading - useful for simple stuff, frustrating for anything complex.

How long does migration take?

Depends on how much custom code you built. Simple DCA bots? Maybe 2-3 weeks if you're lucky. Complex options strategies with multiple data sources? Could be 3-4 months easily if you want it done right. I spent 14 weeks moving six years of infrastructure from TD to Interactive Brokers - IB's options order format is completely different (they use `Contract` objects instead of simple "SPY_121524C500" strings) and their error messages are useless (`Error 161: Invalid order` tells you absolutely nothing about what's wrong). The worst part is rewriting position management - IB tracks everything by internal contract IDs that change randomly.

What are good alternatives to tda-api?

For Interactive Brokers: Their official `ibapi` Python library. For Alpaca: Their `alpaca-trade-api` is solid. For Tradier: They have decent REST API with community wrappers. Nothing matches how easy `tda-api` was, but these work.

Should I keep some money at Schwab for manual trading?

If you like thinkorswim's interface, sure. The platform itself is still good for manual trading, chart analysis, and options visualization. Just don't expect to automate anything meaningful. Think of it as your manual trading account while your bots run elsewhere.

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TD Ameritrade API Shutdown: Technical Intelligence Summary

Critical Event Timeline

API Termination: May 13, 2024

Warning Period: None - immediate shutdown without developer notification
Error Response: HTTP 401: Unauthorized - API access has been terminated
Communication Method: Developers discovered shutdown through Reddit posts, not official channels
Last Working Library Version: tda-api 1.4.0 (March 2024)

Technical Failure Modes

Immediate Impact

All automated trading bots ceased functioning simultaneously
Error patterns: ECONNREFUSED, requests.exceptions.HTTPError: 401 Client Error: Unauthorized
Backup endpoints (api.tdameritrade.com/v1/) also terminated
No graceful degradation or migration path provided

Detection Indicators

HTTP 401 responses from all TD API endpoints
Connection refused errors on established OAuth tokens
Previously valid 90-day tokens immediately invalidated

Migration Requirements & Costs

Time Investment Analysis

Strategy Complexity	Migration Duration	Developer Effort
Simple DCA bots	2-3 weeks	Part-time evening work
Multi-asset momentum strategies	3.5 months	Evenings + weekends
Complex options automation	3-4 months	Full rewrite required
Enterprise-level systems	6+ months	Multiple developers

Code Rewrite Requirements

API Endpoints: Complete restructuring (REST patterns differ across brokers)
Authentication: New OAuth flows and token management
Order Types: Broker-specific naming conventions ("combo orders" vs "spreads")
Data Formats: JSON vs XML, different symbol representations
Position Tracking: Contract IDs vs simple symbols

Schwab Replacement API Analysis

Technical Limitations

Authentication Expiration: 7-day token refresh requirement
Automation Killer: Weekly manual intervention required
Missing Features:
- No futures trading via API
- No fractional shares support
- Institutional focus over retail access

Real-World Failure Example

Test Period: October 2024, 2-week momentum strategy
Failure Point: Token expired Friday night during off-grid weekend
Consequence: Missed profitable SPY trades ($575-$584 bounce)
Lost Profit: $900 on 100 shares
Root Cause: Authentication system designed for institutional monitoring, not automation

Performance Issues

Weekly token refresh failures kill strategies during market hours
SSL errors in automated refresh scripts
No reliable way to automate token renewal without manual intervention

Current Platform Status

thinkorswim Capabilities (Still Functional)

Manual Trading: Full functionality preserved
Charting: Professional-grade technical analysis tools
Options Tools: Real-time Greeks, P&L visualization, probability analysis
Paper Trading: $100k virtual account for strategy testing
24/5 Trading: Extended hours on select securities

thinkScript Automation (Limited)

Use Case: Basic conditional orders and custom indicators
Limitations: Trapped in single platform ecosystem
Performance: Adequate for simple "if-then" logic
Debugging: Poor error messages ("Plot error at line 47")

Data Export Degradation

Previous Capability: Full CSV export of positions and Greeks
Current State: Limited export options, corrupted files common
Impact: Portfolio analysis requires manual data entry

Alternative Migration Paths

Interactive Brokers (Recommended for Complex Automation)

Advantages:

No weekly token expiration
Comprehensive API coverage (stocks, options, futures)
6+ month reliability without manual intervention
Supports complex multi-leg strategies

Disadvantages:

1995-era documentation and error handling
$10,000+ account minimum
Steep learning curve (3-4 months typical migration)
Error codes provide minimal diagnostic information

Migration Complexity: High

Order management complete rewrite required
Contract objects vs simple symbols
Position tracking by internal IDs

Alpaca (Recommended for Simple Strategies)

Advantages:

Developer-friendly REST API
Clean documentation
Commission-free stocks and ETFs
Quick integration (2-3 weeks)

Disadvantages:

Limited options support
US markets only
Not suitable for complex multi-asset strategies

Migration Complexity: Low to Medium

Tradier

Advantages:

API-first broker design
Solid options pricing
Developer-focused approach

Migration Complexity: Medium

TradingView + TradersPost

Advantages:

Minimal code rewrite
Webhook-based automation
Multiple broker support

Disadvantages:

Added latency (not suitable for high-frequency trading)
Additional service dependencies
Limited to TradingView's indicator capabilities

Implementation Guidance

Pre-Migration Assessment

Strategy Classification: Determine complexity level and broker requirements
Capital Requirements: Check minimum account balances for target brokers
Feature Dependencies: Identify critical API features (futures, options, fractional shares)
Timeline Planning: Allow 3x estimated migration time for debugging

Migration Strategy

Parallel Development: Build new system while existing bots run on backup capital
Paper Trading Phase: Test all strategies in simulation before live deployment
Gradual Cutover: Migrate strategies one at a time to isolate issues
Monitoring Setup: Implement comprehensive error handling for new API patterns

Critical Warnings

Authentication Traps

Schwab API: 7-day token expiration makes automation unreliable
Manual Intervention: Required weekly regardless of automation sophistication
Weekend Failures: Common when developers are unavailable for token refresh

Documentation Reliability

Interactive Brokers: Error messages provide minimal debugging information
Example: Error code 502 indicates 20+ different failure conditions
Workaround: Community forums more reliable than official documentation

Account Requirements

Interactive Brokers: Strict minimum balance enforcement ($10,000+)
API Access: Some brokers require institutional relationships for full features
Geographic Restrictions: US-only limitations on several alternatives

Hidden Migration Costs

Developer Time: 3-6 months typical for complex systems
Opportunity Cost: Missed trades during migration period
Infrastructure: New monitoring and alerting systems required
Testing: Extended paper trading period to validate strategy performance

Resource Quality Assessment

Reliable Resources

useThinkScript Community: Best source for working thinkScript code
Interactive Brokers API: Official Python library (ibapi 9.81+) despite poor documentation
Alpaca Documentation: Well-maintained and developer-friendly

Deprecated Resources

tda-api Library: Completely non-functional as of May 2024
TD Ameritrade Developer Portal: All documentation obsolete
Legacy Integration Guides: Do not attempt to revive TD API connections

Decision Matrix

Choose Interactive Brokers If:

Complex multi-asset strategies required
Futures trading necessary
Long-term automation reliability prioritized
3-4 month migration timeline acceptable

Choose Alpaca If:

Simple stock/ETF strategies only
Quick migration required (2-3 weeks)
Commission-free trading prioritized
US markets sufficient

Avoid Schwab API If:

Automation reliability is critical
Weekly manual intervention unacceptable
High-frequency or momentum strategies deployed

Keep thinkorswim Only If:

Manual trading preferred
Complex options visualization needed
Paper trading for strategy development
No automation requirements

Useful Links for Further Investigation

Resources That Actually Help (Most Don't)

Link	Description
thinkScript Reference	The only official documentation for thinkScript. Confusing as hell, but it's all you get. Half the examples don't work as written (`plot RSI = RSI(length = 14);` throws syntax errors for no fucking reason), but better than nothing when you're stuck writing custom indicators.
useThinkScript Community	Best community for thinkScript traders. Thousands of custom indicators and strategies. Quality varies wildly - brilliant multi-timeframe momentum strategies mixed with garbage copy-paste code that doesn't compile. If you need working thinkScript code, start here and ignore the shit that clearly wasn't tested.
Interactive Brokers API	Looks like 1998 and feels like debugging assembly code, but actually works for automation. No weekly auth bullshit - tokens last until you revoke them. Documentation sucks (error code `502: Market data connections have exceeded`) means 20 different things, but the API (version 9.81+) is rock solid once you figure out their cryptic error messages. Where I ended up after the TD massacre - took 3 months to migrate but hasn't failed me since.
Alpaca Markets	Clean REST API designed by developers who get it. Commission-free stocks, decent Python library. Limited to US equities and ETFs, but perfect for simple strategies. Handled the 2022 selloff fine.
TradersPost TD Ameritrade Analysis	Honest breakdown of the API shutdown timeline. One of the few articles that doesn't sugarcoat how badly Schwab screwed developers.
tda-api GitHub Repo	RIP. This Python library was perfect for TD's API - 847 stars, thousands of developers used it for six years. Now it's a monument to what we lost when Schwab decided retail developers weren't worth the server costs. Check the issues from May 2024 for migration horror stories and developer rage. Alex Golec built something beautiful and Schwab killed it overnight.

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