backtesting-py-oracle

---
name: backtesting-py-oracle
description: backtesting.py configuration for SQL oracle validation and range bar pattern backtesting. Use when running backtesting.py against.
license: MIT
---

# backtesting.py Oracle Validation for Range Bar Patterns

Configuration and anti-patterns for using backtesting.py to validate ClickHouse SQL sweep results. Ensures bit-atomic replicability between SQL and Python trade evaluation.

**Companion skills**: `clickhouse-antipatterns` (SQL correctness, AP-16) | `sweep-methodology` (sweep design) | `rangebar-eval-metrics` (evaluation metrics)

**Validated**: Gen600 oracle verification (2026-02-12) — 3 assets, 5 gates, ALL PASS.

---

> **Self-Evolving Skill**: This skill improves through use. If instructions are wrong, parameters drifted, or a workaround was needed — fix this file immediately, don't defer. Only update for real, reproducible issues.

## Critical Configuration (NEVER omit)

```python
from backtesting import Backtest

bt = Backtest(
    df,
    Strategy,
    cash=100_000,
    commission=0,
    hedging=True,           # REQUIRED: Multiple concurrent positions
    exclusive_orders=False,  # REQUIRED: Don't auto-close on new signal
)
```

**Why**: SQL evaluates each signal independently (overlapping trades allowed). Without `hedging=True`, backtesting.py skips signals while a position is open, producing fewer trades than SQL. This was discovered when SOLUSDT produced 105 Python trades vs 121 SQL trades — 16 signals were silently skipped.

---

## Anti-Patterns (Ordered by Severity)

### BP-01: Missing Multi-Position Mode (CRITICAL)

**Symptom**: Python produces fewer trades than SQL. Gate 1 (signal count) fails.

**Root Cause**: Default `exclusive_orders=True` prevents opening new positions while one is active.

**Fix**: Always use `hedging=True, exclusive_orders=False`.

### BP-02: ExitTime Sort Order (CRITICAL)

**Symptom**: Entry prices appear mismatched (Gate 3 fails) even though both SQL and Python use the same price source.

**Root Cause**: `stats._trades` is sorted by ExitTime, not EntryTime. When overlapping trades exit in a different order than they entered, trade[i] no longer maps to signal[i].

**Fix**:

```python
trades = stats._trades.sort_values("EntryTime").reset_index(drop=True)
```

### BP-03: NaN Poisoning in Rolling Quantile (CRITICAL)

**Symptom**: Cross-asset tests fail with far fewer Python trades. Feature quantile becomes NaN and propagates forward indefinitely.

**Root Cause**: `np.percentile` with NaN inputs returns NaN. If even one NaN feature value enters the rolling window, all subsequent quantiles become NaN, making all subsequent filter comparisons fail.

**Fix**: Skip NaN values when building the signal window:

```python
def _rolling_quantile_on_signals(feature_arr, is_signal_arr, quantile_pct, window=1000):
    result = np.full(len(feature_arr), np.nan)
    signal_values = []
    for i in range(len(feature_arr)):
        if is_signal_arr[i]:
            if len(signal_values) > 0:
                window_data = signal_values[-window:]
                result[i] = np.percentile(window_data, quantile_pct * 100)
            # Only append non-NaN values (matches SQL quantileExactExclusive NULL handling)
            if not np.isnan(feature_arr[i]):
                signal_values.append(feature_arr[i])
    return result
```

### BP-04: Data Range Mismatch (MODERATE)

**Symptom**: Different signal counts between SQL and Python for assets with early data (BNB, XRP).

**Root Cause**: `load_range_bars()` defaults to `start='2020-01-01'` but SQL has no lower bound.

**Fix**: Always pass `start='2017-01-01'` to cover all available data.

### BP-05: Margin Exhaustion with Overlapping Positions (MODERATE)

**Symptom**: Orders canceled with insufficient margin. Fewer trades than expected.

**Root Cause**: With `hedging=True` and default full-equity sizing, overlapping positions exhaust available margin.

**Fix**: Use fixed fractional sizing:

```python
self.buy(size=0.01)  # 1% equity per trade
```

### BP-06: Signal Timestamp vs Entry Timestamp (LOW)

**Symptom**: Gate 2 (timestamp match) fails because SQL uses signal bar timestamps while Python uses entry bar timestamps.

**Root Cause**: SQL outputs the signal detection bar's `timestamp_ms`. Python's `EntryTime` is the fill bar (next bar after signal). These differ by 1 bar.

**Fix**: Record signal bar timestamps in the strategy's `next()` method:

```python
# Before calling self.buy()
self._signal_timestamps.append(int(self.data.index[-1].timestamp() * 1000))
```

---

## 5-Gate Oracle Validation Framework

| Gate | Metric          | Threshold | What it catches                      |
| ---- | --------------- | --------- | ------------------------------------ |
| 1    | Signal Count    | <5% diff  | Missing signals, filter misalignment |
| 2    | Timestamp Match | >95%      | Timing offset, warmup differences    |
| 3    | Entry Price     | >95%      | Price source mismatch, sort ordering |
| 4    | Exit Type       | >90%      | Barrier logic differences            |
| 5    | Kelly Fraction  | <0.02     | Aggregate outcome alignment          |

**Expected residual**: 1-2 exit type mismatches per asset at TIME barrier boundary (bar 50). SQL uses `fwd_closes[max_bars]`, backtesting.py closes at current bar price. Impact on Kelly < 0.006.

---

## Strategy Architecture: Single vs Multi-Position

| Mode            | Constructor                            | Use Case              | Position Sizing                |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| Single-position | `hedging=False` (default)              | Champion 1-bar hold   | Full equity                    |
| Multi-position  | `hedging=True, exclusive_orders=False` | SQL oracle validation | Fixed fractional (`size=0.01`) |

### Multi-Position Strategy Template

```python
class Gen600Strategy(Strategy):
    def next(self):
        current_bar = len(self.data) - 1

        # 1. Register newly filled trades and set barriers
        for trade in self.trades:
            tid = id(trade)
            if tid not in self._known_trades:
                self._known_trades.add(tid)
                self._trade_entry_bar[tid] = current_bar
                actual_entry = trade.entry_price
                if self.tp_mult > 0:
                    trade.tp = actual_entry * (1.0 + self.tp_mult * self.threshold_pct)
                if self.sl_mult > 0:
                    trade.sl = actual_entry * (1.0 - self.sl_mult * self.threshold_pct)

        # 2. Check time barrier for each open trade
        for trade in list(self.trades):
            tid = id(trade)
            entry_bar = self._trade_entry_bar.get(tid, current_bar)
            if self.max_bars > 0 and (current_bar - entry_bar) >= self.max_bars:
                trade.close()
                self._trade_entry_bar.pop(tid, None)

        # 3. Check for new signal (no position guard — overlapping allowed)
        if self._is_signal[current_bar]:
            self.buy(size=0.01)
```

---

## Data Loading

```python
from data_loader import load_range_bars

df = load_range_bars(
    symbol="SOLUSDT",
    threshold=1000,
    start="2017-01-01",      # Cover all available data
    end="2025-02-05",        # Match SQL cutoff
    extra_columns=["volume_per_trade", "lookback_price_range"],  # Gen600 features
)
```

---

## HTML Equity Plot: Y-Axis Auto-Fit on Zoom (BP-07 to BP-10)

backtesting.py generates Bokeh HTML plots via `bt.plot()`. By default, the y-axis is fixed — zooming on the x-axis does NOT rescale the y-axis to fit visible data. This makes it impossible to inspect zoomed-in regions of equity curves that span 4+ orders of magnitude.

**Reference implementation**: `scripts/gen800/plotting.py` in opendeviationbar-patterns.

### BP-07: NEVER Use LogScale for Equity (CRITICAL)

**Symptom**: Equity panel y-axis doesn't auto-fit on zoom. JS callbacks fail silently.

**Root Cause**: Bokeh's `LogScale` breaks `CustomJS` y-range callbacks in multi-panel linked x_range layouts. The `js_on_change` callback fires but `y_range.start`/`y_range.end` assignments are ignored by the LogScale renderer.

**Proven via POC**: LogScale + JS callback works in single-panel mode but fails when 5 panels share a linked x_range.

**Fix**: Transform equity data to `log10()` in Python, display on **linear** scale with a `CustomJSTickFormatter` that shows `10^tick` as readable values:

```python
import numpy as np
from bokeh.models import CustomJSTickFormatter, Range1d

# Transform data
raw = np.asarray(src.data["equity"], dtype=float)
raw = np.where(raw > 0, raw, 1e-10)
src.data["equity"] = np.log10(raw).tolist()

# Custom tick formatter (shows 1%, 100%, 10K%, 1M%)
child.yaxis[0].formatter = CustomJSTickFormatter(code="""
    const v = Math.pow(10, tick);
    if (v >= 1e6) return (v/1e6).toFixed(1) + 'M%';
    if (v >= 1e3) return (v/1e3).toFixed(0) + 'K%';
    if (v >= 1) return v.toFixed(0) + '%';
    return v.toFixed(2) + '%';
""")

# MUST set initial y_range explicitly (backtesting.py leaves it as NaN)
valid = eq[np.isfinite(eq)]
pad = (valid.max() - valid.min()) * 0.05
child.y_range = Range1d(start=valid.min() - pad, end=valid.max() + pad)
```

### BP-08: Panel-Aware Column Matching (CRITICAL)

**Symptom**: Drawdown/P&L panels go blank when zooming. Shows millions of percent.

**Root Cause**: Multiple panels share the same `ColumnDataSource` (backtesting.py optimization). The Equity panel's Line renderer and the Drawdown panel's Line renderer both reference a source containing `equity`, `drawdown`, `High`, `Low`, etc. A naive "find first y column" approach picks `equity` for the Drawdown panel.

**Fix**: Match by `panel_label` FIRST, then by column name:

```python
panel_label = child.yaxis[0].axis_label or ""

# Label-first matching (panels share data sources!)
if "Drawdown" in panel_label and "drawdown" in d:
    hi_col = lo_col = "drawdown"
elif "Equity" in panel_label and "equity" in d:
    hi_col = lo_col = "equity"
elif "High" in d and "Low" in d:  # OHLC
    hi_col, lo_col = "High", "Low"
```

### BP-09: JS Callback Pattern for Y-Axis Auto-Fit (PROVEN)

Attach a `CustomJS` callback to `x_range.js_on_change` for each panel. The callback scans visible data and sets `y_range` directly:

```python
from bokeh.models import CustomJS

cb = CustomJS(
    args={"source": src, "yr": child.y_range,
          "x_col": "index", "y_col": "equity"},
    code="""
    const xs = source.data[x_col];
    const ys = source.data[y_col];
    const x0 = cb_obj.start, x1 = cb_obj.end;
    let lo = Infinity, hi = -Infinity;
    for (let i = 0; i < xs.length; i++) {
        if (xs[i] >= x0 && xs[i] <= x1 && isFinite(ys[i])) {
            if (ys[i] < lo) lo = ys[i];
            if (ys[i] > hi) hi = ys[i];
        }
    }
    if (isFinite(lo) && isFinite(hi) && lo < hi) {
        const pad = (hi - lo) * 0.05 || 0.001;
        yr.start = lo - pad;
        yr.end = hi + pad;
    }
    """,
)
child.x_range.js_on_change("start", cb)
child.x_range.js_on_change("end", cb)
```

### BP-10: DataRange1d(only_visible=True) Is Unreliable

**Symptom**: `DataRange1d(only_visible=True)` works for simple cases but fails with:

- LogScale panels (y-range computed in wrong space)
- VBar renderers (candlesticks — bounds not tracked correctly)
- Shared data sources across panels

**Fix**: Always use the JS callback pattern (BP-09) instead of `DataRange1d(only_visible=True)`.

### Panel Data Source Reference (backtesting.py internals)

| Panel    | Label             | Renderer                             | Y Column         | Source                |
| -------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------ | ---------------- | --------------------- |
| Equity   | `"Equity"`        | Patch (`equity_dd`), Line (`equity`) | `equity`         | Shared OHLC source    |
| Drawdown | `"Drawdown"`      | Line (`drawdown`), Scatter (peak)    | `drawdown`       | Shared OHLC source    |
| P/L      | `"Profit / Loss"` | Scatter (`returns`), MultiLine       | `y` or `returns` | Separate trade source |
| OHLC     | `""` (no label)   | Segment, VBar                        | `High`/`Low`     | Shared OHLC source    |
| Volume   | `"Volume"`        | VBar                                 | `Volume` (top)   | Shared OHLC source    |

---

## Project Artifacts (rangebar-patterns repo)

| Artifact                    | Path                                              |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| Oracle comparison script    | `scripts/gen600_oracle_compare.py`                |
| Gen600 strategy (reference) | `backtest/backtesting_py/gen600_strategy.py`      |
| SQL oracle query template   | `sql/gen600_oracle_trades.sql`                    |
| Oracle validation findings  | `findings/2026-02-12-gen600-oracle-validation.md` |
| Backtest CLAUDE.md          | `backtest/CLAUDE.md`                              |
| ClickHouse AP-16            | `.claude/skills/clickhouse-antipatterns/SKILL.md` |
| Fork source                 | `~/fork-tools/backtesting.py/`                    |

## Post-Execution Reflection

After this skill completes, check before closing:

1. **Did the command succeed?** — If not, fix the instruction or error table that caused the failure.
2. **Did parameters or output change?** — If the underlying tool's interface drifted, update Usage examples and Parameters table to match.
3. **Was a workaround needed?** — If you had to improvise (different flags, extra steps), update this SKILL.md so the next invocation doesn't need the same workaround.

Only update if the issue is real and reproducible — not speculative.