Trading Platform Plugin

Definition: A trading platform plugin (also called an Expert Advisor in MetaTrader, an NinjaScript add-on in NinjaTrader, or a cBot in cTrader) is a program that runs inside your trading software and automates actions on your account. Plugins can execute trades automatically, manage open positions, or enforce risk rules — depending on their purpose.

Trading Plugins vs. Risk Management Plugins

Trading plugins: Open and close trades automatically based on strategy logic. The goal is to generate profit through automation.

Risk management plugins: Monitor the account and enforce rules. They do not open trades for profit. Their goal is to prevent rule violations and protect the account from avoidable losses.

TradeBrake is a risk management plugin. It never opens trades on its own. It only enforces the rules configured by the trader or their prop firm.

How a Risk Management Plugin Works

The plugin runs on a chart or in the background whenever the trading platform is open. On every price update and on a timer, it reads the account state: balance, equity, open positions, floating P&L. It compares this state against the configured rules. If a rule is about to be violated, it either blocks the pending order or closes the violating position.

Why This Matters for Prop Traders

Trading platforms have no native prop firm rule enforcement. The platform will execute any order regardless of your firm's limits. A risk management plugin is the only way to automate compliance with prop firm rules inside your trading software.

Platform Support

TradeBrake currently supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5). NinjaTrader, cTrader, and TradingView support are in development.

Related Terms

• Prop Firm Challenge
• Daily Loss Limit
• Max Drawdown