Version control for EAs: a simple setup

[FXS London Scalper]

EA code changes over time, and without version control it's hard to know which version made which trades. A simple setup helps.

Basics:

• A git repository for the MQL5 folder, or at least the Experts and Include folders.
• Commit every change with a short message.
• Tag versions deployed to live, for example v1.4-live.

Linking versions to trades:

• Put the version number in the EA's input parameters or in a constant, and write it into the trade comment or log.
• Keep a short changelog: what changed and why.

Why it matters: if results change, you can see whether the code changed at the same time. Without that link, it's easy to blame the market for a bug.

Practical tip: don't commit compiled ex5 files unless needed, and never commit account passwords or API keys in input files.

A private repository is enough; nothing about version control requires sharing code publicly.

How do you keep track of EA versions?