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How to Connect AI to NinjaTrader 8 Without Writing Code

You do not need to be a developer to connect an AI agent to NinjaTrader 8. CrossTrade hosts the MCP server. Your AI host handles OAuth in the browser. The setup is one URL, one consent screen, one read-only prompt.

The shape of the setup is the same everywhere​

  1. Subscribe to CrossTrade Elite and install the CrossTrade Add-On in NT8.
  2. Pick an AI host (a chat app, IDE, CLI, or terminal that supports MCP).
  3. Register the CrossTrade MCP server: https://app.crosstrade.io/v1/api/mcp.
  4. Approve OAuth with mcp:read scope on the first call.
  5. Run your first prompt.

The URL, the OAuth flow, and the read-only first prompt never change. Only the host-specific config step is different per app. Pick a host that fits how you work, then follow its setup page.

Pick a host by how you work​

Chat / browser-based (easiest)​

HostSetup page
Claude.ai (web Connectors)Connect Claude.ai web
Claude Desktop (Mac, Windows)Connect Claude Desktop
ChatGPT (web Connectors)Connect ChatGPT (web)
ChatGPT Desktop appConnect ChatGPT Desktop
Cherry StudioConnect Cherry Studio
MstyConnect Msty
5ireConnect 5ire

IDEs (NinjaScript work)​

HostSetup page
CursorConnect Cursor
WindsurfConnect Windsurf
ZedConnect Zed
VS Code (GitHub Copilot)Connect GitHub Copilot
VS Code (Cline)Connect Cline
VS Code (Continue)Connect Continue
VS Code (Roo Code)Connect Roo Code
JetBrains (AI Assistant / Junie)Connect JetBrains AI
Sourcegraph CodyConnect Cody
Sourcegraph AmpConnect Amp

CLI / terminal​

HostSetup page
Claude CodeConnect Claude Code
OpenAI Codex CLIConnect Codex
Gemini CLIConnect Gemini CLI
OpenCode (sst/opencode)Connect OpenCode
AiderConnect Aider
Goose (Block)Connect Goose
Crush (Charm)Connect Crush
Warp Agent ModeConnect Warp

Self-hosted / multi-user​

HostSetup page
Open WebUI (Ollama frontend)Connect Open WebUI
LibreChatConnect LibreChat
AnythingLLMConnect AnythingLLM
Hermes (Nous Research)Connect Hermes
OpenClawConnect OpenClaw

Workflow automation​

HostSetup page
n8nConnect n8n

Start with Claude.ai web (Connect Claude.ai web). Zero install, browser-based, supported by Anthropic's Connectors feature. The setup is three clicks.

If you want a native app instead, Claude Desktop (Connect Claude Desktop) is the second-easiest path.

What about the model?​

Most of these hosts let you pick which LLM does the reasoning (Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen, Llama, etc.). The MCP setup is the same across them; only the model's strengths differ. See Pick an LLM for trading for a model-by-model breakdown.

What about NinjaScript?​

The agent can help write NinjaScript without you knowing C#. That workflow needs mcp:trade (compile is a write tool). See Vibe Code a NinjaScript Strategy. The agent does the writing; you provide the spec and approve the file write.

What about placing trades?​

Placing trades through the agent requires mcp:trade. Read Use mcp:read vs mcp:trade and Trade-Enabled AI Agent Workflows before granting that scope.