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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 client handles OAuth. The whole setup is one URL, one consent screen, and one read-only prompt.

Direct answer​

  1. Subscribe to CrossTrade Elite and install the CrossTrade Add-On in NT8.
  2. Add https://app.crosstrade.io/v1/api/mcp as an MCP server in your AI client.
  3. Approve the consent screen with mcp:read scope.
  4. Run your first prompt.

No code. No local server. No scripts.

Prerequisites​

RequirementDetail
CrossTrade subscriptionElite
CrossTrade Add-Onv1.13.0 or higher
NinjaTrader 8Running
AI clientAn app that supports remote MCP (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT with remote MCP)

Step 1: Pick an AI client​

The shortest path for a non-coder is Claude Desktop. Claude Desktop is a chat app that supports MCP natively.

Other options:

  • ChatGPT (if your plan supports remote MCP connectors)
  • Cursor (if you already use it as a code editor)
  • Claude Code (CLI, more developer-oriented)

For a non-developer, start with Claude Desktop or ChatGPT.

Step 2: Add the CrossTrade MCP server​

In Claude Desktop:

  1. Open Settings → Developer → Edit Config.
  2. Add this JSON (merging with any existing entries):
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crosstrade": {
      "url": "https://app.crosstrade.io/v1/api/mcp"
    }
  }
}
  1. Save and restart Claude Desktop.

That is the only "code" you will touch.

For ChatGPT, Cursor, or other clients, see the client-specific tutorials.

On your next message in Claude Desktop, a browser tab opens to the CrossTrade consent screen. Approve mcp:read. Click Allow.

The browser closes. Claude Desktop now has read-only access to your CrossTrade account.

Step 4: Run your first prompt​

Paste this into Claude:

Use read-only tools only. Confirm that CrossTrade MCP is connected, confirm
whether NinjaTrader 8 is connected through the CrossTrade add-on, list my
available accounts, and summarize any open positions or working orders. Do
not place, cancel, modify, flatten, deploy, or write anything.

Claude responds with a one-page brief.

Step 5: Move to a real workflow​

Pick a workflow that pays off without write permission:

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.