> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.askfutures.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# The core loop

> The Describe → Strategy → Backtest → Iterate mental model — and what AskFutures handles for you behind the scenes.

Everything in AskFutures is one repeating loop: **describe an idea, get a
strategy, run a backtest, then iterate.** You stay in the conversation; the data
fetching and the simulation happen invisibly.

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
  D["Describe<br/>your idea"] --> S["Strategy<br/>+ Strategy Flow"]
  S --> B["Backtest<br/>on real data"]
  B --> I["Iterate /<br/>Optimize /<br/>Compare"]
  I -.-> D
```

## The four steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Describe">
    Type your idea in plain English — name a market, an entry condition, and
    (optionally) an exit. *"Buy MES when the 5-period SMA crosses above the
    20-period SMA, and sell when it crosses back below."* That's enough to start.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Strategy">
    AskFutures writes your idea down exactly as entry rules, exit rules, filters,
    and tunable parameters. You see it on the **strategy card**, along with a
    **Strategy Flow** chart that diagrams the logic so you can confirm it matches
    what you meant. You never see or write any code. Learn more in
    [strategies](/concepts/strategies).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Backtest">
    A fixed, deterministic engine replays real historical prices one bar at a
    time, applying your exact rules — net of modeled slippage and commission. You
    get P\&L, win rate, number of trades, drawdown, and an exportable trade
    list. See [backtesting](/concepts/backtesting).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Iterate, optimize, compare">
    Add a filter, change an exit, swap the symbol, or test a different period —
    just say so in chat. Every edit becomes a new saved version you can
    [compare](/guides/version-and-compare) side by side. Or let the
    [optimizer](/concepts/optimization) sweep a parameter to find what worked
    best. Then loop back to step one.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What you do vs. what's invisible

The loop only asks you to think in trading terms. The plumbing is handled.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="You do this" icon="comments">
    Describe the idea, read the strategy card and Strategy Flow, run the
    backtest, judge the results, and ask for changes.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AskFutures does this — invisibly" icon="wand-magic-sparkles">
    Resolves your symbol, fetches the right market data, builds the structured
    rules, runs the simulator, and saves each version — none of which you need
    to manage.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  You never ask AskFutures to "download data" or "run the engine." Those steps
  happen on their own the moment you describe an idea or ask for a backtest.
</Note>

## The silent defaults

So you can describe an idea in one sentence, AskFutures fills in sensible
defaults unless you say otherwise:

* **Last 1 year** of data.
* **Day trading with 1-minute bars.**
* **Both directions** — long and short — unless you ask for one only.
* **End-of-day exit** for day-trading ideas.

Every assumption it makes is written onto the strategy card, so you're never
guessing what it decided. Change any of them just by saying so.

<Warning>
  Backtest results are **hypothetical and simulated** — no real trades were
  placed. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always test before
  you trade.
</Warning>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Build a strategy" icon="hammer" href="/guides/build-a-strategy">
    A guided walkthrough of the loop, start to finish.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Strategies" icon="diagram-project" href="/concepts/strategies">
    What a strategy is made of, and what the Strategy Flow shows.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Is the backtest real?" icon="shield-check" href="/concepts/is-the-backtest-real">
    Why the same rules always produce the same numbers.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quickstart" icon="bolt" href="/get-started/quickstart">
    Run your first backtest in about five minutes.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>