The Moment of Truth
Youve built the system. Youve tested it. Now comes the moment you flip the switch and let it trade real money. This checklist ensures nothing is forgotten.
Pre-Launch: Infrastructure
Exchange Accounts:
- •Production API keys created (not testnet)
- •IP whitelist configured
- •Withdrawal disabled on trading keys
- •2FA enabled on exchange accounts
- •Sufficient funds deposited
Server:
- •Production server provisioned
- •System monitoring installed
- •Disk space adequate for logs
- •Automatic restart on crash configured
- •Firewall rules set
Network:
- •Static IP or dynamic DNS configured
- •Redundant internet if critical
- •VPN for secure access
Pre-Launch: System
Configuration:
- •All parameters set to production values
- •Risk limits configured and verified
- •Paper trading mode OFF
- •Logging level appropriate
- •Correct exchange endpoints (not testnet)
Database:
- •Production database provisioned
- •Backups scheduled
- •Connection pooling configured
- •Historical data loaded
Queues:
- •Redis running with persistence
- •Queue names set to production
- •Dead letter queues configured
Pre-Launch: Monitoring
Alerts Configured:
- •Error rate thresholds set
- •Position mismatch detection
- •System health checks
- •Notification channels verified (send test message)
Dashboards:
- •Real-time P&L visible
- •Position status visible
- •System health metrics visible
- •Log access working
On-Call:
- •Escalation contacts defined
- •Phone numbers verified
- •Backup contacts available
Pre-Launch: Operations
Documentation:
- •System architecture documented
- •Recovery procedures written
- •Contact information compiled
- •Common issues and solutions listed
Kill Switch:
- •Kill switch tested
- •Multiple people know how to use it
- •Works from mobile if needed
Runbooks:
- •Startup procedure documented
- •Shutdown procedure documented
- •Common issue resolution documented
Launch Day: Verification
Before enabling trading:
- •Verify exchange connectivity (fetch balance)
- •Verify data feeds working (check timestamps)
- •Verify database writes working
- •Verify notifications working
- •Verify position tracking shows correct state
- •Verify kill switch accessible
Launch Day: Staged Enablement
Dont go from zero to full immediately.
Hour 1: Enable one edge, minimum size Day 1: Monitor every trade manually Week 1: Gradually add edges, increase sizes Month 1: Full system, close monitoring
Launch Day: What to Watch
First Trade:
- •Did signal generate correctly?
- •Did order submit successfully?
- •Did fill occur at expected price?
- •Did position tracking update?
- •Did notification fire?
First Hour:
- •Error rate acceptable?
- •Latency within bounds?
- •No unexpected behavior?
Post-Launch: Immediate
Hour 1 Checklist:
- •Review all trades that occurred
- •Verify positions match exchange
- •Check for any errors in logs
- •Confirm monitoring working
Day 1 Checklist:
- •Comprehensive trade review
- •P&L calculation verification
- •System stability assessment
- •Adjust any problematic parameters
Post-Launch: Week 1
- •Daily trade reviews
- •Performance vs expectations
- •Bug identification and fixing
- •Parameter tuning if needed
- •Gradually increase confidence/size
Emergency Procedures
Know before you need them:
Exchange Unreachable:
- •Check exchange status page
- •Verify network connectivity
- •If prolonged, consider manual intervention
Position Mismatch:
- •Trust exchange state
- •Reconcile local state
- •Investigate cause
Unexpected Large Loss:
- •Kill switch immediately
- •Verify actual positions
- •Investigate cause before resuming
Takeaway
Going live is a process, not an event. Methodical verification prevents expensive mistakes.
Resist the urge to skip steps. The one you skip is the one that bites you.
Next: what to watch in the critical first 30 days.