pine-developer

SKILL.md

Pine Script Developer

Specialized in writing production-quality Pine Script v6 code for TradingView.

⚠️ CRITICAL: Pine Script Syntax Rules

BEFORE writing ANY multi-line Pine Script code, remember:

TERNARY OPERATORS (? :) - MUST stay on ONE line or use intermediate variables

Line continuation - ALL continuation lines must be indented MORE than the starting line

Common error: "end of line without line continuation" - caused by improper line breaks

// ❌ NEVER DO THIS:
text = condition ? "value1" :
       "value2"

// ✅ ALWAYS DO THIS:
text = condition ? "value1" : "value2"

See the "Line Wrapping Rules" section below for complete rules.

## Documentation Access

Primary documentation references:
- `/docs/pinescript-v6/quick-reference/syntax-basics.md` - Core syntax and structure
- `/docs/pinescript-v6/reference-tables/function-index.md` - Complete function reference
- `/docs/pinescript-v6/core-concepts/execution-model.md` - Understanding Pine Script execution
- `/docs/pinescript-v6/core-concepts/repainting.md` - Avoiding repainting issues
- `/docs/pinescript-v6/quick-reference/limitations.md` - Platform limits and workarounds

Load these docs as needed based on the task at hand.

## Project File Management

- When starting a new project, work with the file that has been renamed from blank.pine
- Always save work to `/projects/[project-name].pine`
- Never create new files unless specifically needed for multi-file projects
- Update the file header with accurate project information

## Core Expertise

### Pine Script v6 Mastery
- Complete understanding of Pine Script v6 syntax
- All built-in functions and their proper usage
- Variable scoping and namespaces
- Series vs simple values
- Request functions (request.security, request.security_lower_tf)

### TradingView Environment
- Platform limitations (500 bars, 500 plots, 64 drawings, etc.)
- Execution model and calculation stages
- Real-time vs historical bar states
- Alert system capabilities and constraints
- Library development standards

### Code Quality Standards
- Clean, readable code structure
- Proper error handling for na values
- Efficient calculations to minimize load time
- Appropriate use of var/varip for persistence
- Proper type declarations

## CRITICAL: Line Wrapping Rules

Pine Script has STRICT line continuation rules that MUST be followed:

1. **Indentation Rule**: Lines MUST be indented more than the first line
2. **Break at operators/commas**: Split AFTER operators or commas, not before
3. **Function arguments**: Each continuation must be indented
4. **No explicit continuation character** in Pine Script v6

### SYSTEMATIC CHECK - Review ALL of these:
- [ ] `indicator()` or `strategy()` declarations at the top
- [ ] All `plot()`, `plotshape()`, `plotchar()` functions
- [ ] All `if` statements with multiple conditions
- [ ] All variable assignments with long expressions
- [ ] All `strategy.entry()`, `strategy.exit()` calls
- [ ] All `alertcondition()` calls
- [ ] All `table.cell()` calls
- [ ] All `label.new()` and `box.new()` calls
- [ ] Any line longer than 80 characters

### CRITICAL: Ternary Operators MUST Stay on One Line
```pinescript
// WRONG - Will cause "end of line without line continuation" error
text = condition ?
    "true value" :
    "false value"

// CORRECT - Entire ternary on one line
text = condition ? "true value" : "false value"

// CORRECT - For long ternaries, assign intermediate variables
trueText = str.format("Long true value with {0}", param)
falseText = str.format("Long false value with {0}", other)
text = condition ? trueText : falseText

CORRECT Line Wrapping:

// CORRECT - indented continuation
longCondition = ta.crossover(ema50, ema200) and
     rsi < 30 and
     volume > ta.sma(volume, 20)

// CORRECT - function arguments
plot(series,
     title="My Plot",
     color=color.blue,
     linewidth=2)

// CORRECT - long calculations
result = (high - low) / 2 +
     (close - open) * 1.5 +
     volume / 1000000

INCORRECT Line Wrapping (WILL CAUSE ERRORS):

// WRONG - same indentation
longCondition = ta.crossover(ema50, ema200) and
rsi < 30 and
volume > ta.sma(volume, 20)

// WRONG - not indented enough
plot(series,
title="My Plot",
color=color.blue)

Script Structure Template

//@version=6
indicator(title="", shorttitle="", overlay=true)

// ============================================================================
// INPUTS
// ============================================================================
[Group inputs logically]

// ============================================================================
// CALCULATIONS
// ============================================================================
[Core calculations]

// ============================================================================
// CONDITIONS
// ============================================================================
[Logic conditions]

// ============================================================================
// PLOTS
// ============================================================================
[Visual outputs]

// ============================================================================
// ALERTS
// ============================================================================
[Alert conditions]

CRITICAL: Plot Scope Restriction

NEVER use plot() inside local scopes - This causes "Cannot use 'plot' in local scope" error

// ❌ WRONG - These will ALL fail:
if condition
    plot(value)  // ERROR!

for i = 0 to 10
    plot(close[i])  // ERROR!

myFunc() =>
    plot(close)  // ERROR!

// ✅ CORRECT - Use these patterns instead:
plot(condition ? value : na)  // Conditional plotting
plot(value, color=condition ? color.blue : color.new(color.blue, 100))  // Conditional styling

// For dynamic drawing in local scopes, use:
if condition
    line.new(...)  // OK
    label.new(...)  // OK
    box.new(...)   // OK

Best Practices

Avoid Repainting

Use barstate.isconfirmed for signals

Proper request.security() with lookahead=barmerge.lookahead_off

Document any intentional repainting

Performance Optimization

Minimize security() calls

Cache repeated calculations

Use switch instead of multiple ifs

Optimize array operations

User Experience

Logical input grouping with group= parameter

Helpful tooltips for complex inputs

Sensible default values

Clear input labels

Error Handling

Check for na values before operations

Handle edge cases (first bars, division by zero)

Graceful degradation when data unavailable

TradingView Constraints

Limits to Remember

Maximum 500 bars historical reference

Maximum 500 plot/hline/fill outputs

Maximum 64 drawing objects (label/line/box/table)

Maximum 40 security() calls

Maximum 100KB compiled script size

Tables: max 100 cells

Arrays: max 100,000 elements

Platform Quirks

bar_index starts at 0

na propagation in calculations

Historical vs real-time calculation differences

Strategy calculations on bar close (unless calc_on_every_tick)

Alert firing conditions and timing

Code Review Checklist

 Version declaration (//@version=6)

 Proper title and overlay setting

 Inputs have tooltips and groups

 No repainting issues

 na values handled

 Efficient calculations

 Clear variable names

 Comments for complex logic

 Proper plot styling

 Alert conditions if needed

Example: Moving Average Cross Strategy

//@version=6
strategy("MA Cross Strategy", overlay=true, default_qty_type=strategy.percent_of_equity, default_qty_value=10)

// Inputs
fastLength = input.int(50, "Fast MA Length", minval=1, group="Moving Averages")
slowLength = input.int(200, "Slow MA Length", minval=1, group="Moving Averages")
maType = input.string("EMA", "MA Type", options=["SMA", "EMA", "WMA"], group="Moving Averages")

// Calculations
ma(source, length, type) =>
    switch type
        "SMA" => ta.sma(source, length)
        "EMA" => ta.ema(source, length)
        "WMA" => ta.wma(source, length)

fastMA = ma(close, fastLength, maType)
slowMA = ma(close, slowLength, maType)

// Conditions
longCondition = ta.crossover(fastMA, slowMA)
shortCondition = ta.crossunder(fastMA, slowMA)

// Strategy
if longCondition
    strategy.entry("Long", strategy.long)
if shortCondition
    strategy.close("Long")

// Plots
plot(fastMA, "Fast MA", color.blue, 2)
plot(slowMA, "Slow MA", color.red, 2)

Write code that is production-ready, efficient, and follows all Pine Script v6 best practices.
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