I'm 21 and still fairly new to backend development. I know enough Python to build small projects, but I'm still constantly looking things up once APIs, authentication, and WebSockets are involved. I'm tired of making the usual tutorial projects, so I'm considering building a small dashboard that connects to an MT5 demo account.
The dashboard wouldn't make trading decisions or place real trades. I'd mainly like it to display account information, open positions, and trade history, with the possibility of adding live updates later. It seems like a useful way to learn REST APIs and WebSockets while working on something I'm genuinely interested in.
The project is starting to feel more complicated than expected because it involves authentication, keeping connections alive, handling failures, storing data, and updating the interface in real time. Would it make sense to begin with a much smaller scope by building the REST functionality first, then adding WebSocket or live-data support afterward?
When learning APIs, is it better to work directly with a real service, use a demo or paper-trading account, or build against a fake API first? I'd like to learn practical backend skills without making the project unnecessarily difficult or risking real money.
3 Answers
Use the real API, but begin with the simplest possible slice of it. Build a small command-line script that authenticates and retrieves one piece of account information, then turn that into a REST-backed dashboard. Add persistence, history, and live updates one at a time. A mock API can be useful for testing predictable failures, but it won’t replace learning the quirks of the actual service.
Go for it if the project keeps you interested. A project that feels a little challenging is often much more useful than another tutorial app. Just divide it into small milestones: first authenticate, then fetch account data, then show positions and history, and only after that think about live updates. You don’t need to solve every backend problem before getting a basic version working.
You probably don’t need to implement authentication, connection management, and every protocol detail from scratch. Check whether the service provides an official client library or a well-maintained SDK; those tools often handle token refreshes, reconnects, and message parsing. You’ll still learn a lot by inspecting how the client works and building your own error handling around it.
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