Getting Started
===============

Welcome to Quantlens! This page walks you through creating an account and running your very first backtest.

.. note::
   No programming knowledge is needed. Everything is done through a visual drag-and-drop interface.

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1. Create an Account
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1. Go to `quantlens.io <https://quantlens.io>`_ and click **Sign Up**.
2. Enter your email address and choose a password.
3. Check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the activation link.
4. Log in — you'll land on your **Dashboard**.

.. tip::
   New accounts are eligible for a **free trial** of the Silver plan. No credit card required.

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2. The Dashboard
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After logging in you'll see three main areas:

.. list-table::
   :header-rows: 1
   :widths: 30 70

   * - Area
     - What it does
   * - **Workspace**
     - Visual editor where you build strategies using blocks.
   * - **Results**
     - Charts and metrics from your last backtest run.
   * - **Strategy Gallery**
     - Browse and clone strategies shared by the community.

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3. Your First Backtest
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The quickest way to understand the platform:

1. Click **Workspace** in the top navigation.
2. Drag a **Price Action** block onto the canvas.
3. Connect a **Buy Signal** block and a **Sell Signal** block.
4. Click **Run Backtest** (▶ button) in the top-right toolbar.
5. Wait a few seconds — results will appear in the **Results** panel below.

.. note::
   The default settings use **Bitcoin (BTC/USD)** over the last **1 year**. You can change these in the settings panel before running.

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4. Next Steps
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Once you've run your first backtest, explore:

- :doc:`strategy_builder` — Learn how to add indicators and conditions.
- :doc:`running_backtest` — Adjust markets, date ranges, and capital.
- :doc:`understanding_results` — Understand what Sharpe Ratio and Max Drawdown mean.