The0 is a free, open-source execution engine for algorithmic trading bots, built for developers and technically confident traders who want to write strategies in the programming language they already know. It is self-hosted, which means the bots run on your own machine or server rather than on a vendor's cloud.
Instead of forcing you into a proprietary scripting environment, The0 takes your strategy code, runs it, schedules it, keeps its state between runs, streams its logs and gives you a live dashboard to watch what it is doing. The project is released under the Apache 2.0 license and the source code is public on GitHub, so you can read exactly how it works before you trust it with real accounts.
What Is a Self-Hosted Trading Bot Runtime?
A trading bot is only part of the picture. Someone has to keep it running around the clock, restart it after a crash, store its state so it remembers open positions, and record what it did. A runtime handles that operational layer, while the strategy contains the decision logic.
The0 is a self-hosted runtime, so this operational work happens on infrastructure you control. You decide where the bots run, how they are updated and where logs are kept. That control is useful for privacy and for auditing, but it also means you are responsible for the machine the bots live on.
If you have only run bots from a desktop terminal that stops when you close the window, a runtime like this can feel like a step up. It treats each strategy as a managed service with its own container, schedule and log stream.
Who Is The0 for?
The0 suits people who already write code and want their trading logic to live in a normal software project. A developer can keep strategies in a Git repository, write tests in the same language and deploy changes with a single command. That workflow is familiar to anyone who ships web services.
It is less suited to people who want a point-and-click interface for building strategies without touching code. Those users will usually find a graphical bot terminal or a visual builder easier to start with, even if it offers less flexibility.
Small teams and solo developers who run several strategies side by side may also find the per-bot containers helpful, because each strategy can be updated or stopped without disturbing the rest.
Real-World Use Cases
One common scenario is a developer who wants to run a mean-reversion strategy on a schedule and a separate momentum strategy that reacts to streaming price updates. With The0, each can live in its own container with its own logs, and the dashboard shows both at once.
Another scenario is a team that wants to test a strategy written in Rust for speed in one part of the system while keeping a Python analysis script for research. Because the runtime accepts several languages, the two components can share the same operational tooling.
A third use is keeping a bot's state across restarts. If a strategy tracks its open orders or position size, the runtime's state handling means it does not start from zero each time the machine reboots.
Key features
Strategies in Several Languages
One-Command Deployment
Isolated Containers per Bot
Scheduled and Streaming Execution
How to install The0 on Windows
- 1
Install Docker with the Compose Plugin
The0 runs on Docker, so Docker with the Compose plugin must be installed first. On Windows this is usually done through Docker Desktop. Make sure Docker is running and that the Compose command works in a terminal before you continue.
- 2
Get the Program from the Official Source
Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page at github.com/alexanderwanyoike/the0. Avoid mirrors and file-sharing sites. The project documentation is available at docs.the0.app and explains the setup steps in more detail.
- 3
Verify the File
Where a SHA-256 checksum or signature is published with the release, compare it with your download before running anything. On Windows, PowerShell's Get-FileHash command can print the SHA-256 value of a file so you can match it against the published one.
-
Start the Runtime and Check It
Follow the official setup instructions to start the runtime with Compose. Once it is running, open the local dashboard, deploy a simple test bot and confirm that it starts, writes logs and stops cleanly before you connect any real account.
System requirements
- Docker with the Compose plugin
- About 4 GB of free memory
How to use The0
Using The0 is a matter of writing a bot, deploying it and watching the dashboard. Start with a paper or test configuration and a small strategy so you can learn how the runtime behaves before you commit real capital.
- Write a strategy in one of the supported languages, such as Python, and keep it in its own project folder.
- Define how the bot should run: on a schedule for periodic logic, or on a stream for event-driven logic.
- Deploy the bot with the single deployment command from the official documentation.
- Open the live dashboard and confirm the bot has started and is writing logs.
- Review the logs and state after several runs, then adjust the strategy and redeploy.
- Stop or update a single bot without affecting the others, since each runs in its own container.
Pros & cons
- Free to use and released under the Apache 2.0 license
- Strategies can be written in Python, TypeScript, Rust, C++, C#, Scala or Haskell
- Source code is public on GitHub for review
- Each bot runs in an isolated container
- Built-in state handling, log streaming and a live dashboard
- Requires Docker and about 4 GB of free memory, so it is heavier than a simple desktop tool
- Self-hosting means you maintain the machine, updates and security yourself
- Setup is more technical than click-and-run bot terminals
- Best suited to developers; non-programmers will find it hard to use
Is The0 safe?
Treat any trading bot as software that can place real orders, and install The0 only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page. Check the SHA-256 checksum or signature when one is published, and do not run files from forums, chat groups or unofficial mirrors. Never enter a seed phrase or wallet secret on a third-party website, and be cautious with exchange API keys. Create keys with trading permissions only, leave withdrawals disabled, and restrict keys by IP address where the exchange allows it. Test with small amounts first. Check the latest version on the official website before updating, because the project changes over time.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/alexanderwanyoike/the0. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
The0 focuses on the runtime layer: it deploys, isolates, schedules and monitors bots written in several languages. Jesse is a Python framework centered on strategy development and backtesting, so it is the closer choice if your priority is research. OctoBot provides a web interface that many users find easier than a code-first setup. Gunbot is a locally installed bot aimed at a more hands-off workflow. Elinesoft XTester and TestMyLogic concentrate on simulation and checking strategies for overfitting, which is a different stage of the process. Many traders use a backtester first and a runtime like The0 afterward.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- Apache 2.0
- Latest version
- v1.22.0
- Last update
- 31 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/alexanderwanyoike/the0
Frequently asked questions
Yes, The0 is free and released under the Apache 2.0 license. You can download it from the official website or the GitHub Releases page. Because it runs on Docker, you will also need Docker with the Compose plugin installed on your system before you start the runtime.
The0 is open source, so its code can be reviewed publicly. Safety depends mostly on how you install and configure it. Download only from official sources, verify the checksum or signature, and use exchange API keys with trading permissions only and withdrawals disabled.
The0 supports strategies written in Python, TypeScript, Rust, C++, C#, Scala and Haskell. You deploy each bot with one command, and the runtime handles scheduling, state and logs regardless of the language the strategy is written in.
Yes. The project lists Docker as its platform, and it requires Docker with the Compose plugin. Each bot runs in its own container, so Docker is central to how the runtime isolates strategies. Make sure Docker is running before you try to deploy anything.
The project recommends about 4 GB of free memory. That figure is an official requirement for the runtime itself, and your actual needs will grow with the number of bots and the amount of data they process. Monitor memory use on the dashboard when you add new strategies.
Not entirely. The0 is designed to run and monitor bots, not to test every idea historically. Many users check strategies with a backtesting tool first, then deploy the approved logic to The0 for scheduled or streaming execution.
No. The0 is the runtime that executes your bot. The trading logic lives in the strategy you write, while The0 handles scheduling, isolation, state, logs and the dashboard around it.
Verdict
The0 is a practical choice for developers who want to run algorithmic trading bots on their own hardware, in the language they already use. It is free, open source and licensed under Apache 2.0, and its per-bot containers make it easier to manage several strategies at once. It is not a good fit for people who want a graphical builder or no setup at all. If you are comfortable with Docker and code, try it with a test strategy and small amounts first, and review the official documentation before connecting any live account.