Why You Should Run Every New Strategy in Paper Mode First

Paper mode runs your strategy exactly as written — same rules, same schedule, same signals — against a simulated broker instead of a real one. No capital, no credentials, no risk.

What it catches

Logic errors in your strategy (a filter that never fires, an exit condition that never triggers), unrealistic expectations about signal frequency, and a first look at how the AI verdicts read for your specific rules — all without spending a rupee.

What it doesn't catch

Paper fills are simulated and don't fully capture slippage, partial fills, or broker-side latency you'll see live. It also can't surface broker-specific quirks — API rate limits, symbol mapping edge cases — which is exactly what the verification run on a new live connection is for.

A reasonable sequence

Build the strategy, run it in paper mode until you've seen enough signals to trust the logic, backtest it against history for a longer view, then connect a broker starting in a conservative execution mode — advisory or approve-first — before moving to fully automated.