The Sender Application

The Sender Application is the execution input component of the ST Hotkey Trader™ system. Installed on a Windows machine, it captures user-generated trading commands sent from a custom hardware keyboard and transmits them to the Connection Manager, which then relays the instructions to one or more Sierra Chart instances. The Sender is designed to be flexible, lightweight, and responsive in professional trading environments.

Installation and Compatibility

The Sender runs on any Windows-based system, including lower-spec PCs such as older Windows Surface tablets. It can be installed on multiple machines and does not require dedicated hardware resources. The application communicates with the Connection Manager over the network, making it suitable for use in both local and remote trading setups.

Multiple Sender instances can be connected to a single Connection Manager, including from different PCs on the same network or over the internet. This allows for distributed control, shared access, or desk-level input configurations in multi-user or team environments.

Function and Role

The Sender connects to the Connection Manager and transmits trading commands triggered by custom hardware keys or other input devices. These commands are then forwarded to one or more Receivers. These are Sierra Chart studies attached to specific charts or DOMs. The Sender supports flexible addressing, allowing commands to be sent to:

  • Individual Receivers
  • Predefined groups of Receivers
  • All connected Receivers (global broadcast)

Supported Commands

The Sender supports a wide range of order-related and trade management actions, including:

  • Placing market, limit, and stop orders
  • Creating stop-loss or take-profit orders at a defined offset
  • Tightening or widening stops and targets using designated keys
  • Flattening positions and canceling all orders with a single command
  • Sending custom basket orders or spread orders as predefined by the user

All functionality is configurable, allowing traders to define custom key mappings, target logic, and command behavior. The configuration is stored locally and can be adjusted without redeploying the application.

Compatible hardware keyboards

The Sender is compatible with any hardware keyboard recognized by Windows, including programmable devices such as X-keys® keyboards from P.I. Engineering, Elgato Stream Deck, and other programmable macro keyboards.

Advantages of the Sender-Based Architecture

The use of a separate Sender Application introduces several advantages over conventional, platform-integrated trading tools:

  • Decoupled interface — traders are not limited by chart window focus or UI constraints. Commands can be sent to multiple instruments simultaneously, regardless of which chart is visible.
  • Modular deployment — input and execution systems are separated, allowing flexible setups across multiple devices, rooms, or even remote data centers.
  • Self-directed configuration — the user retains full control over how commands are defined, grouped, and executed. This enables streamlined workflows aligned to individual trading styles or strategy requirements.
  • Redundancy and portability — multiple Senders can be run in parallel from different machines, providing backup control paths and portable execution stations.
  • Low resource footprint — the application is lightweight and optimized for fast input processing, suitable for installation on compact or embedded Windows devices.

By separating input from execution and providing full configurability, the ST Hotkey Trader™ Sender Application supports efficient, multi-market trading with minimal latency and maximum flexibility.