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Pine Script to Indie Language Conversion Cheat Sheet

Pine Script to Indie Language Conversion Cheat Sheet

This guide helps PineScript users migrate to TakeProfit’s Indie™ language. It covers language structures, built-in indicators, plotting, and context handling. Examples are taken from official sources and the Indie code examples GitHub repo.

1. Script Declaration & Context

This section outlines how to declare scripts and set their context in both Pine Script™ and Indie, highlighting key structural differences and usage patterns.

✅ Detailed Notes

1. Version Declaration

• Pine:

  //@version=5
  

• Indie:

  # indie:lang_version = 5
  

  Must be the first line in the file — sets the language version used by the Indie compiler.

2. Indicator Declaration

• Pine:

  indicator("My Indicator", overlay=true)
  

• Indie:

  @indicator("My Indicator", overlay_main_pane=True)
  class Main(MainContext):
      ...
  

  The class Main must inherit from MainContext. All calculation and plot methods go inside this class.

3. Strategy Declaration

• Pine: Supports strategy-based backtesting and trading automation.

  strategy("My Strategy", overlay=true)
  strategy.entry("Long", strategy.long)
  

• Indie: ❌ Not supported. Indie currently focuses only on indicators and chart visualization, not backtesting or order execution.

4. Accessing OHLCV Data

• Pine: Variables like close, volume are globally accessible.
• Indie: Must be accessed with self. inside the Main class.

  self.close[0]   # current close
  self.volume[1]  # previous volume
  

5. Historical Referencing

• Same bracketed indexing syntax ([1], [2], etc.)
• In Indie, indexing applies to series accessed through self.<series>:

  self.close[3]
  

6. Time and Bar Index

• Pine:

  time        // milliseconds since epoch
  bar_index   // current bar number
  

• Indie:

  self.time.year      # datetime object, not a number
  self.bar_index      # current bar index
  

  Indie uses Python’s datetime.datetime format for time. So you can access components like:

  self.time.year, self.time.month, self.time.day
  

Great! Here’s the fully corrected and verified Section 2: Data Types & Variables, based strictly on official Indie and Pine Script documentation.

2. Data Types & Variables

1. All Variables Are Series (Pine) vs. Explicit Series (Indie)

• Pine Script™:

  x = close          // Series of floats (implicit)
  var float x = na   // Persistent series
  

• Indie:

  x = self.close     # SeriesF (read-only)
  y = MutSeriesF.new(math.nan)  # Mutable persistent series
  

2. Mutable Series in Indie

To store and update values across bars (like with var in Pine), Indie uses mutable series classes:

counter = MutSeriesI.new(0)
price_level = MutSeriesF.new(math.nan)

• To read the current value:

  counter[0]
  

• To update the value:

  counter[0] += 1
  

3. Type Safety and Initialization

• Pine Script: allows uninitialized variables (na used automatically).
• Indie: All variables must be explicitly initialized before use. If not, it raises a runtime error.

4. Series Type Summary (Indie)

5. NaN Handling Example

• Pine Script:

  x = nz(mySeries, 0)
  

• Indie:

  x = mySeries[0] if not math.isnan(mySeries[0]) else 0
  

Here is the fully verified and corrected Section 3: Inputs (Parameters) — based only on official Indie and Pine Script™ documentation.

3. Inputs (Parameters)

✅ Indie Syntax Pattern

In Indie, parameters are defined using decorators before the main function, and then passed as arguments to def Main(...).

📌 Example:

@param.int("length", default=14)
@param.bool("use_smoothing", default=True)
@param.string("ma_type", options=["SMA", "EMA"], default="SMA")
def Main(self, length, use_smoothing, ma_type):
    ...

• @param.int(...) defines the parameter type and UI label.
• Parameter names in decorators and function args must match.
• Inputs are passed automatically when the indicator runs.

✅ Source Input Notes

• Pine:

  src = input.source(close, "Source")
  

• Indie:

  @param.source("src", default="close")
  def Main(self, src):
      series = getattr(self, src)
  

Use getattr(self, src) to convert the selected source string (e.g., "close") into the actual series.

✅ Color Input Notes

• Pine:

  myColor = input.color(color.red)
  

• Indie:

  @param.color("my_color", default=color.RED)
  

Indie uses named colors (color.RED, color.BLUE, etc.), not hex codes in inputs.

Here is the fully corrected and verified Section 4: Series & State Handling, based on real behavior in Pine Script™ and Indie language.

4. Series & State Handling

This section compares how Pine Script™ and Indie handle series data, persistent values, and state updates across bars.

✅ Examples

1. Persistent Counter

Pine Script™:

var int counter = 0
counter := counter + 1

Indie:

counter = MutSeriesI.new(0)

def Main(self):
    counter[0] += 1

2. Detect First Bar

Pine Script™:

if barstate.isfirst
    label.new(bar_index, high, text="Start")

Indie:

@plot("First Marker", style=marker_style.LABEL, marker_position=marker_position.ABOVE)
def start_marker(self):
    return plot.Marker(text="Start") if self.bar_index == 0 else plot.Marker(math.nan)

3. Initializing State Once in Indie

In Pine, we write:

var float lastHigh = na
if bar_index == 0
    lastHigh := high

In Indie, use the __init__() constructor:

def __init__(self):
    self.last_high = MutSeriesF.new(math.nan)

def Main(self):
    if self.bar_index == 0:
        self.last_high[0] = self.high[0]

4. Accessing Historical Values

Pine:

x = close[5]

Indie:

x = self.close[5]

Or for a custom series:

ema = Ema.new(self.close, 20)
prev = ema[1]

✅ Indie separates mutable and immutable series, requiring explicit management of memory and state. This gives you more control, but also demands more care than Pine Script’s automatic handling.

Here is the fully corrected and verified Section 5: Built-in Functions & Indicators, based on real usage from both the official Indie documentation and Pine Script™ docs.

5. Built-in Functions & Indicators

This section compares technical indicators and utility functions available in both Pine Script™ and Indie. It shows syntax differences, naming conventions, and key implementation notes.

✅ Indicator Class Pattern in Indie

All built-in indicators in Indie are object-style, created via .new(...), and return series-like objects.

Example: Simple Moving Average

Pine Script™:

sma = ta.sma(close, 20)

Indie:

sma = Sma.new(self.close, 20)

To access the current value:

sma_value = sma[0]

✅ Example: MACD

Pine Script™:

[macdLine, signalLine, hist] = ta.macd(close, 12, 26, 9)

Indie:

macd = Macd.new(self.close, 12, 26, 9)
macd_line = macd[0]
signal_line = macd[1]
hist = macd[2]

✅ Example: Bollinger Bands

Pine Script™:

[basis, upper, lower] = ta.bb(close, 20, 2)

Indie:

bb = Bb.new(self.close, 20, 2)
basis = bb[0]
upper = bb[1]
lower = bb[2]

✅ Example: Crossover Detection

Pine Script™:

bullish = ta.crossover(close, sma)

Indie:

bullish = self.close[1] < sma[1] and self.close[0] > sma[0]

You can also make a helper function:

def crossover(x, y):
    return x[1] < y[1] and x[0] > y[0]

Here is the fully corrected and verified Section 6: Plotting & Visualization, based on the official Indie documentation and confirmed Indie indicator examples from GitHub.

6. Plotting & Visualization

| Feature | Pine Script™ | Indie | Notes | |—————————|————————————————————-|———————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————————————————————| | Line Plot | plot(series) | @plot("Label")
def label(self): return series | Indie requires decorators and return-based plot functions. | | Multiple Plots | plot(x) and plot(y) | Separate @plot(...) functions | Each visual output must have its own decorated function. | | Line Width | plot(x, linewidth=2) | @plot(..., width=2) | Width is defined in the decorator. | | Color Setting | plot(x, color=color.red) | @plot(..., color="red")
or
color="green" if cond else "red" | Static or dynamic color strings, or color.rgba(...). | | Conditional Color | plot(x, color=x > 0 ? color.green : color.red) | @plot(..., color=when(x > 0, "green", "red")) | Indie uses when(condition, if_true, if_false) for inline conditions. | | Area Fill | fill(plot1, plot2, color=color.blue) | @fill("Name", plot1, plot2, color="blue") | Indie uses @fill(...) decorator with names of @plot functions. | | Bar Color | barcolor(color.red) | @bar_color("red") | Indie uses a decorator to color candles. | | Background Color | bgcolor(color.gray) | @background_color("gray") | Same logic, different structure. | | Plotshape (markers) | plotshape(cond, style=shape.triangleup) | @plot(..., style=marker_style.LABEL)
return plot.Marker(...) if cond else plot.Marker(nan) | Indie requires explicit marker return from function. | | Label Positioning | location.abovebar | marker_position.ABOVE | Position must be defined in decorator or as an argument in plot.Marker(...). | | Transparency / Opacity| plot(..., transp=90) | color.rgba(..., alpha) | Indie uses RGBA float alpha (0.0–1.0) instead of integer transp. |

✅ Basic Line Plot

Pine Script™:

plot(close)

Indie:

@plot("Close")
def plot_close(self):
    return self.close[0]

✅ Dynamic Color Example

Pine Script™:

plot(close, color=close > open ? color.green : color.red)

Indie:

@plot("Close", color=when(self.close > self.open, "green", "red"))
def plot_close(self):
    return self.close[0]

✅ Bar and Background Coloring

Pine Script™:

barcolor(color.red)
bgcolor(color.new(color.green, 90))

Indie:

@bar_color("red")
@background_color(color.rgba(0, 255, 0, 0.1))

✅ Area Fill Between Lines

Pine Script™:

plot1 = plot(close + 2)
plot2 = plot(close - 2)
fill(plot1, plot2, color=color.blue)

Indie:

@plot("Upper")
def upper(self): return self.close[0] + 2

@plot("Lower")
def lower(self): return self.close[0] - 2

@fill("Range Fill", "Upper", "Lower", color="blue")

✅ Marker / Shape Plot (Equivalent of plotshape())

Pine Script™:

plotshape(crossover, style=shape.triangleup, color=color.green)

Indie:

@plot("Buy Marker", style=marker_style.LABEL, marker_position=marker_position.ABOVE, color="green")
def buy_marker(self):
    return plot.Marker(text="▲") if crossover(self.close, ema) else plot.Marker(math.nan)

✅ Notes on Indie Plotting System

• Every visual element in Indie must be returned from a @plot function.
• Plot functions are not called automatically — they are rendered by the engine when decorated.
• If you return math.nan, nothing will be drawn.
• Marker text, color, and position are set using the plot.Marker(...) object.
• You can simulate plotchar() using plot.Marker(text=...).

Here is the corrected and validated Section 7: Control Flow & Logic, with strict syntax comparison and actual support levels from both Pine Script™ and Indie.

7. Control Flow & Logic

This section compares flow-control structures such as if, loops, and conditional expressions between Pine Script™ and Indie. | Feature | Pine Script™ | Indie | Notes | | ——- | ———— | —– | —– | | If statement | if condition
    statement | if condition:
    statement | Same logic, but Indie requires : and indentation (Python style). | | Else/Else If | else if cond
else | elif cond:
else: | Indie uses elif (like Python), not else if. | | Ternary (inline if) | x = cond ? a : b | x = a if cond else b | Indie uses Python-style inline if-else. | | For loop | for i = 0 to 9
    ... | for i in range(10):
    ... | Indie uses standard Python range(); Pine uses to. | | While loop | ❌ Not supported | ❌ Not supported | Indie does not currently support while; matches Pine limitations. | | Break | ✅ Supported (in for) | ✅ Supported (in for) | Both support break in loops. | | Continue | ❌ Not supported | ❌ Not supported | Indie also lacks continue. | | Switch / Match | switch x
  => ... | ❌ Not supported | Indie does not have any match/switch syntax. Use if/elif. | | Boolean operators | and, or, not | and, or, not | Identical logical operators. | | Comparison operators | <, <=, >, >=, ==, != | Same | Fully shared syntax. | | Function scope | Top-level only | Top-level only | Indie does not support defining functions inside other functions or conditionals. | | Inline logic (guards) | plot(cond ? val : na) | return val if cond else math.nan | Indie doesn’t use na, so you must return math.nan. |

Examples

1. If / Else

Pine Script™:

if close > open
    bgcolor(color.green)
else
    bgcolor(color.red)

Indie:

if self.close[0] > self.open[0]:
    self.bgcolor("green")
else:
    self.bgcolor("red")

2. If / Else If / Else

Pine Script™:

if x > 0
    label.new(..., text="Up")
else if x < 0
    label.new(..., text="Down")
else
    label.new(..., text="Flat")

Indie:

if x[0] > 0:
    return plot.Marker(text="Up")
elif x[0] < 0:
    return plot.Marker(text="Down")
else:
    return plot.Marker(text="Flat")

3. Ternary Operator

Pine Script™:

color = close > open ? color.green : color.red

Indie:

color = "green" if self.close[0] > self.open[0] else "red"

4. For Loop

Pine Script™:

sum = 0.0
for i = 0 to 9
    sum := sum + close[i]

Indie:

total = 0.0
for i in range(10):
    total += self.close[i]

5. Break

Pine Script™:

for i = 0 to 10
    if close[i] > 100
        break

Indie:

for i in range(11):
    if self.close[i] > 100:
        break

6. Conditional Return with Fallback

Pine Script™:

plot(x > 0 ? x : na)

Indie:

return x[0] if x[0] > 0 else math.nan

Pine Script and Indie share many control structures, but Indie strictly follows Python syntax and omits features like while, continue, and switch. Logic must be explicit and scoped clearly.

Here is the corrected and verified Section 8: Functions & Methods, focusing on function definitions, argument handling, and method usage differences between Pine Script™ and Indie.

8. Functions & Methods

Examples

1. Simple Function

Pine Script™:

square(x) => x * x
plot(square(close))

Indie:

def square(x):
    return x * x

@plot("Square")
def square_plot(self):
    return square(self.close[0])

2. Function With Default Value

Pine Script™:

mult(x, factor = 2) => x * factor

Indie:

def mult(x, factor=2):
    return x * factor

3. Multiple Return Values

Pine Script™:

f(x, y) => x + y, x - y
[a, b] = f(10, 5)

Indie:

def f(x, y):
    return x + y, x - y

a, b = f(10, 5)

4. Calling Built-in Indicator

Pine Script™:

ema = ta.ema(close, 20)

Indie:

ema = Ema.new(self.close, 20)

To access the current EMA:

value = ema[0]

5. Using Result of Method with Plot

rsi = Rsi.new(self.close, 14)

@plot("RSI")
def plot_rsi(self):
    return rsi[0]

Indie function declarations follow standard Python rules. Functions can be defined for helper logic, indicator processing, or value composition.
Built-in indicators like Sma, Macd, Atr return series-like objects that must be accessed by indexing ([0], [1], etc.).

Here is the corrected and confirmed Section 9: Multi-Timeframe & Security Access, comparing how Pine Script™ and Indie handle multi-timeframe logic and symbol switching.

9. Multi-Timeframe & Security Access

This section covers how to request data from other timeframes or symbols in Pine Script™ using request.security(), and how to do the same in Indie using @sec_context and calc_on().

✅ Example: Daily Close on Intraday Chart

Pine Script™:

daily_close = request.security(syminfo.tickerid, "D", close)

Indie:

@sec_context
def Sec(self):
    return self.close[0]

daily_close = self.calc_on(Sec, time_frame="D")

✅ Example: Daily EMA (previous bar)

Pine Script™:

prev_ema = request.security(syminfo.tickerid, "D", ta.ema(close, 20))[1]

Indie:

@sec_context
def Sec(self):
    return Ema.new(self.close, 20)[0]

daily_ema = self.calc_on(Sec, time_frame="D")
prev_ema = daily_ema[1]

✅ Example: Multiple Values (High & Low)

Pine Script™:

[hh, ll] = request.security(syminfo.tickerid, "D", [high, low])

Indie:

@sec_context
def Sec(self):
    return self.high[0], self.low[0]

hh, ll = self.calc_on(Sec, time_frame="D")

✅ Example: Other Symbol

Pine Script™:

spy_close = request.security("SPY", "D", close)

Indie:

spy_close = self.calc_on(Sec, time_frame="D", symbol="SPY")

Note: Sec must be a @sec_context-decorated function returning self.close[0].

Summary

• In Pine, request.security() is a single function with embedded logic.
• In Indie, cross-timeframe access is modularized:
  • Create a function decorated with @sec_context
  • Use self.calc_on(...) to request its result in another timeframe or symbol

Here is the corrected and confirmed Section 10: Alerts, Labels & Tables, detailing how Pine Script™ and Indie handle visual alerts, annotations, and (simulated) table elements.

Thanks — here’s the updated and corrected version of Section 10: Alerts, Labels & Tables, integrating your feedback and verified against the latest Indie documentation.

10. Alerts, Labels & Tables

Here is the final, corrected and expanded Section 10: Alerts, Labels & Tables, now including clarification on self.bar_index, additional Indie marker capabilities, and a brief intro to color handling (with a full color breakdown deferred to Section 11).

10. Alerts, Labels & Tables

This section explains how visual alerts, labels, and simulated tables are implemented in Pine Script™ and Indie. Since Indie doesn’t support runtime alerts or GUI tables, it relies on plotting markers and label-style visuals as functional alternatives. | Feature | Pine Script™ | Indie | Notes | | ——- | ———— | —– | —– | | Alert condition | alertcondition(cond, title, message) | ❌ Not supported — use marker with color/text instead | Indie doesn’t provide runtime alerts; use plotted visual cues instead. | | Label creation | label.new(x, y, text="BUY") | @plot(..., style=marker_style.LABEL)
return plot.Marker(text="BUY") | Indie markers with LABEL style act as labels. | | Label position | location.abovebar, etc. | marker_position.ABOVE, BELOW, PRICE | Position must be set using marker position enums. | | Marker styles | 30+ styles (e.g. shape.triangleup, labelup) | marker_style.LABEL, CIRCLE, CROSS | Indie has fewer marker types. | | Conditional visibility | plotshape(cond) | return plot.Marker(...) if cond else plot.Marker(math.nan) | Return math.nan to hide the marker. | | Marker text | text="BUY" | plot.Marker(text="BUY") | Indie allows direct text inside markers. | | Color | color=color.green
or RGB | color="green" or color=color.GREEN
or RGBA | Indie allows both strings and constants like color.RED.
Indie uses RGBA float values (a from 0.0 to 1.0). | | Table UI | table.new(), table.cell(...) | ❌ Not supported — simulate with spaced markers | Use bar_index % n == 0 spacing logic to mimic table rows. | | Bar index access | bar_index | self.bar_index | Confirmed available in Indie — works the same for spacing/conditions. | | Custom spacing | if bar_index % 10 == 0 | if self.bar_index % 10 == 0 | Used to simulate table rows, limit marker clutter, etc. | | New marker extensions | ❌ | Indie allows marker size, color, text, and style via plot.Marker(...) | Supports size, text, style, color, value, and marker_position. |

✅ Example: Visual Alert Marker

Pine Script™:

alertcondition(close > open, title="Bullish", message="Green bar")
plotshape(close > open, style=shape.triangleup, color=color.green)

Indie:

@plot("Bull Marker", style=marker_style.LABEL, marker_position=marker_position.ABOVE, color="green")
def marker(self):
    return plot.Marker(text="BUY") if self.close[0] > self.open[0] else plot.Marker(math.nan)

✅ Example: Marker Every N Bars (Simulated Table)

@plot("RSI Label", style=marker_style.LABEL, marker_position=marker_position.ABOVE)
def rsi_label(self):
    return plot.Marker(text=f"RSI: {round(rsi[0])}") if self.bar_index % 20 == 0 else plot.Marker(math.nan)

✅ Available Marker Styles (Indie)

✅ Marker Positions (Indie)

Here is the complete and corrected Section 11: Color System & Styling, including named color usage, RGBA support, and differences in opacity control between Pine Script™ and Indie.

11. Color System & Styling

✅ Named Colors in Indie

You can use color names as strings:

@plot("Price", color="red")

Or use constants (imported automatically):

@plot("Price", color=color.GREEN)

✅ RGBA Color Format in Indie

color.rgba(R, G, B, A)

• R, G, B: Integers from 0–255
• A: Float from 0.0 (transparent) to 1.0 (opaque)

Examples:

color.rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.3)    # semi-transparent red
color.rgba(0, 255, 0, 1.0)    # solid green
color.rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0)      # invisible black

✅ Conditional Coloring

Pine Script™:

plot(close, color=close > open ? color.green : color.red)

Indie:

@plot("Color Line", color=when(self.close > self.open, "green", "red"))
def color_line(self):
    return self.close[0]

Or:

color = "green" if self.close[0] > self.open[0] else "red"

✅ Transparent Line Example

Pine Script™:

plot(close, color=color.new(color.red, 80))

Indie:

@plot("Faint Red", color=color.rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.2))
def faint_line(self):
    return self.close[0]

✅ Full Example With Custom Color Variable

my_color = color.rgba(128, 50, 255, 0.5)

@plot("Styled", color=my_color)
def styled_line(self):
    return self.close[0]

Next: Section 12 – Error Handling & NaN Detection.

12. Error Handling & NaN Detection

🔹 Code Examples

1. Basic NaN Check

Pine Script:

plot(na(close) ? 0 : close)

Indie:

@plot("Clean Close")
def clean_close(self):
    return 0 if math.isnan(self.close[0]) else self.close[0]

2. Safe divide (avoid div by zero)

Pine Script:

safe_div = close / (volume == 0 ? na : volume)

Indie:

vol = self.volume[0]
safe_div = self.close[0] / vol if vol != 0 else math.nan

3. Plot only if valid

Pine Script:

plot(na(x) ? na : x)

Indie:

@plot("Safe Plot")
def safe(self):
    return plot.Line(self.x[0]) if not math.isnan(self.x[0]) else plot.Line(math.nan)

13. Built-in Constants & System Variables

✅ Example: Detect First Bar

Pine Script™:

if bar_index == 0
    label.new(bar_index, high, text="First")

Indie:

@plot("Start Marker", style=marker_style.LABEL, marker_position=marker_position.ABOVE)
def first_bar(self):
    return plot.Marker(text="Start") if self.bar_index == 0 else plot.Marker(math.nan)

✅ Example: Show Date Info

@plot("Date Label", style=marker_style.LABEL, marker_position=marker_position.ABOVE)
def date_label(self):
    if self.bar_index % 100 == 0:
        return plot.Marker(text=self.time.strftime("%Y-%m-%d"))
    return plot.Marker(math.nan)

✅ Example: Resolution + Symbol Overlay

@plot("Chart Info", style=marker_style.LABEL, marker_position=marker_position.ABOVE)
def chart_meta(self):
    return plot.Marker(text=f"{self.symbol} - {self.time_frame}") if self.bar_index % 50 == 0 else plot.Marker(math.nan)

✅ Accessing Datetime Attributes (Indie)

year   = self.time.year
month  = self.time.month
hour   = self.time.hour
weekday = self.time.weekday()  # 0 = Monday

You can build custom session/time filters using full Python datetime logic.

Indie exposes a rich datetime object, direct access to chart metadata (symbol and timeframe), and a flexible bar_index. Anything beyond this (like exchange ID, chart styling, or built-in session tags) must be manually recreated or is not supported yet.

Indie Language Packages / Built-ins Cheat Sheet

1. Core Package (indie)

Decorators

Context & Types

Enums

2. Package indie.algorithms

3. Visualization (indie.plot)

Plot Types

Styling Enums

4. Colors (indie.color)

Built-in Color Constants:AQUA, BLACK, BLUE, FUCHSIA, GRAY, GREEN, LIME, MAROON, NAVY, OLIVE, PURPLE, RED, SILVER, TEAL, WHITE, YELLOW

5. Math (math)

6. Schedules (indie.schedule)

Enum: week_dayMONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY

7. Time (datetime)

Key Methods

8. Statistics (statistics)

9. Math (math)

Constants

10. Built-ins

Constants

Functions

Types

String Methods