# Introduction (/)



Market Lab is a local terminal for algorithmic trading and market making.

Use it to inspect markets, write custom script (strategies) in Python (V2) or JavaScript, deploy automated trading jobs, and manage live execution from the command line.

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      Choose a live campaign market and run a Market Lab bot. The builder fee is 0%.
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    See how →
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## What You Can Do [#what-you-can-do]

| Task                       | Command         | Guide                                              |
| -------------------------- | --------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Find markets and symbols   | `mlab markets`  | [Market catalog](https://marketlab.sh/markets)     |
| Read market data           | `mlab source`   | [Sources](/market-data/sources)                    |
| Calculate a market study   | `mlab study`    | [Studies](/market-data/studies)                    |
| Place a direct order       | `mlab trade`    | [Execution](/execution)                            |
| Run an execution algorithm | `mlab strategy` | [Strategies](/strategies)                          |
| Run a market maker         | `mlab bot`      | [Bots](/bots)                                      |
| Backtest or deploy code    | `mlab script`   | [Python](/scripting-v2) · [JavaScript](/scripting) |
| Supervise live jobs        | `mlab daemon`   | [Daemon](/daemon)                                  |

## How It Fits Together [#how-it-fits-together]

```text
market data -> strategy, bot, or script -> mlabd -> execution venue
```

* Market data can come directly from an exchange or through MMT.
* Your logic can be built in or written in Python or JavaScript.
* `mlabd` keeps live jobs, orders, fills, and state running after the terminal closes.
* Execution goes directly to the selected venue from your machine.

Market data and execution are separate. A script can read one exchange and execute on another.

## Install [#install]

```bash
curl -fsSL https://marketlab.sh/install.sh | bash
```

```bash
mlab --version
mlab --help
```

Continue with [Installation](/installation) for backend and PATH options, or [Quickstart](/getting-started) to run the first commands.

## Symbols [#symbols]

Perpetual markets use the base asset:

```text
BTC
ETH
TSLA
```

Spot markets use the exact pair:

```text
BTC/USDT
HYPE/USDC
```

Use `mlab markets` or the [web catalog](https://marketlab.sh/markets) when unsure.

## Authentication [#authentication]

Standalone public market data does not need a credential. MMT data, private account state, and live execution do.

See [Authentication](/authentication).