Alpaca Skills

Open agent skills for Alpaca's Trading API and Broker API. Each skill is a SKILL.md file with step-by-step instructions your AI coding assistant follows when you ask it to complete a task — such as running a historical backtest or fetching market data through the Alpaca CLI.

Skills provide shared instructions, guardrails, and reporting standards so agents produce more consistent results across runs.

Prerequisites

• Alpaca CLI — install via Homebrew or Go:

  brew install alpacahq/tap/cli
  # or
  go install github.com/alpacahq/cli/cmd/alpaca@latest
  

• Alpaca API credentials — paper or live keys for the CLI. Run alpaca profile login or set ALPACA_API_KEY and ALPACA_SECRET_KEY.

Install

Recommended: Skills CLI

Use the Skills CLI to install from this GitHub repository:

# Interactive install
npx skills add alpacahq/alpaca-skills

# Preview available skills
npx skills add alpacahq/alpaca-skills --list

# Install one specific skill
npx skills add alpacahq/alpaca-skills --skill alpaca-trading-backtest

Swap in any skill name from the table below.

Manual install

For agents that do not support the Skills CLI, point your agent at a skill directory, or copy/symlink it into your agent's skills folder.

Example (Cursor project skill):

mkdir -p .cursor/skills
cp -r path/to/alpaca-skills/skills/trading-api/backtest .cursor/skills/alpaca-trading-backtest

Available skills

Product namespacing uses the folder path (skills/trading-api/, skills/broker-api/) and the skill name field: alpaca-<product-scope>-<skill-name> (e.g. alpaca-trading-backtest). Use trading or broker as the product scope — not api.

Related resources

• Alpaca CLI
• Trading API documentation
• Alpaca disclosures
• Security policy

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md. Agent conventions for skill authors are in AGENTS.md.

License

Licensed under the Apache License 2.0. See LICENSE.

Disclosure

Insights generated by Alpaca Skill Libraries and connected AI agents are for educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice. Alpaca does not recommend any specific securities or investment strategies. Please conduct your own due diligence before making any decisions. All firms mentioned operate independently and are not liable for one another.

Options trading is not suitable for all investors due to its inherent high risk, which can potentially result in significant losses. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (Options Disclosure Document) before investing in options.

Alpaca does not prepare, edit, endorse, or approve Third Party Content. Alpaca does not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or usefulness of Third Party Content, and is not responsible or liable for any content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available from third party sites.

All investments involve risk, and the past performance of a security, or financial product does not guarantee future results or returns. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives. Please note that diversification does not ensure a profit, or protect against loss. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities, or other financial products. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing.

The algorithm's calculations are based on historical and real-time market data but may not account for all market factors, including sudden price moves, liquidity constraints, or execution delays. Model assumptions, such as volatility estimates and dividend treatments, can impact performance and accuracy. Trades generated by the algorithm are subject to brokerage execution processes, market liquidity, order priority, and timing delays. These factors may cause deviations from expected trade execution prices or times. Users are responsible for monitoring algorithmic activity and understanding the risks involved. Alpaca is not liable for any losses incurred through the use of this system.

Past hypothetical backtest results do not guarantee future returns, and actual results may vary from the analysis.

The Paper Trading API is offered by AlpacaDB, Inc. and does not require real money or permit a user to transact in real securities in the market. Providing use of the Paper Trading API is not an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities, securities derivative or futures products of any kind, or any type of trading or investment advice, recommendation or strategy, given or in any manner endorsed by AlpacaDB, Inc. or any AlpacaDB, Inc. affiliate and the information made available through the Paper Trading API is not an offer or solicitation of any kind in any jurisdiction where AlpacaDB, Inc. or any AlpacaDB, Inc. affiliate (collectively, "Alpaca") is not authorized to do business.

Securities brokerage services are provided by Alpaca Securities LLC ("Alpaca Securities"), member FINRA/SIPC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AlpacaDB, Inc. Technology and services are offered by AlpacaDB, Inc.

Cryptocurrency services are provided by Alpaca Crypto LLC ("Alpaca Crypto"), a FinCEN registered money services business (NMLS # 2160858), and a wholly-owned subsidiary of AlpacaDB, Inc. Alpaca Crypto is not a member of SIPC or FINRA. Cryptocurrencies are not stocks and your cryptocurrency investments are not protected by either FDIC or SIPC. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and speculative, involving substantial risk of loss, and are not insured by the FDIC or any government agency. Customers should be aware of the various risks prior to engaging these services, including potential loss of principal, cybersecurity considerations, regulatory developments, and the evolving nature of digital asset technology. For additional information on the risks of cryptocurrency, please click here.

This is not an offer, solicitation of an offer, or advice to buy or sell securities or cryptocurrencies or open a brokerage account or cryptocurrency account in any jurisdiction where Alpaca Securities or Alpaca Crypto, respectively, are not registered or licensed, as applicable.