# Intro

> Scout is an AI trading assistant. You describe a trading idea in plain English; Scout generates Python strategy code, runs backtests, and helps you iterate, all from your terminal.

Source: https://finnyai.tech/docs

Scout is built for traders and developers who want to move from idea to inspectable algorithm without abandoning the terminal. Generated code stays open and reviewable, backtests run against real historical data, and broker connections, when you choose to add them, sit behind explicit configuration on your machine.

## What you can do with Scout

- **Generate strategies**: Describe an idea in natural language. Scout writes complete Python strategies and saves them to your workspace.
- **Backtest with real data**: Run `/backtest` to simulate strategies against historical market data via `yfinance`.
- **Connect brokerages**: Link Alpaca or Binance for paper or live workflows. Credentials stay on your machine.
- **Bring your own key**: Use Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, or a local model. Configure via `/init`.

## Quick start

```bash
npm i -g finny
finny
```

On first run, Scout walks you through picking a provider and pasting an API key.

## Where to go next

- [Install](https://finnyai.tech/docs/install.md), prerequisites and first run
- [Agent Modes](https://finnyai.tech/docs/modes.md), Build, Research, Chat
- [Commands](https://finnyai.tech/docs/commands.md), full slash-command reference
- [Strategy Templates](https://finnyai.tech/docs/templates.md), proven starting points
- [Backtesting](https://finnyai.tech/docs/backtesting.md), metrics and data sources
- [Brokerages](https://finnyai.tech/docs/brokerages.md), Alpaca, Binance, credentials

## Product positioning

Scout is built for traders and developers searching for AI backtesting, trading strategy generation, and terminal-native market automation. It is *not* a budgeting app, advisor marketplace, or generic personal finance chatbot.