Pine Script Patterns

Lightweight scaffold for Pine Script v5/v6 indicator development.

Before Generating Code

ALWAYS use doc-researcher agent or Ref MCP tools to verify:

• Current function signatures

• v5 vs v6 syntax differences

• Deprecated functions

File Conventions

• Version header: //@version=6 (prefer v6)

• License: Mozilla Public License 2.0

• File naming: LB_*.pine

• Author: Luther Barnum

Input Group Structure

Standard groups (use group= parameter):

"Feature Toggles" - Master enable/disable switches "VWAP Settings" - VWAP configuration "VWAP Bands" - Standard deviation band settings "Session Settings" - Time-based parameters "Initial Balance" - IB configuration "Opening Range" - OR settings "Pivot Points" - Pivot configuration "Display Options" - Visual settings "Colors" - Color configuration

Session Defaults

• RTH: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET

• Timezone: America/New_York

• Detection: time(timeframe.period, sessionString)

Resource Limits

Set appropriately:

• max_bars_back

• Historical data access

• max_labels_count

• Label objects (default 500)

• max_lines_count

• Line objects (default 500)

Complete Example

Reference: /Users/lgbarn/Personal/Indicators/Tradingview/LB_RH_MAs.pine

//@version=6 // This Pine Script® code is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public License 2.0 at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/ // © lgbarn

indicator('LB Simple MA Crossover', shorttitle='LB_MACross', overlay=true)

// === INPUTS === fastLength = input.int(9, "Fast MA Length", minval=1, group="MA Settings") slowLength = input.int(21, "Slow MA Length", minval=1, group="MA Settings") useLightTheme = input.bool(false, "Light Theme", group="Display")

// === CALCULATIONS === fastMA = ta.ema(close, fastLength) slowMA = ta.sma(close, slowLength)

// === COLORS === fastColor = useLightTheme ? color.new(#0000FF, 0) : color.new(#00FFFF, 0) slowColor = useLightTheme ? color.new(#FF0000, 0) : color.new(#FF6600, 0)

// === PLOTS === plot(fastMA, title="Fast MA", color=fastColor, linewidth=2) plot(slowMA, title="Slow MA", color=slowColor, linewidth=2)

Key Patterns

Persistent State (Session Reset)

var float cumulativeValue = 0.0 var float sessionHigh = na var float sessionLow = na

if ta.change(time("D")) != 0 cumulativeValue := 0.0 sessionHigh := high sessionLow := low

Session Detection

// Check if in RTH session isSessionTime = time(timeframe.period, "0930-1600:23456")

// Detect new session start isNewSession = ta.change(time("D")) != 0

// Session with timezone isRTH = not na(time(timeframe.period, "0930-1600", "America/New_York"))

Theme Colors

useLightTheme = input.bool(false, "Light Theme", group="Display") lineColor = useLightTheme ? color.new(#000000, 0) : color.lime fillColor = useLightTheme ? color.new(#000000, 90) : color.new(color.lime, 90)

VWAP Calculation Pattern

var float cumVolume = 0.0 var float cumVwap = 0.0 var float cumVwap2 = 0.0

if isNewSession cumVolume := 0.0 cumVwap := 0.0 cumVwap2 := 0.0

cumVolume += volume cumVwap += volume * hlc3 cumVwap2 += volume * hlc3 * hlc3

vwapValue = cumVolume > 0 ? cumVwap / cumVolume : na variance = cumVolume > 0 ? cumVwap2 / cumVolume - vwapValue * vwapValue : na stdev = variance > 0 ? math.sqrt(variance) : na

upperBand = vwapValue + stdev lowerBand = vwapValue - stdev

Moving Average Patterns

// Simple Moving Average smaValue = ta.sma(close, length)

// Exponential Moving Average emaValue = ta.ema(close, length)

// Weighted Moving Average wmaValue = ta.wma(close, length)

// Hull Moving Average hmaValue = ta.hma(close, length)

Error Handling Patterns

Check for NA values

// Use nz() to replace NA with default safeValue = nz(calculatedValue, 0.0)

// Check if value is valid before use if not na(vwapValue) plot(vwapValue, color=color.blue)

Validate inputs

// Ensure slow > fast validatedSlow = math.max(slowLength, fastLength + 1)

Handle division by zero

divisor = high - low result = divisor != 0 ? (close - low) / divisor : 0.5

Check bar history

// Ensure enough bars for calculation if bar_index >= length - 1 // Safe to calculate value = ta.sma(close, length)

Runtime errors (v6)

if period < 1 runtime.error("Period must be >= 1")

Trading Context

• Focus: /ES, /NQ futures

• Timeframe: 5-minute

• Key concepts: VWAP+1SD, TWAP, IB, Classic Pivots

• Approach: Institutional over retail patterns

External Libraries

Available imports:

• import jmosullivan/SessionVolumeProfile/12 as SVP

• import jmosullivan/Session/5 as Session

Documentation Sources

Use Ref MCP to search:

• TradingView Pine Script Reference

• Pine Script User Manual