---
title: "Getting Started"
description: "A demonstration of how to create, backtest, and paper trade a new algorithm."
canonical: https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/getting-started
markdown: https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/getting-started.md
language: python
source: https://github.com/QuantConnect/Documentation/tree/master/01%20Cloud%20Platform/02%20Getting%20Started
modified: 2026-10-29
index: https://www.quantconnect.com/llms.txt
---

# Getting Started

[Documentation](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2.md) > [Cloud Platform](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform.md) > Getting Started

> Code examples are shown in Python. Append `?lang=csharp` to this URL for the C# version of this page.

### GET STARTED WITH QUANTCONNECT

Guide through creating a project, running your first backtest, and live algo trading.

![Terminal Home Page](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/cloud-platform-getting-started.gif)

---

### Follow these steps to create, backtest, and paper trade a new algorithm:

1. Log in to the [Algorithm Lab](https://www.quantconnect.com/lab).
2. On the Projects page, click **Create New Algorithm**.

![Create New Algorithm](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/tutorial-new-algo.webp)
3. A new project opens in the [Cloud Integrated Development Environment (IDE)](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/projects/ide.md).
4. At the top of the IDE, click the![Gear icon](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/tut-build-icon.svg)**Build** icon.
5. At the top of the IDE, click the![Backtest Icon](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/tut-backtest-icon.svg)**Backtest** icon.

[The backtest results page](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/backtesting/results.md) displays your algorithm’s performance over the backtest period.

![Backtest Results](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/tutorial-backtest-results.webp)
6. At the top of the IDE, click the![Deploy Icon](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/tut-deploy-icon.svg)**Deploy Live** icon.

![Deploy Live](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/tutorial-deploy-live.webp)
7. On the Deploy Live page, click the **Brokerage field** and then click **Paper Trading** from the drop-down menu.

![Deploy Live Page](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/tutorial-deploy-page.webp)
8. Click **Deploy**.

The [live results page](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/results.md) displays your algorithm’s live trading performance.

To deploy a live algorithm with a different brokerage, see the **Deploy Live Algorithms** section of the [brokerage integration documentation](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/brokerages.md).

![Live Results Page](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/tutorial-live-results.webp)