Using the Option Defense desktop app interface

First launch & activation

Goal: Activate the app on this device using your onboarding token.

What you see

• A modal titled “Option Defense Activation” with the header “🔑 Activation Required”.
• A single input field for the token plus Activate and Cancel buttons.

Steps

1. Launch the app.
2. Paste the onboarding token from your email.
3. Click Activate (or press Enter).
4. If the token is invalid, an error appears and the dialog stays open.

Scan positions (collapsed/expanded)

Goal: Review existing option positions quickly.

What you see

• Each position is a collapsible header.
• Line 1: arrow (▶/▼), status emoji, symbol, option type, strike, expiry.
• Line 2: Qty, option P&L (color-coded), optional stock P&L, premium.

Behavior

• Active strategies expand by default.
• Click the header to expand/collapse details.

Configure the hedge rules

Goal: Define entry and stop‑loss logic for this position.

Fields

• Position Size
• Invert entry/exit (reverse hedge)
• Entry Trigger Price
• Entry Execution Price
• Stop‑Loss Trigger Price
• Stop‑Loss Execution Price

Hedging logic by option type

• CALL → entry action is BUY stock; if Invert is on, entry action becomes SELL.
• PUT → entry action is SELL stock; if Invert is on, entry action becomes BUY.
• Entry order type is STP LMT using Entry Trigger (auxPrice) and Entry Execution (lmtPrice).
• Quantity = Position Size × 100 shares.

Order lifecycle

• Entry fills → place stop‑loss exit as STP LMT with Stop‑Loss Trigger/Execution.
• Exit action is always the opposite of entry (SELL if BUY, BUY if SELL).
• Exit fills → reset and place a new entry order (cycle continues).

Validation rules

• All fields required; position size must be > 0.
• Entry/exit prices must align with direction:
  • BUY entry → execution ≥ trigger
  • SELL entry → execution ≤ trigger
  • SELL exit → stop‑loss execution ≤ trigger
  • BUY exit → stop‑loss execution ≥ trigger
• Entry trigger and stop‑loss trigger must not overlap.

Errors are shown inline next to the fields:

Start, pause, and save a strategy (per position)

Start

• Appears when no active strategy is running.
• If validation fails, an inline error appears: “⚠ Fix X error(s) before starting.”

Pause

• Appears when a strategy is active.

Save

• Appears only when an active strategy has unsaved changes.
• Updates active orders if the strategy is not paused.

Start All / Pause All

Start All

• Enabled when at least one configured position is not active or is paused.
• If all are active, the app shows: “All configured positions already have active strategies.”

Pause All

• Pauses all active, unpaused strategies.

Closing with active orders

If active orders exist, a confirmation dialog appears with:

• Cancel Orders (cancel & close)
• Keep Orders (close without canceling)
• Close (X) → Don’t close

Connection to IBKR

Goal: Update the IBKR API port and reconnect without restarting.

What you see

• Port field in the toolbar.
• Save & Reconnect appears only after you change the value.
• If the connection drops, a full-screen overlay: “Connection Lost to IB”.
• Message: “All actions are blocked until connection is restored.”
• Progress bar and reconnect status.
• Port input + Change & Reconnect button.

Steps (connected)

1. Edit the port number.
2. Click Save & Reconnect.
3. The app validates the input (numeric, 1024 to 65535).
4. The app reconnects and reloads the session.

Steps (connection lost)

1. Wait for automatic retries.
2. If needed, change the port and click Change & Reconnect.

License warning (grace period)

If license validation fails but is non‑fatal, a banner appears: “⚠️ License validation failed. Running in grace period…”

The app allows up to 24 hours of grace before showing a fatal error.

Update notifications

Manual check: toolbar → Check Updates.

If an update is available, a dialog shows:

• Current → latest version
• Release notes
• Update Now / Later