What are the best programming languages for trading and how do I get started?

Getting started with trading using programming languages can be an exciting and rewarding experience. With your background in Python, you're already off to a great start. Python is indeed a popular choice for trading, and for good reason - it's easy to learn, has a vast number of libraries and frameworks, and is widely used in the trading community.

When it comes to choosing a library or framework, Zipline and Backtrader are both excellent options. Zipline is a Pythonic algorithmic trading library that allows you to focus on writing trading strategies, while Backtrader is a feature-rich backtesting framework that supports multiple data feeds and brokers. You may also want to consider Catalyst, which is a high-performance backtesting and trading library for Python.

In terms of programming languages, Python is an excellent choice for trading, but it's not the only option. C++ and Java can also be used for trading, especially when it comes to high-performance applications. However, if you're just starting out, Python is likely a better choice due to its ease of use and extensive libraries. That being said, having a good understanding of data structures and algorithms is crucial for trading, regardless of the programming language you choose.

To get started with trading using Python, I recommend checking out the Python for Data Analysis book by Wes McKinney, which covers the basics of Python and data analysis. You may also want to look into online courses such as DataCamp's Python for Trading course or Quantopian's Python for Algorithmic Trading course. These resources will give you a solid foundation in Python and introduce you to popular libraries and frameworks used in trading.