# Is your Tradovate agent pointed at demo or live?

The problem: `demo.tradovateapi.com` is Tradovate's simulation engine and `live.tradovateapi.com` is live only, yet some code samples in the same docs call the live host ([Tradovate API docs](https://api.tradovate.com/)). An agent that copies a sample ends up on the live host.

The fix:
1. Put the base URL in a config file the agent cannot edit, set to `https://demo.tradovateapi.com/v1`.
2. Set `isAutomated: true` on every order. The docs say bot orders must carry it and that it defaults to false ([Tradovate API docs](https://api.tradovate.com/)).
3. Have your order checker refuse any request to `live.tradovateapi.com` while LIVE_TRADING is off.

Test it: place one agent order and confirm it shows in your demo account. Then point the config at the live host with no live credentials loaded. The checker should refuse before any request goes out.

The [paper trading guide](/guides/ai-agent-paper-trading) covers the full sim run.

Source: [Tradovate API docs](https://api.tradovate.com/), checked 2026-10-19.

Educational only. Not financial advice. Paper first.

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