Cooking for my Son - Thai Curry

During Sam's school study choices (15-18 years old) I tried to encourage him to choose something IT related but he seemed fixed on learning FX trading and showed zero interest in my advice.

And then, as if by magic, now he's completed his studying, he started to inquire about some Tech topics that I could actually attempt to answer, rather than Securities and Portfolio Analysis which took me far too long to google.

So then I thought, as he has recently moved back to London in a flat with friends, I'll offer to cook him a meal and then try and answer his Tech questions whilst I prepare.

Truthfully, the Thai Green Curry did not look as good as the picture here, but the Q & A session went something like this:

Sam: I understand Crypto Trading but what is Blockchain?

Me: Blockchain is the underlying technology......a system of recording information in a way that makes it almost impossible to change. Each block in the chain contains a number of transactions, and every time a new transaction occurs on the blockchain, a record of that transaction is added to every participant's ledger.

Sam: Ok, I'll stick to Crypto.

Me: Tell me about Crypto Trading.

Sam: Crypto currency trading is basically speculating on cryptocurrency price movements via a CFD trading account, or buying and selling the underlying coins via an exchange.

Me: Think I get that.....

Me: Ok..... and why are you now wanting to learn Python? (Thinking - told you to do an IT degree)

Sam: As far as I know, Python makes it easier to write and evaluate Algo trading structures because of its functional programming approach and I hear can be easily extended to dynamic algorithms for trading. Someone also told me that C or C++ would be time consuming to use.

Sam: Tell me about API's and Open Banking

Me: (Thinking - told you to do an IT degree) API means Application Programming Interface, which is a software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other. So each time you send an instant message in say Facebook, you’re using an API.

Sam: I'm off Social media Dad...told you this...well apart from Instagram and Snapchat!

Me: Oh right.....

Well, Open Banking APIs expose?a range of data to third-party financial service solution providers including payment initiators, account aggregators, and other emerging Fintechs. These APIs are designed and documented to support PSD2 and Open Banking regulations.

Sam: I'm hungry, let's eat

Me: (Thinking - glad you did not do an IT degree as maybe we would not have had this Father/Son time together :-))