porting-pine-versions

name	porting-pine-versions
description	Migrate Pine Script v4 / v5 source to v6 — analyze, apply migration rules, compile-check, iterate until clean. Use when the user hands over an older script or asks to "upgrade to v6" / "port this Pine code".

Porting Pine v4 / v5 → v6

You are migrating an older Pine Script to v6. Work iteratively: analyze → rewrite → compile → fix.

Power-toolkit shortcut: pine_check does a server-side compile without touching the chart — use it between rewrite passes to fail fast on syntax errors before doing a full pine_smart_compile round. pine_analyze (offline) covers v4/v5 deprecation flags.

Step 1: Pull + Identify the Version

1. pine_get_source — read the current source (skip if the user pasted it in chat)
2. pine_analyze — the analyzer flags v<6 scripts explicitly; also surfaces deprecated calls
3. Look at the first non-comment line:
   • //@version=4 → v4
   • //@version=5 → v5
   • missing / //@version=6 → nothing to do

Step 2: Apply Migration Rules

Update the version header first: //@version=6. Then apply these rewrites.

v4 → v6 Cheat Sheet

v4	v6
study("Name", overlay=true)	indicator("Name", overlay=true)
security(...)	request.security(...)
sma(x, n)	ta.sma(x, n)
ema(x, n)	ta.ema(x, n)
rsi(x, n)	ta.rsi(x, n)
crossover(a, b)	ta.crossover(a, b)
crossunder(a, b)	ta.crossunder(a, b)
highest(x, n)	ta.highest(x, n)
lowest(x, n)	ta.lowest(x, n)
atr(n)	ta.atr(n)
tostring(x)	str.tostring(x)
tonumber(x)	str.tonumber(x)
nz(x)	nz(x) (unchanged)
input(..., type=input.integer)	input.int(...)
input(..., type=input.float)	input.float(...)
input(..., type=input.bool)	input.bool(...)
iff(cond, a, b)	ternary cond ? a : b
valuewhen(cond, src, n)	ta.valuewhen(cond, src, n)

v5 → v6 (smaller gap)

Most ta.*, str.*, math.*, array.*, input.* namespaces already exist in v5. Main v6 changes:

• //@version=5 → //@version=6
• Some drawing/style constants renamed — trust the compiler errors to guide you
• plot.style_* constants: verify they still exist; the compiler will flag drops
• Strict type inference — add explicit types (float, int, bool) on var declarations where the compiler now requires them
• request.security lookahead param default tightened; be explicit: lookahead=barmerge.lookahead_off

Structural rules that stay

• 4-space indentation (never braces)
• Every script declares exactly one of indicator(), strategy(), or library()
• Series vs simple typing is stricter in v6 — if compiler complains, often you need input.int(..., defval=14) instead of raw int assignments

Step 3: Rewrite Locally

Edit the source as a single coherent pass — don't piecemeal if the script is short. For long scripts (500+ lines), port function-by-function and re-check after each.

Step 4: Compile-Check Server-Side

1. pine_check — server-side compile of the rewritten source. Cheaper than a full pine_set_source + pine_smart_compile cycle because it doesn't mutate the live editor.
2. Read errors. Common post-migration breakage:
   • Could not find function 'xxx' → likely still a v4 bareword; prefix with ta. / str. / math.
   • Cannot call 'input' with arguments... → switch to the typed variants input.int / input.float / input.bool / input.string
   • Syntax error at input 'study' → rename to indicator
   • Series type required → explicit cast, e.g., float src = close

Step 5: Iterate Until Clean

Loop:

1. Fix the next error in the local source
2. pine_check again
3. Stop when error count is 0 and warnings are acceptable

Don't push to the editor until pine_check is clean — saves round-trips.

Step 6: Push + Verify

1. pine_set_source — inject the clean v6 source
2. pine_smart_compile — final in-editor compile (catches anything pine_check missed)
3. pine_get_errors — confirm zero
4. capture_screenshot — visual sanity check that plots still render as expected
5. If it's a strategy: data_get_strategy_results — compare metrics vs the v4/v5 baseline the user recorded previously (regressions here usually indicate a subtle porting bug like lookahead semantics)

Step 7: Report

• Version bumped: v4 → v6 (or v5 → v6)
• Rewrites applied: count of study→indicator, security→request.security, ta.* prefix adds, input.* typed conversions, etc.
• Behavioral deltas to watch: flag any lookahead, barmerge, or math.round_to_mintick changes that could shift backtest numbers
• Final compile status and screenshot path

Error Notes

• PINE_COMPILE_ERROR — iterate; don't declare done
• If pine_get_source returns a huge blob, work in the local file and avoid re-reading unless needed (see CLAUDE.md rule 4 on context)