Metamako, a provider of deterministic ultra-low latency devices, has set up a partner programme to encourage third parties to develop applications for its MetaApp and MetaMux switching platforms, which include ultra low-latency switching, an onboard field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a server, and are typically used to trade directly with exchanges.
Dave Snowdon, founder and co-chief technology officer at Metamako, explains: “The partner programme opens our platform so that developers can deploy their FPGA applications. Until now, there have been huge barriers to users adopting FPGA technology due to cost and complexity, but our platform makes it easy for applications providers to focus on their core competencies. This means customers can acquire and benefit from new solutions more quickly and easily.”
The first partner to join the programme is Algo-Logic, a developer of gateware libraries and applications for FPGA devices. These include Tick-to-Trade, which implements a complete, ultra low-latency trading solution in FPGA logic, and Key Value Store, which enables tens of thousands of computers to share data by name.
John Lockwood, CEO at Algo-Logic, says: “Metamako’s partner programme will make the deployment of our applications very straightforward. The initiative will offer benefits to both developers and market participants – anyone with a MetaMux or MetaApp device can easily evaluate and use an Algo-Logic app.”
The ease of developing and deploying third-party apps is based on the Metamako platform, which includes a robust support infrastructure, a tested development environment and support for porting apps to the platform using a thin layer of integration.
Metamako is working with a number of other vendors on potential application partnerships and is encouraging its customers to develop their own applications using the software tools provided with the platform. The company will also continue to develop its own apps, adding to existing offers including MetaWatch, a packet capture and analytics solution that can be used for functions such as order trails and latency measures, and MetaMux, an app that can achieve 99 nanosecond packet aggregation and is useful for connecting trading machines directly to exchanges.
Snowdon says Metamako will continue to write apps with wide appeal, while its partners will add more specific functionality to the platform. One of the company’s next developments is an extremely fast filtering app that could be used to take feeds from an exchange and multicast the data. Partner apps could include pre-trade risk checking, feed handlers and intrusion detectors.
Metamako products have been in production for about nine months and have found favour among proprietary trading companies and banks. To date, the company has about 40 customers, most of which are in the US and Europe.
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