Update .env.template and README to include ALPACA_PAPER variable; modify alpaca_integration.py to utilize PAPER setting for client initialization.

Author: ProgramComputer

.env.template

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 GOOGLE_SCRIPT_URL=deployed_google_script_url
 APCA_API_KEY_ID=your_alpaca_key_id
-APCA_API_SECRET_KEY=your_alpaca_secret_key
+APCA_API_SECRET_KEY=your_alpaca_secret_key
+ALPACA_PAPER=true

README.md

@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ Create a `.env` file in the root directory with your credentials:
 ```
 APCA_API_KEY_ID=your-alpaca-key
 APCA_API_SECRET_KEY=your-alpaca-secret
-APCA_API_BASE_URL=https://paper-api.alpaca.markets
 GOOGLE_SCRIPT_URL=your-google-apps-script-url
+ALPACA_PAPER=true  # Set to 'false' to use live trading (default is 'true' for paper trading)
 ```
 
 ### 3. Install Dependencies

alpaca_integration.py

@@ -7,12 +7,13 @@
 
 API_KEY = os.environ.get("APCA_API_KEY_ID")
 API_SECRET = os.environ.get("APCA_API_SECRET_KEY")
+PAPER = os.environ.get("ALPACA_PAPER", "true").lower() == "true"
 
 
 def init_alpaca_client():
     try:
-        client = TradingClient(API_KEY, API_SECRET, paper=True)
-        print("Alpaca client initialized.")
+        client = TradingClient(API_KEY, API_SECRET, paper=PAPER)
+        print(f"Alpaca client initialized. Paper mode: {PAPER}")
         return client
     except Exception as e:
         print(f"Error initializing Alpaca client: {e}")