Once you have a valid `strategy_version_id` (either directly from a prompt or after materializing a schema), you can run a backtest against historical market data.

Backtests on the CoinQuant platform run asynchronously. You submit a backtest request, and the engine processes it in the background. The SDK provides both automated polling helpers and manual methods for handling this process [1].

## One-Call Automated Backtesting

The simplest way to run a backtest is using the `createBacktestAndWait()` method. This method submits the backtest, automatically polls the API until the run reaches a terminal state, and returns the complete results, including CSV exports [1].

```php
$versionId = 'your_strategy_version_id';

// Submit and poll. 
// Parameters: strategyVersionId, timeoutSeconds (default 900), pollIntervalSeconds (default 5)
$outcome = $client->createBacktestAndWait($versionId, 900, 5);

echo "Final Status: {$outcome['detail']['status']}\n";

if ($outcome['results'] !== null) {
    $metrics = $outcome['results']['metrics'];
    
    echo "Total Return: {$metrics['Total Return']}%\n";
    echo "Sharpe Ratio: {$metrics['Sharpe Ratio']}\n";
    echo "Max Drawdown: {$metrics['Max Drawdown']}%\n";
    
    // Raw CSV data is also available
    $summaryCsv = $outcome['summary_csv'];
    $tradesCsv = $outcome['trades_csv'];
    
    file_put_contents('trades.csv', $tradesCsv);
}
```

### Terminal States
The polling loop will exit when the backtest status becomes one of the following:
- `completed`: The backtest finished successfully.
- `failed`: The backtest failed due to logic or data errors.
- `cancelled`: The backtest was manually cancelled.
- `error`: An internal system error occurred.
- `timeout`: The backtest exceeded the allowed execution time.

## Manual Backtesting Loop

If you prefer to manage the polling loop yourself (for example, using a task scheduler or queue system in Laravel), you can use the underlying methods directly [1].

### 1. Create the Backtest
Submit the strategy version to the engine. This returns a `backtest_id`.

```php
$backtest = $client->createBacktest($versionId);
$backtestId = $backtest['backtest_id'];
```

### 2. Poll for Status
Periodically check the status of the backtest.

```php
$detail = $client->getBacktest($backtestId);

if ($detail['status'] === 'completed') {
    // Proceed to fetch results
} elseif ($detail['status'] === 'running' || $detail['status'] === 'pending') {
    // Try again later
}
```

> **Note:** If you attempt to fetch results while a backtest is still running, the API will return a `409 Conflict` error.

### 3. Fetch Results and Exports
Once completed, retrieve the metrics and CSV exports.

```php
// Get JSON metrics
$results = $client->getBacktestResults($backtestId);

// Get CSV exports (returns raw CSV string data)
$summaryCsv = $client->getBacktestSummaryCsv($backtestId);
$tradesCsv = $client->getBacktestTradesCsv($backtestId);
```

## Comparing Backtests

You can compare the metrics of multiple completed backtests using the `compareBacktests` method:

```php
$comparison = $client->compareBacktests([
    'backtest_id_1',
    'backtest_id_2',
    'backtest_id_3'
]);

print_r($comparison);
```

## Duplicating Backtests

To rerun an exact backtest configuration, use the duplicate method:

```php
$newBacktest = $client->duplicateBacktest('existing_backtest_id');
```

---

### References
[1] [CoinQuant PHP SDK README](https://github.com/tigusigalpa/coinquant-php/blob/main/README.md)