Senior Python Developer: Low-Latency Asyncio Data & Audio Engine (GUI)

**Project Overview:** I am looking for an expert developer to build a lightweight desktop stock ticker application (Windows/macOS preferred) where the MAIN focus is high-utility, fully customizable AUDIBLE alerts. I want to monitor the markets by ear without constantly staring at my screen. The app will feature a customizable "Quote Builder" layout running on fast user-defined refresh loops, but the sound engine is the absolute priority of this project. **Core Audio Requirements (The Main Point):** * Event-Driven Sound Profiles: I need to assign distinct, custom text-to-speech (TTS) speeds, pitches, or triggers based on user-defined price movements. * Directional Audio Logic: Distinctly different tone pitches or speech profiles for "Up" ticks versus "Down" ticks so I can instantly hear market direction. * Speech Profiles: A drop-down menu to toggle between "Standard Mode" (reads full labels: "Tesla 100, up 2, bid 99...") and "Pro Mode" (strips all labels for high-speed tracking: "TSLA, 100, up 2, 99..."). * Global Panic Mute: Hitting the Spacebar or a dedicated hotkey must instantly mute/unmute all active audio feedback immediately. * API Key Settings & Data Feeds: The app must use a "Bring Your Own Data Feed" architecture. It must feature a configuration settings screen where users input their personal, API credentials (keys and tokens) to feed data into the ticker. * Brokerage Dropdown Selector: The UI must include a simple drop-down menu allowing users to choose which data provider or brokerage connection to activate (e.g., [Dropdown: Alpaca Markets, Polygon.io, Interactive Brokers, Yahoo Finance]). The developer must build modular data adapters for these connections. **Data & Interface Requirements:** * Custom Quote Builder: Ability to save layout templates choosing from fields like Symbol, Last Price, Up/Down, Bid/Ask Size, Day High/Low, Open, and Close. * Fast Polling Loops: Drop-down selector for data intervals per ticker: 1 second, 5 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 5 minutes. * Multi-Monitor Support: Global hotkeys to switch saved templates instantly without needing the app window to be in active focus. * Ticker Looping: Supports inputting a single ticker or a comma-separated list to cycle through multiple stocks on the interval loop. **Budget & Contract Setup:** * Contract Type: Fixed-Price * Total Project Budget: $3,000 (To be broken into milestones upon signing an NDA) ⚠️ CRITICAL: You must start the very first word of your cover letter/proposal with the word "TICKER" to prove you are a human and not an automated bot. If your proposal does not start with the word "TICKER", it will be instantly declined without review. Please reply by explaining your experience with asynchronous programming, audio-based desktop systems, or handling high-speed financial APIs (like Alpaca or Polygon.io). Selected candidates will be asked to sign an NDA before receiving the full requirements document.