Silverlight Application Testing
Silverlight applications provide rich multimedia experiences to their users. The best experiences are when the applications are running smoothly. When multiple users access the application simultaneously, performance can become an issue. If you want to avoid a situation where users cannot get the best experience from your Silverlight applications, then you need to perform adequate load tests before going live with them.
Here are five things you need to know before load testing your Silverlight applications. These five things will allow you to load test effectively and affordably in the least amount of time.
1. Load tests can be expensive
Many organizations shy away from load testing because it is seen as being expensive. This high cost results from the nature of most load testers on the market today. These load testers have hidden costs which emerge as you set up and execute each load test. Some of these costs include the price of the load tester, licensing fees, consulting fees and the cost of labor to perform the complex coding tasks most load testers require.
Not all load testers are expensive. At the end of this article, you will learn about one Silverlight load tester that is cost-effective and contains no hidden fees.
2. You should load test from the end user’s point of view
To get the best results from your Silverlight load tests, you want to test from the end users’ point of view. When you test from the end users’ point of view, you simulate the experience that your users will have when accessing your application under different levels of stress. These results will give you insights into where the bottlenecks are in your application.
3. Silverlight applications run on multiple devices and platforms
Silverlight applications are accessible on multiple devices, including desktops, phones and tablets. They can be run on different platforms like Citrix servers or on the cloud. Many load testers struggle to effectively load test applications with these capabilities. The key to testing applications like these is to select a load tester which tests from the end users point of view and has cross-platform capabilities.
4. Load tests can take a long time to set up and execute
Besides cost, the next biggest frustration organizations have of load testing is the amount of time that many load testers take to set up and execute load tests. Some load testers require complex coding to set up. Complex loading is a time intensive operation which prolongs the testing. It also delays the launch of the application. This means users have to wait a long time before they can actually enjoy the benefits of your Silverlight application.
When selecting a load tester, look for one that does not require complex coding to set up and execute.
5. Load tests for multiple levels of stress
To get the best results possible, it is a good idea to load test for different levels of stress. The obvious level of stress to test for is the one that you anticipate your application receiving. In addition, it is a good idea to test for a higher than expected load. You never know how much stress your application will actually be under when it goes live. Load testing applications at a higher than expected level of stress will give you some additional confidence that it will perform even if the unexpected happens.
The key with load testing is to pick the right load tester. Picking the wrong load tester will amplify the problems discussed in this article. You will find that load testing is frustratingly expensive and time-consuming. On the other hand, picking the right load tester makes testing affordable, effective, and fast.
The best load tester on the market today for Silverlight applications is AppLoader. AppLoader is protocol independent, which means you can test your Silverlight applications on multiple platforms. It is easy to use, has no hidden fees, and is fast in its execution.
Selecting AppLoader allows you to perform multiple load tests on your Silverlight applications. You will be able to identify and correct any performance issues with your application before going live. You will have confidence in your application’s ability to perform and will ensure that users get the best experience possible.