Executing a proper load test on your Java application gives you the opportunity to establish whether or not your application will perform the way that you expect to perform when it goes live.
In this article, we will discuss how to set up and execute a proper load test so that you get the quality data that you can use to assess whether or not your application is ready to be launched. You will be able to prevent the many problems that emerge when your Java application performs poorly.
Step 1: Choose the right load tester
Load tests are widely viewed as being prohibitively expensive, and for good reason- traditional load testers can very easily become drains on your resources and your time. Once you begin adding up fees for consulting, licensing and labor, never mind all the time that those load testers take to execute their tests, it is no wonder why load testing is so prohibitive for many companies.
The best load tester on the market today that is affordable, efficient and effective is AppLoader. AppLoader tests from the end-user’s perspective, which means that you will get the most relevant data possible on your application’s performance. It is fast in its execution, which means that you will save on time and money. AppLoader is also flexible, which means that you can adjust your tests so that you get data on different loads (for example, expected and above-expected).
Choosing a quality load tester like AppLoader makes load testing much more effective and pleasant!
Step 2: Plan and prepare your load test
Before beginning your load test, you should define exactly what you are looking to get out of the load test. What parts of the application are you testing? What kinds of loads will you be testing your application’s performance under? How will you know if you have a successful test?
Perhaps the trickiest part is estimating the loads for your Java application. If it is a new application, then you will have to do more guesswork than if it is simply an update to an existing application. Be realistic with your estimates.
Set up your Java application in the way that it will be set up when it is actually live. The more realistic the setup, the more relevant the data that you will get from the load test. You may need to coordinate with your design team during this process.
Step 3: Execute the load test on both expected and higher than expected loads
When performing the tests, be sure to close unnecessary programs and stop unnecessary processes so that you get the cleanest results possible.
If you use AppLoader to load test your Java application, performing tests for both expected and higher than expected loads are pretty easy to set up. AppLoader will do most the work for you, see your role will be to monitor the load test and make any minor tweaks you need to make.
As you execute the test, you will get data on the performance of your application at these different loads. Analyzing that data should give you an idea of when your application performs well and when it doesn’t perform so well. Once you have those results, you can bring in the relevant teams to make adjustments to the application or to the platform on which it is running.
What you’ve done all this, and prepare your Java application for launch and be confident in how it will perform. With all the time that you saved with using an efficient load tester like AppLoader, you can focus on improving the application rather than worrying about its performance.