Java Application Testing

An old cliché is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound. This is definitely true when it comes to your Java applications. Going live with a new Java application without properly setting it up has the potential to be disastrous. If the application is unable to handle the amount of usage that it is going to get, then it will be the source of frustration for its users. Ensuring that your application can handle the amount of usage that it is going to get before launching it is a pretty effective way at saving a whole lot of hassle!

The way to do this is load testing. When you load test your applications, you simulate how they will perform when they are being used. The benefits of testing this before launching your Java application should be clear. What is less clear is how to actually set up and execute a proper load test. Here are five things you need to know before load testing a Java application. This will help inform you of what kind of load tester to invest in.

1. You should test from the end-user’s point of view.

Load testing from the end-user’s point of view will give you the most relevant results that you can get from a load test. This is especially true with a Java application, which has online and offline components. You need to be sure that the interaction between the user and the cloud or server that hosts the Java application is smooth. That will be most clear if you test from the end-user’s point of view.

When selecting a load tester, be sure that it simulates the end-user’s experience.

2. A problem with traditional load testers is that their costs in time and money can spiral out of control.

An intimidating thing about performing load tests is their high cost, both in time and resources. Traditional load testers require a lot of both in order to set up and execute. Not only does this hurt your company’s bank account, it also delays the launch of your application, which has substantial hidden costs.

You should select a load testing application that executes the load test in the most efficient and cost effective way possible.

3. Coordinate the necessary teams.

Depending on whether your Java application is hosted on your company’s servers or if it is hosted on the cloud, you may need to coordinate your load test with your IT department or some other department in your company. Many load tests have been unnecessarily held back due to a lack of communication and coordination between different departments in organizations.

4. Planning your load test is critical.

Before load testing your Java application, you team needs to sit down and identify some critical objectives related to the load test. In particular, before load testing, you should identify exactly what functions of the Java application you will be load testing. In addition, and this is important, you need to estimate the amounts of usage that you expect your application to experience when it goes live.

If this is an update of an existing application, then this kind of estimating shouldn’t be that difficult-you can just reference the amount of usage that the application was receiving before. If this is a brand-new application, however, then estimating the amount of expected usage may be a little more difficult.

5. Once you have estimates of your expected loads, run tests for both normal and high-than-expected usage.

Even the best thought out estimates can prove to be inaccurate. This is why you want to run your load test on both normal and higher than expected loads. By performing your load test on both of these levels, you lessen the chance of being surprised by your applications performance if it’s usage is significantly higher than what you expect.

When selecting a load tester, you want to select a load tester that is capable of swiftly adjusting to and executing load tests on both normal and higher-than-expected loads.

AppLoader is a load tester that can perform load tests on your Java applications efficiently in both cost and performance. You can set up AppLoader to test your application at different levels, and execute those tests at a faster rate than most other load testers. Unlike traditional load testers, you will not find costs spiraling out-of-control because AppLoader does not require you to purchase expensive licenses or pay consultants ridiculously high fees.

If you want to be able to run effective load tests that give you quality, usable results quickly, then investing in AppLoader would be a solid investment for your organization.