Load Testing GUI and Middleware Web Applications Requires a Different Approach

Tom Igielski
The Thomas Consulting Group, Inc.

Description:

Load testing a web application with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and load testing a set of middleware web services require the use of different techniques and considerations. With the GUI application, the load test needs to be concerned with things such as page navigation, the amount of time spent and what the user does on each page, image and text validation, end-user usage patterns, client vs. server side validation, and client-side scripting. All of these items can have a significant impact on how the load test is constructed, how well it performs, and how well it mimics the “real world.” Since the GUI interface is part of the actual application, its performance needs to be included as part of the results of any load test. Record / Playback techniques using an automated tool can generally give the tester a good start in creating a load test script for this type of environment.

Learning Objective:

• How to develop a solid load testing process that works in any environment
• How to identify the critical elements necessary for load testing GUI and middleware web applications
• How to construct load tests that are a accurate representation of business functionality and usage patterns
• How to deal with environment specific issues while constructing load tests
• How to define and incorporate troubleshooting strategies for load tests

Outline:

• Introduction to Web Application
• Performance Test Planning
• General Performance Testing Considerations
• Characteristics of GUI Web Environments
• Characteristics of middleware environments
• Suggested Testing Approach
• Types of Test Scripts
• Defining and Interpreting Metrics for Testing
• Designing troubleshooting strategies and methods for implementation

Biography:

Tom Igielski has over 30 years of experience that includes working with all aspects of the software development lifecycle. Tom is currently the owner and principal of The Thomas Consulting Group, Inc., a Twin Cities based company that specializes in Quality Assurance, Automated Testing, Software Development Process and Application Performance Management. Tom has amassed most of his experience managing infrastructure and quality assurance efforts being addressed by large, multi-divisional companies.