Load testing is a critical stage in software development and optimization. It helps identify system weaknesses and ensures resilience to heavy loads. Many tools have emerged for effective testing with the growing use of modern technologies, such as microservices and cloud solutions.
Among them, the gRPC load testing tool, which provides high-speed performance testing of services using the gRPC protocol, and the JMeter cloud testing tool deserve special attention. In this article, we offer to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular tools for load testing.
Popular Tools For Load Testing
Load testing allows companies to evaluate software performance under various loads resulting from the actions of a certain number of users. Businesses must always know software’s performance in actual conditions, identify key vulnerabilities, and ensure high software quality. We offer to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular solutions for load testing.
Apache JMeter
Apache JMeter is currently one of the most popular tools for load testing. Work on this tool has been ongoing since 2003, and over the past decades, it has acquired rich functionality.
The tool is cross-platform, as it was developed in Java. The user can access both works from the GUI and launch in console mode.
Apache JMeter supports working with various network protocols of different levels, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, LDAP, SOAP, TCP, mail protocols, and shell scripts. It also provides capabilities for working with JDBC and message-oriented middleware (MOM) via JMS and Java Objects.
Suppose this is not enough for you, and you need a solution to a specific problem. In that case, you can extend JMeter by writing your extension or using existing ones in the plugin manager.
Running one JMeter instance may not be enough for high loads, but this problem can be solved by tuning the tool’s configuration files or using distributed launch.
Apache JMeter’s advantages include:
- User-friendly interface.
- Result analysis and caching.
- The basic package can be easily expanded with numerous plugins.
- 100% in Java.
- The script is graphically divided into sampler blocks, which simplifies its development.
- Convenient work with multithreading.
- Data analysis and visualization.
- Dynamic input.
Apache JMeter’s disadvantages include:
- It does not support JavaScript.
- There is a limit to memory usage, after which errors appear for many users.
- Sometimes, testing complex applications using JavaScript or dynamic content, such as CSRF tokens, isn’t easy.
Apache Jmeter is a tremendous open-source load-testing tool for big and small companies. The program provides its users with helpful testing tools for free, and users can customize it according to their needs.
LoadRunner
Micro-Focus Loadrunner is a sophisticated software load-testing tool that detects performance issues, perhaps primarily in enterprise applications. LoadRunner can test ERP software, legacy systems applications, and Web 2.0 technologies.
Loadrunner allows software testers to assess their system’s performance comprehensively. It specializes in identifying bottlenecks before an application is implemented or before the deployment stage so users can evaluate each component individually before it goes live.
Pros of LoadRunner:
- Detects bottlenecks at the system, end-user, and code levels.
- Uncovers the root cause of application performance issues.
- Can perform performance testing of existing legacy applications.
- Can test mobile applications.
- Reduces software and hardware costs by predicting software performance and scalability.
- Allows software development teams to set up intelligent SLAs before their product goes live.
- Shorten testing cycles to speed up application delivery to users.
- Provides effective tracking of tool usage.
- Browser interface for access to distributed test resources.
- Optimal use of load generators.
Cons of LoadRunner:
- Very expensive.
- It uses a lot of memory and crashes if the system does not meet its computing requirements.
- The cost of a license for use depends on the number of virtual users.
LoadUI Pro
LoadUI is a unique load-testing tool. It is mainly designed for web services running on Linux, Windows, and Mac OS and allows users to evaluate the API’s scalability, speed, and performance. As a result, users can view the API’s performance behavior and then deploy the software to production.
With this tool, users can check whether the API can handle the load from the cloud. At the same time, you can use existing SoapUI Pro tests in different load test scenarios without changing the original tests.
LoadUI Pro also allows users to run multiple load test scenarios simultaneously. This will enable users to evaluate how different test conditions interact with each other and affect the API’s performance.
Among the advantages of LoadUI Pro:
- API load tests in the cloud.
- You can reuse existing functional tests.
- Parallel API load testing.
- Isolation load testing.
- Server monitoring to diagnose resources that cause delays and reduce performance.
Among the disadvantages of LoadUI Pro:
- This is an expensive tool.
- The tool is optimized only for testing APIs and microservices.
Gatling
Gatling is another popular open source load testing tool. It is written in Scala using Netty and Akka technologies.
Scripts in Gatling are written in a familiar development environment and support the site and Maven build automation tools. It is also possible to integrate into continuous integration processes using Jenkins.
Another advantage of Gatling for a developer is that upon completion of testing, a report is created automatically, and all that remains is to analyze it.
As for protocol support, according to the official documentation, HTTP(s)/1, WebSocket, JMS, and MQTT are supported. The HTTP 2.0 protocol has limited support.
Among the advantages of Gatling:
- It can be more productive at high loads than free tools, especially when testing web sockets.
- Suitable if you are developing in Scala.
- There are official and unofficial plugins for testing Kafka, RabbitMQ, JDBC, etc.
Among the disadvantages of Gatling:
- Creating a script manually is more straightforward than using the existing recorder.
- No distributed launch out of the box.
Wrapping It Up
Choosing the correct load testing tool directly affects the success of the project and its ability to handle high loads. Using tools such as a tool for gRPC load testing, JMeter cloud testing tool, and LoadRunner allows you to improve application performance and minimize the risks associated with possible system failures.
The correct selection and configuration of testing tools will help ensure the reliability and efficiency of your software product under any operating conditions. If you are looking for a reliable provider of load testing services, particularly gRPC load testing tools, we recommend paying attention to PFLB.
