CustomerCentrix

What is the difference between load testing and performance testing? Many web developers (and even testers) use them interchangeably. There is much confusion about when we are doing one or the other.

This blog post takes a comprehensive look at industry definitions and the thoughts of web development leaders regarding load testing vs performance testing.

It draws some concise conclusions that should be helpful in understanding and communicating the contrasting aspects of both types of testing.

2010 starts off with a bang or a wimper? That probably depends on your resolutions. Performance testing resolutions are discussed in this blog post. Mike Hawkins makes a significant contribution to this article in which frequency is the main point, and there are also Mike's 8 excellent principles to help you make your resolutions successful.

LoadStorm is a cloud-based performance testing tool that solves the key problems faced by web developers:

• Cost - least expensive tool on the planet
• Easy UI - designed to be simple, limited features
• Hardware - hosted solution, you don't need servers for load
• Install - no download, no install, no configuration

Just performance testing at it's core. No new scripting language to learn.

Anyone can get a free account to see if it solves their web performance testing problems. Give it a try!

Check out the new site on performance testing. It has great links, a RSS feed from various blogs about performance and load testing, lists of downloads, and plenty of resources.

There have been several good studies done by Aberdeen that correlate the performance of websites to real dollars. Google, Microsoft, Shopzilla, and others have empirical evidence that web performance testing can make a very large difference in a company's bottom line.

There is a new site with excellent links, blogs, downloads, and other resources relative to performance testing. It does not contain advertisements or sponsorships.

We are enjoying much success with our load testing tools.

Why? Good question. We are convinced it is because we are solving a problem for web application developers and web site designers all around the world. Load testing is expensive. Traditionally, commercial load testing tools have cost at least $10,000 - some of the big ones can cost over $1 million. Even with open source software, there is much cost in time to install, configure, and script the tool. Then comes the real problem...where do we get the extra server horsepower to generate the virtual user volume?

I had a good conversation with Roger, our CTO, about the functionality of LoadStorm. He agrees with me that our system will be a good set of general purpose software testing tools.

For example, LoadStorm supports regression testing because it will allow a test plan to be executed repeatedly. The same functionality works for agile testing, performance testing, and endurance testing.

Since we offer a free Breeze account, our clients can essentially use LoadStorm for small volume regression testing...for free. I'm not sure I will invest any money advertising our software testing tools that way, but we will not restrict anyone from using it in this form.

It is an exciting time around here at CustomerCentrix. Roger, Nigel, Christian, Charlie and the rest of the team are ready to release our new load testing tool to beta.

This load testing product is an on-demand web application that utilizes a cloud computing infrastructure. It will allow web developers to easily create test plans with several types of virtual users.

Our goal is to make load testing easy and inexpensive. We are offering a free account to anyone. That removes anyone's objection to trying it because of cost. We believe we can bring significant value to the smaller development shops and to independent developers.

We have launched our new site to prepare for the coming load testing product. Get ready for LoadStorm!

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