Eric Beland Ajax Load Testing Considerations
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This document discusses considerations for load testing websites that utilize Ajax technology. It notes that testing at the HTTP layer allows for scalable testing but can miss client-side interactions. Challenges with HTTP layer testing include hard-coded URLs, recording issues, limitations testing JavaScript-heavy code, and properly handling states and timeouts. Browser-based load testing is an alternative that allows proper simulation of Ajax interactions but lacks scalability, though cloud-based options are improving. The document provides guidance on when each approach is best suited.
![AJAX/UI response time rules Excerpt from Jacob Nielsen's Usability Engineering"The basic advice regarding response times has been about the same for almost thirty years [Miller 1968; Card et al. 1991]: 0.1 second is about the limit for having the user feel that the system is reacting instantaneously, meaning that no special feedback is necessary except to display the result. 1.0 second is about the limit for the user's flow of thought to stay uninterrupted, even though the user will notice the delay. Normally, no special feedback is necessary during delays of more than 0.1 but less than 1.0 second, but the user does lose the feeling of operating directly on the data. 10 seconds is about the limit for keeping the user's attention focused on the dialogue. For longer delays, users will want to perform other tasks while waiting for the computer to finish, so they should be given feedback indicating when the computer expects to be done. Feedback during the delay is especially important if the response time is likely to be highly variable, since users will then not know what to expect."](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/ericbelandajaxloadtestingconsiderations-091006102404-phpapp02/85/Eric-Beland-Ajax-Load-Testing-Considerations-27-320.jpg)
Eric Beland Ajax Load Testing Considerations
- 1. Ajax Load Testing ConsiderationsLoad Testing Ajax Websites
- 2. Background Eric Beland Co-Founder, Testomatixhttp://testomatix.comebeland@testomatix.comTwitter: @testomatix Testomatix provides full service performance testing including expert planning, scripting, and test execution. We test for you, and help you tune.
- 4. Will it Scale?What happens when people show up?
- 5. Testing at the HTTP Layer
- 6. Testing at the HTTP LayerAdvantage: Scalable - No browserSmall memory and CPU footprint Tools: HP LoadRunner, Jmeter, Grinder, Oracle e-LoadCreated by: Recording from within the browser—browser plugins or hooks.Intercepting requests with a proxy tool. May be hand-scripted.
- 7. Challenges At the HTTP layerThings that aren’t as smooth when simulating the browser…
- 9. Hard-coded URLsIf a request is dependent on a previous Ajax request which, after a certain number of users starts failing, a real user would fail. If you have a hard-coded the URL, your test will pass when it shouldn’t.If an Ajax request is vital to the user interaction,Content-checked (match against text in the HTML)Or defined as a RegExp source for navigation
- 11. Recording Issues – Is it recording?Does your tool record AJAX traffic?VS 2005 doesn't record Ajax calls.Proxy-based tools tend to do well when recording Ajax.Some proxy based recorders can’t record https traffic. Jmeter, for example
- 12. Things that won’t work, at least easilyHighly JavaScript-dependent code.Any client-server interaction that is dependent on complex client-side computationUnless you re-implement the logic in your testing tool…Client-side decompressionClient side JS encryption (Don’t do this. Really.)ObfuscationStreaming
- 13. Recording Issues – Ajax+ REST IssuesREST (Representational State Transfer) makes use of 4 HTTP verbs GET, POST, PUT and DELETEBrowsers do not have support for PUT and DELETE currently (HTML 5) But it IS supported in the XMLHttpRequest implementation in all major browsers.But, your load testing tool may not be able to record it, or replay it.Currently (Sept. 09) the case in Oracle e-Load. Used to be an issue in JMeter.Likely still an issue in other tools.
- 14. Script MaintenanceScript recording Unless you remember, or your testers determine every place Ajax has been added or removed from a script, you need to recreate your scripts for them to be accurate.A “real life” example:http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Slowing-Time.aspx
- 15. Statefulness ConsiderationAjax requests may require a session cookie, or value in a cookie.If the cookie is not configured to be updated, the request will fail.
- 16. Client-side JS Timestamp on CacheTimestampsmay be hard coded in your recorded postsWe have seen JavaScript caching, with timestamps which need to be updated.
- 17. Validate Ajax ReturnsFor valid testing, the return values of AJAX calls must be validated.If they are not validated, the script may appear to work past the number of users which the application can support.
- 18. AutoComplete FieldsThink time between Ajax requests—users type quickly.In order to replicate real load, and exercise any caching effectively, requests must be parameterized.AutoComplete fields send requests key-by-key. Parameterization may not account for this properly.
- 20. Ajax AutocompleteAutocomplete made these requests:Parameterization is tricky.
- 21. The correct way to generate the load is to make multiple requests for the parameter.
- 22. Additionally, it looks like cp=could be a character count. http://clients1.google.com/complete/search?hl=en&client=hp&q=a&cp=1http://clients1.google.com/complete/search?hl=en&client=hp&q=aja&cp=3http://clients1.google.com/complete/search?hl=en&client=hp&q=ajax&cp=4
- 23. AJAX Polling or AJAX StreamingJavaScript which does AJAX polling in the background. Polling interval may change, which changes the load associated with a page.Comet (Streaming)When added or removed, load scripts must be updated.
- 24. ReportingMany tools work on the “page” model for load testing. Ajax apps do not necessarily follow the page model, and in many cases, the application is not “working” when the AJAX functionality is not working.Ajax timeouts must be treated as full-fledged failures.
- 25. AJAX Response TimesAJAX response time expectationsNot the same as page load response expectationsAjax response times should follow UI response time rules, which have their own laws, and generally need to be faster.A 6 second page load might be ok, but a 6 second lag between UI responses is painfulUI Responsiveness rules are pretty brutal when applied to web applications.
- 26. TimeoutsChoosing timeoutsLoad/Scalability testsLower timeouts are appropriate for Ajax heavy applications.Determine how many users you can support within acceptable-response times.10 seconds is probably a reasonable threshold for an Ajax request.
- 27. AJAX/UI response time rules Excerpt from Jacob Nielsen's Usability Engineering"The basic advice regarding response times has been about the same for almost thirty years [Miller 1968; Card et al. 1991]: 0.1 second is about the limit for having the user feel that the system is reacting instantaneously, meaning that no special feedback is necessary except to display the result. 1.0 second is about the limit for the user's flow of thought to stay uninterrupted, even though the user will notice the delay. Normally, no special feedback is necessary during delays of more than 0.1 but less than 1.0 second, but the user does lose the feeling of operating directly on the data. 10 seconds is about the limit for keeping the user's attention focused on the dialogue. For longer delays, users will want to perform other tasks while waiting for the computer to finish, so they should be given feedback indicating when the computer expects to be done. Feedback during the delay is especially important if the response time is likely to be highly variable, since users will then not know what to expect."
- 28. New Alternatives to HTTP Layer TestingBrowser-based load testing.Historically, not very scalable.Enter the cloudThe cloud makes browser based load testing scalable. LoadStorm
- 29. BenefitsScript maintainabilityChanges to the websites AJAX code will flow through as JavaScript is executed at test-time.Proper handling of: Changes to Polling intervalsNew AJAX requestsDeleted AJAX requestsAuto-complete fields
- 30. When to use browser-based testingWhen you have an Ajax heavy or dynamic siteWhen you have flash or difficult-to-reproduce interactions.When your man-hours are preciousEasier maintenance and development make it worthwhileGenerally affordable for small tests, run frequentlyWhen you can!
- 31. When not to used browser-based testingWhen you need to test 200,000 users.Cost prohibitiveWhen you cannot expose your site to external traffic (intranet)There are commercial load testing tools that let you run real browsers locally. For smaller tests, this can work.