The Throughput Shaping Timer JMeter plugin makes it easy to crate a test scenario that will produce a desired number of requests per second (RPS). Scott interviews the creator of this plugin. They also discuss the importance of contributing to the JMeter open source project.
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Show Notes
GUEST: Jakub (Kuba) Dering
LINKEDIN PROFILE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuba-dering/
JMeter Throughput Shaping Timer plugin:
https://jmeter-plugins.org/wiki/ThroughputShapingTimer/
Jakub’s Track Talk at AutomationSTAR:
https://automation.eurostarsoftwaretesting.com/event/2023/performance-testing-you-didnt-know-your-automation-test-does/
JMeter Plugin – Throughput Shaping Timer
The SMC Journal podcast recently featured a conversation between host Scott Moore and Jakub Dering, a performance engineer with a passion for JMeter. While Scott is known for his humorous critiques of JMeter, he acknowledges the vital role it plays, especially for developers adopting a “shift left” approach to testing.
This episode goes beyond the typical JMeter discussion, focusing on Jakub’s journey into performance engineering and his commitment to enhancing the tool. His story exemplifies the power of open source and the impact individuals can have by contributing to community-driven projects.
Jakub’s Journey: From Unexpected Beginnings to JMeter Advocate
Jakub’s foray into performance engineering began serendipitously when a colleague needed help with performance testing. He embraced the challenge head-on, starting by migrating LoadRunner tests to JMeter. This initial exposure ignited a passion for the field and a desire to push JMeter’s capabilities further.
What sets Jakub apart from many JMeter users is his dedication to not just using the tool but actively improving it. He embodies the true spirit of open source by contributing code and creating plugins that address the challenges he faces in his work. This proactive approach led him to develop the Throughput Shaping Timer plugin, a solution born from his own experiences with performance testing bottlenecks.
The Need for Stable Throughput: A Common Testing Hurdle
Achieving stable throughput during performance testing is a common challenge. Traditional methods, like using a fixed number of threads or relying on JMeter’s Constant Throughput Timer, often struggle to maintain consistent throughput when applications experience performance fluctuations.
As Jakub explains, these methods fail to accurately simulate real-world scenarios. In reality, applications often increase concurrency to compensate for slower response times. Failing to account for this dynamic behavior can lead to misleading performance results and an incomplete understanding of an application’s true capacity.
The Throughput Shaping Timer Plugin: A More Realistic Approach
Jakub’s Throughput Shaping Timer plugin offers a more sophisticated solution. It dynamically adjusts the number of threads in a JMeter test to maintain a specified throughput level, even when the application under test exhibits performance variations.
This dynamic adjustment allows for more realistic performance testing, as it replicates the behavior of external applications or services that maintain a consistent workload regardless of response times. The plugin provides valuable insights into how an application performs under pressure, revealing potential bottlenecks that might go unnoticed using traditional testing methods.
The podcast features a demonstration of the plugin in action, showcasing its ability to achieve stable throughput despite fluctuating response times. Jakub also highlights the new features he incorporated, including the ability to define custom load profiles for different instances of the timer, allowing for more tailored and nuanced testing scenarios.
Beyond the Plugin: A Commitment to the JMeter Community
Jakub’s contributions extend beyond the Throughput Shaping Timer plugin. He has also improved the performance of the Redis Data Set plugin, further demonstrating his dedication to enhancing JMeter’s capabilities for the benefit of the entire community.
He actively shares his knowledge and expertise through conference presentations and community engagement. His upcoming talk at AutomationSTAR in Berlin will focus on performance test automation and the synergy between test automation and performance testing – further evidence of his commitment to advancing the field.
A Call to Action: Embracing the Open Source Ethos
Scott Moore, the podcast host, commends Jakub’s dedication and encourages other JMeter users to follow his example. He emphasizes the importance of “drinking the water we swim in” – actively contributing to the tools we use instead of simply relying on the work of others.
This episode of the SMC Journal podcast serves as a powerful reminder that open-source tools like JMeter thrive on community involvement. Individuals like Jakub, who go beyond simply using the tool to actively contribute code, develop innovative solutions, and share their knowledge, are invaluable assets to the open-source ecosystem.
Check out this other SMC Journal Episode about open source databases.
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