Struggling with JMeter Maintenance? Here Are 5 Signs It’s Time for a New Framework

JMeter has been a staple in the performance testing world for many years. Its open-source nature and extensive plugin support have made it a go-to tool for many organizations. However, as applications grow more complex, teams often find themselves struggling to scale JMeter. Here are five signs it might be time to consider a new performance testing framework.

1) Difficulty Writing New Scripts & Maintaining Existing Scripts

The Challenge

As your application evolves, the number of test cases grows, and maintaining these tests in JMeter can become cumbersome. If you’re in a position where you’re consistently spending more time maintaining scripts rather than having them run - it’s worth at least considering alternative frameworks that simplify maintenance

At Perform, we had two of our in-house performance engineering experts run an experiment where they scripted the same 5 performance tests. One used Tricentis NeoLoad - and the other used JMeter. With NeoLoad, the same tests took almost 80% less time to create since he was able to use NeoLoad’s no-code test design interface that also promotes modularity & reusability. 

Potential Solutions

At Perform, we help clients adopt low-code and no-code performance testing frameworks that make test maintenance much easier. There’s also approaches to cut down on the number of tests in your repository - without sacrificing coverage. As we establish use case documentation and workload models, we can help design tests that are more impactful and easier to maintain over time.

2) Limited Scalability for High-Volume Scenarios

The Challenge

While it can be a serviceable solution in the earlier phases of an applications lifecycle, JMeter can struggle to scale efficiently as time goes on. Once an app starts experiencing higher workloads, it can be difficult to design JMeter tests to account for high concurrency or complex test scenarios. This can lead to inaccurate performance metrics and unreliable test results.

Potential Solutions

Modern performance testing tools are designed to handle large-scale tests with ease. NeoLoad, for instance, supports distributed testing and can simulate thousands of virtual users, providing more accurate and scalable testing capabilities. For organizations in notably complex environments like the gaming industry, we also help design proprietary frameworks that can simulate millions of active users.

3) Lack of Integration with Modern CI/CD Pipelines

The Challenge

There’s inherent value in embedding automation frameworks into your CI/CD pipeline. Automated workflows that facilitate continuous testing throughout the SDLC boosts quality without sacrificing speed or consuming extra resources. Even though JMeter can be tied into a Jenkins or GitLab pipeline, it’s not as intuitive as more sophisticated commercial frameworks.

Potential Solutions

Frameworks like NeoLoad and OctoPerf offer more turnkey integrations with popular CI/CD tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, and ADO Pipelines. These integrations streamline the testing lifecycle by embedding automated performance testing into your continuous deployment strategy.

4) Difficulty in Analyzing Test Results

The Challenge

For performance engineers using JMeter, it takes considerable effort to script, run, and maintain automated performance tests. Analyzing results can also be particularly time-consuming, as reporting is often cited as a weak point for JMeter. Unless you have a robust system in place to interpret large volumes of large data, it leaves performance engineers susceptible to missing key insights after tests are completed.

Potential Solutions

Newer performance testing tools come with advanced analytics and reporting features. NeoLoad, for example, provides intuitive dashboards and detailed reports that make it easier to understand test results and identify performance bottlenecks.

5) Inadequate Support and Community Resources

The Challenge

While JMeter has a large user community, finding reliable support and resources can still be a challenge. This can lead to wasted time troubleshooting issues and trying to implement best practices. As a performance engineer, your time is much better spent on high-yield activities like scripting new test cases - rather than scouring StackOverflow for guidance on troubleshooting JMeter.

Potential Solutions

Again, switching to a commercial tool like OctoPerf or NeoLoad can provide a more efficient experience. Access to dedicated support teams and extensive documentation makes it much easier to work through any potential challenges. Additionally, professional services and training options can help your team get up to speed quickly and resolve issues more efficiently.

Migrating From JMeter

If you’re looking for an upgrade to JMeter but aren’t sure which solution to select for your project, our team at Perform can help guide your evaluation. We’re preferred implementation partners for platforms like NeoLoad and OctoPerf - both of which can serve as an effective foundation for performance engineering teams. 

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Both platforms are far more user friendly and scalable than JMeter. They can also reuse JMeter assets so you won’t even need to start from scratch. If you’d like to start the conversation, you’re more than welcome to book a free strategy call with one of our architects using at this link.  

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