JMeter is an open source test automation framework developed under the stewardship of the Apache Foundation that is mainly used for performance and load testing. This article provides pointers to documentation, tutorials, courses and videos to learn to use JMeter.
Author: Franco Martinig, Martinig & Associates
What is JMeter?
Apache JMeter is an open source test automation framework. This Java application is a software testing tool used mainly to perform load and performance testing. It is very helpful to verify the capabilities of websites to keep small responsive time when they are under the stress of higher traffic, in the case of Black Friday sales or promotions from casino for instance.
JMeter is the software behind some of the online commercial load testing platforms like Blazemeter or LoadView. This provides an additional motivation to learn to use this tool. Besides the main features, the capabilities of this testing framework have been extended by open source and commercial Jmeter plugins.
JMeter Learning Resources
* Apache JMeter User Manual Getting Started
This is the official documentation from the Apache JMeter team on how to get started. The documentation also contains information on distributed testing or extending JMeter with plugins.
Website: https://jmeter.apache.org/usermanual/get-started.html
* Tutorial Series: Load Testing with Apache JMeter
This tutorial contains two parts that show you how to use JMeter to record test scenarios, and to perform load testing on your web servers.
* JMeter Tutorial For Beginners
This tutorial is not recent but provides a nice introduction to JMeter with a lot of screenshots to explain the basic features of the tool.
Website: https://octoperf.com/blog/2018/03/29/jmeter-tutorial/
* Book: Master Apache JMeter From load testing to DevOps, Antonio Gomes Rodrigues, Philippe Mouawad and Milamber
Master performance testing and JMeter with this book written by three members of Apache JMeter’s team who are also experts in the performance field. You will deeply understand how to get the most out of it, be more productive and integrate it into your Agile/DevOps processes. Throughout the chapters, you will understand how to create meaningful performance tests, discover the richness of JMeter and learn how to use it efficiently and effectively. From automatic recording that allows you to gain in productivity and realism in writing your scripts, through correlation that makes your test realistic and reusable across environments, the authors put you on the right track to realize your scalability testing campaigns. They then explore the different protocols offered by the tool through examples drawn from their professional experiences. Finally, they show how to integrate the tool into the DevOps approach, create professional reports and exploit the richness of its ecosystem to integrate new protocols, enrich its monitoring or leverage its power through the use of the Cloud.
Website: https://leanpub.com/master-jmeter-from-load-test-to-devops
* Video: JMeter Tutorial For Beginners
In one hour, this video will help software testers understand the concept of performance testing and how to use JMeter. This introduction also covers JMeter script recording and API testing.
Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m4vkDU0zIU
* Video: JMeter Full Course Masterclass Step by Step for Beginners
This video of 3h30 provides a detailed introduction to JMeter from the setup on your desktop machine to a thorough description on how the tools works.
Website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoW2pBak1_Q
* Video: JMeter Full Course – Master JMeter in 5 Hours
This 5h30 video contains a long list of topics to understand and use JMeter. Here are some of the elements featured in this video:
– JMeter Folder structure and Purpose of each folder
– What are Assertions in JMeter and how to use them with Real-time Examples
– Detail understanding of response time graph with real-time example
– What is JMeter Plugins Manager and How to install it in JMeter
– How to create a database plan and Test the performance of Database queries
– How to test the performance of SOAP and REST APIs
– How to generate HTML Reports in JMeter
– Loop and Interleave Controller in JMeter with example
Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz57tS1a47g
* Course: Performance Testing with JMeter for absolute beginners by Coursera
JMeter is one of the most widely used performance testing and load testing tools in this industry. In this 2-hour long project-based course, you will learn 1. Basics of performance testing 2. JMeter components like samplers, config elements, listeners etc 3. Sending HTTP requests using JMeter 4. Defining config elements 5. Sending HTTP POST/PUT/PATCH and DELETE requests in Jmeter 6. Reading from CSV file using CSV config element 7. Applying load 8. Installing custom plugins 9. Generating load or traffic with custom thread groups 10. Custom graph listeners in JMeter
Website: https://www.coursera.org/projects/performance-testing-with-jmeter-for-absolute-beginners
* Course: JMeter 5: Getting Started by Pluralsight
At the core of performance testing is a thorough knowledge of tools like JMeter. In this course, JMeter: Getting Started, you will learn the basics of this tool. First, you will explore performance testing and what JMeter can do. Next, you will see how to create tests with JMeter. Finally, you will discover how to collect and analyze test results. When you’re finished with this course, you will have a foundational knowledge of how to create tests with JMeter that help you as you move forward to test the performance of applications in order to meet their defined goals.
Website: https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/jmeter-getting-started
* Course: Advanced JMeter by LinkedIn
Make the most of Apache JMeter, the open-source, industry-standard tool for performance testing. This course covers advanced JMeter tips and techniques, designed to help software testers and engineers get even more value from JMeter. Michael Smith, a technology researcher with over 10 years of experience in software testing, shows how to record test scripts to capture actions and replay them through a browser. He also shows how to log in to web applications for testing, generate new login requests from a data source such as a CSV files, and load test APIs . Plus, learn how to perform distributed load testing using a master-server configuration in JMeter. With these tips, you can take your JMeter skills to the next level.
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/advanced-jmeter
Conclusion
Apache JMeter is a standard test automation tool used for performance and load testing. There are many resources, tutorials, videos and courses available for you to learn how to use this open source software testing tool. Mastering its usage will give you the knowledge and skills to perform load testing and make you more valuable on the software testers job market.