Performance Testing To Performance Engineering: Tips and Best Practices

When it comes to evaluating and gauging software’s performance before it is presented to the market, most people think that it is merely performance testing. Don’t get us wrong — that is essentially the crux of the matter. But if you step back and look at the bigger picture, you will see there is more to this subject. Okay, we will stop beating around the bush and just to the heart of the matter — performance engineering. And nope, it is not about engineering in the conventional sense, i.e., hardware and software. Performance engineering refers to a set of techniques and processes that one leverages to make sure that the software is as fast and efficient as possible.

But if you take a more in-depth look, it is a process underpinned by years and years of expertise that empower developers and their teams to put together systems fortified with active and efficient components. The aim, eventually, is for a product that can tend to a broad audience. And for any system to be able to do that and that too consistently, one must carefully make the transition to performance engineering from performance testing instead of going at it haphazardly. Since it is a tad bit of a delicate and complicated process, we put together a list of some handy tips and best practices that will help you make the switch effortlessly.

Here it goes.

1. Manual review: It is imperative that you do not put the entire onus on just automated processes and data collection. It is essential to have a human being or two to ratify the results, filter through data based on relevant criteria, identify trends, etc. But efficiency is still imperative, which necessitates replicable results. And an excellent way to go about it is to run the same test, as is, at least three to four times. The same set of results and data with every test is the go-ahead you need.
2. Identify metrics and KPIs: We can not insist enough that it is vital to make sure that you do not go into this blind or unprepared. Hence, it is highly recommended that you put together a list of critical metrics and KPIs to identify what successful results would look like in the specific context of the software in question. And to get this right, programmers will need to sift through data diligently and pinpoint the exact cause for any performance issues.
3. Do not forget the indirect metrics: The run-of-the-mill parameters are essential — that much goes without saying. But other indirect factors can come to play a role in the app’s success. So, keep an eye out for metrics that will reflect performance in the context of factors such as customers, brand value, revenue, and more.

Software performance engineering, when done right, can completely transform your product’s performance for the better. But be sure to get started with it early on for the best results.