3 July 2024 Leave a comment QA
Running performance tests on a daily basis can be a challenging task, especially when aiming to detect subtle changes due to code modifications. This guide will provide you with statistically appropriate methods to measure and calculate performance, ensuring you achieve reliable results.
Isolate External Variables
One of the first steps in obtaining accurate performance metrics is to minimize external factors that could affect your system. This includes:
- Reducing background processes
- Limiting extra hardware and software usage
- Managing network traffic
Consider running your performance tests during off-peak hours, such as at night, to ensure minimal interference from other activities.
Utilize Standard Deviation
A robust statistical method for analyzing performance data is the use of standard deviation. By collecting a set of historical data, you can compute both the mean and the standard deviation (stddev). If a new test result deviates significantly from the mean (e.g., by more than 3 or 6 standard deviations, commonly referred to as 3-sigma or 6-sigma), it indicates a significant change.
Tools like Excel can be used to calculate the standard deviation of your data easily, helping you to identify outliers and significant performance changes.
Increase the Number of Test Runs
Running each performance test only three times may not provide a reliable average, as an outlier can significantly skew your results. It is advisable to run your performance tests multiple times—ideally, a hundred or more—to obtain a more accurate average. Automating these tests can simplify this process, allowing you to schedule tests to run overnight and review the results in the morning.
Implementing Automation for Consistent Results
Automation plays a crucial role in performance testing. Automating your tests ensures consistency, reduces human error, and saves time. Additionally, automated tests can be scheduled to run during optimal times, further minimizing external interference.
For more detailed information on running test batches and handling test exceptions, you can refer to our documentation:
Enhancing Test Automation with Repeato
To streamline your performance testing process, consider using Repeato, a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android. Repeato allows you to create, run, and maintain automated tests quickly and efficiently. Leveraging computer vision and AI, it ensures your automated tests are not only fast but also accurate.
With Repeato, you can easily set up and schedule your tests, ensuring consistent performance metrics and reducing the impact of external variables. This makes it an excellent choice for quality assurance teams aiming to enhance their testing workflows.
For more information on how Repeato can help you with test automation, visit our blog or check out our documentation.
By following these strategies, you can achieve more reliable and accurate performance testing results, ultimately leading to better software quality and user satisfaction.
