Importing User Modules in k6

In previous posts we have commented on extensibility as a hallmark of the k6 architecture. While there are a wide variety of official modules you can easily import into your k6 tests, it is also possible to import custom JavaScript code. In this brief post we will show you how to easily import code from your own modules. This can potentially accelerate your development efforts by reusing these modules across multiple tests, while at the sameRead More →

k6 Error Handling

When testing at scale, it is inevitable that at some point your load test will encounter error states. It may even be a condition itself that is tested. Therefore, it is essential that we have a capability to capture and analyze error information. In this brief article, we will detail how to intercept and log errors in your k6 load tests. Intercepting and Logging Errors Ideally, we would like to save errors to a retrievable logRead More →

Common Tasks in k6

When writing your k6 test scripts, there are certain common tasks that are recurrently encountered. In this post, we will discuss examples on how to accomplish several of these common tasks. Most of these examples are illustrated in the official k6 documentation pages. Entering Data into Web Forms User submission forms are a common target test endpoint. Tests such as these must be designed in a way that form fields are identified and mapped to usefulRead More →

Functional Testing with k6

In previous posts we have covered the ability to use k6 for scalable load testing, however k6 is also a suitable framework for creating functional tests. In this brief post, we will show you how to get started with using k6 as a functional testing tool. Assertions in k6 There are two basic ways to write assertions in k6. One is using the built-in check and group functions. Perhaps a better alternative is to use theRead More →

The k6 Graphical Test Builder

Most examples that illustrate how to create a k6 load test center around using a bottom-up approach with code. This is in contrast with frameworks such as JMeter where it is typical for tests to be created visually. However, there is a utility by Grafana Labs for creating k6 load tests with a GUI. In this post, we will show you how to use the graphical Test Builder to create k6 load tests. The Graphical k6Read More →

Top 5 Most Useful k6 Extensions

Even though k6 comes with an impressive assortment of built-in modules, there is an additional ecosystem of more than 50 officially supported plugins available for import. These specialized libraries can easily add functionality to support your specific load testing needs. In this brief post, we will cover some of the most useful k6 extensions. xk6-csv – As perhaps one of the most ubiquitous portable data formats, the CSV file has found an essential role in distributingRead More →

ChatGPT and k6

In a recent previous post, we illustrated how generative large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can be used to assist development of JMeter tests. In this article, we will show similar concepts on how to use generative AI to accelerate your k6 test development. Getting Started As a prerequisite, you will need to create a ChatGPT account. If you don’t already have one, head over to chat.openai.com and sign up. You will have the option toRead More →

JMeter 5.6.3

With the recent release of JMeter 5.6.3, you now have the option to select this version when running new JMeter tests on RedLine13. In addition to several bug fixes, there are a number of minor improvements and dependency upgrades as well. This release of JMeter is compiled with Java 17 and marks the beginning of the transition to that version of the platform. Future major releases of JMeter will require Java 17. Bug Fixes There areRead More →

Installing k6 Locally to Debug Tests

When developing your k6 tests, you will likely want to debug them before deploying to the cloud. This is especially important as your test grows more sophisticated and becomes more complex, and you will inevitably want confirmation that your test is performing as expected. By installing k6 on your local machine, you can debug your tests in near real-time with direct feedback from the k6 engine. In this brief post, we will show you how toRead More →

k6 vs JMeter

When it comes to load testing, there are two platforms which must be mentioned.  k6 and JMeter have established themselves as the de facto standards in the performance testing space. In this article, we will compare and contrast the features of each, to help you better decide which technology is right for you. A Brief History JMeter was introduced more than 20 years ago, and in that time has become one of the most utilized performanceRead More →