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Collection of Useful Tools for Performance Test Engineers

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Microsoft_Testing_Team
Iron Contributor
Nov 13, 2020

By Edwin Hernandez

 

We recently published an article with a collection of useful tools for QA/Test Engineers, highlighting tools that are sometimes overlooked or that you probably don't know about. If you get a chance please check that list too: Collections of Useful Tools for QA/Test Engineers.

 

On the same lines, this time I'm writing this article geared towards Performance Test Engineers. Whenever you work with JMeter, Visual Studio, LoadRunner or any other IDE, these tools help in the areas of scripting, debugging, performance analysis, etc.

 

Parts of this list has been circulating inside of the Microsoft Test Team for years. An earlier version of this list was originally put together by Geoff Gray (100-level wizard of Testing if you ask me). Taking that list as starting point, I moved things around, updated old links, replaced with newer versions were applicable and added other tools I find useful and have used throughout the years. I hope you find this useful:

 

 

 

TOOLS

 

 

 

 

    • PERFVIEW
      • Performance-analysis tool that helps isolate CPU- and memory-related performance issues
      • https://github.com/microsoft/perfview
 

 

      • PAL:
        • Performance Analysis of Logs (PAL) Tool.  Reads in a performance monitor counter log and analyzes it using known thresholds.
        • https://github.com/clinthuffman/PAL

 

 

 

      • SYSINTERNALS
        • Manage, troubleshoot and diagnose your Windows systems and applications.
        • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/

 

 

 

 

    • Windows Driver Kit (WDK)
      • Develop, test, and deploy Windows drivers
      • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/download-the-wdk
 

 

    • WINDBG
      • Analyze crash/memory dumps.
      • New preview version:
        • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/windbg-preview/9pgjgd53tn86?rtc=1&activetab=pivot:overviewtab
      • Psscor4 Managed-Code Debugging Extension for WINDBG
        •  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21255
 

 

 

    • DEBUG DIAG
      • Debug Diagnostic Tool. Troubleshoot processes/threads, e.g. IIS.
      • Version 2.3:
        • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=58210
 

 

    • CLR PROFILER
      • CLRProfiler is a free tool from Microsoft to help you diagnose memory issues with your managed app.
      • GitHub Repository:
        • https://github.com/microsoftarchive/clrprofiler/
 

 

      • FIDDLER
        • Http traffic debugger, uses a proxy to look at communication coming in and out of a host.
        • https://www.telerik.com/fiddler

 

 

 

 

    • WIRESHARK
      • Packet analyzer for network traffic debugging
      • https://www.wireshark.org/download.html
 

 

    • LOG PARSER 2.2
      • Command-line tools that provides query access to text-based data such as log files, XML files and CSV files
      • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24659
 

 

 

      • LINQPAD
        • Instantly test any LINQ,C#/F#/VB snippet or program
        • https://www.linqpad.net/

 

 

 

      • ROY OSHEROVE's REGEXP TOOLS
        • Regular Expression Syntax helper, visualizers, unit test tools, etc.
        • https://osherove.com/tools

 

 

 

    • SERVICE TRACE VIEWER
      • WCF Service Trace Viewer tool helps you correlate diagnostic traces produced by WCF listeners to locate the root cause of an error
      • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/wcf/diagnostics/tracing/using-service-trace-viewer-for-viewing-correlated-traces-and-troubleshooting?redirectedfrom=MSDN
 

 

      • Notepad++
        • Powerful text editor, features applying different encoding options, language formatting, macros, external plugins and lets you perform many string manipulation operations
        • https://notepad-plus-plus.org/downloads/

 

**There are many others text editors such as https://www.editpadpro.com/index.html, PSPad, Charny Notepad, etc. but wanted to feature at least one.

 

 

 

    • Beyond Compare
      • Powerful comparison tool that allows you to compare two files or folders, merge changes and visualize everything using different viewers.
      • https://www.scootersoftware.com/download.php
 

 

      • BareTail
        • Log File Monitoring Tool that lets you trace a log file in real time and view the tail of the file as information keeps coming in, without blocking the file for writing. Also lets you highlight filter information by color.
        • https://www.baremetalsoft.com/baretail/

 

 

 

 

      • Telerik Code Converter
        • Convert code from C# to VB and vice versa
        • https://converter.telerik.com/

 

 

 

 

 

    • WebTest Power-Editor (Serializer)
      • Power-Editor extension for Visual Studio WebTests (VS 2017). Allows you to modify multiple items inside a single Webtest or several WebTests and change values that are time-consuming to change one by one, such as Request properties, Transactions, etc.
      • https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=EdwinHernandezMSFT.SerializerVSIX

 

 

 

GUIDES

  • GEOFF GRAY's QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
    • Visual Studio Performance Testing Quick Reference Guide (Version 3.6)
    • All you need to know about troubleshooting Visual Studio Web/Load Tests
      • https://archive.codeplex.com/?p=vsptqrg
  • Improving .NET Application Performance and Scalability
    • Best practices guide
      • http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=11711
  • Biztalk Server Performance Optimization Guide:
    • Latest available is for Biztalk Server 2013
      • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/biztalk/technical-guides/biztalk-server-2013-performance-optimization-guide

 

 

BLOGS

Some of these may be a bit dated, but the fundamentals are still very valuable: 

  • NET Debugging for the Production Environment
    • http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/-NET-Debugging-Stater-Kit-for-the-Production-Environment
  • Channel 9 Testing:
    • http://channel9.msdn.com/search?term=testing

Mark Russinovich's Blog

  • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/markrussinovich/
  • Clint Huffman's Windows Performance Analysis Blog
    • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/clinth/
  • "If broken it is, fix it you should" blog
    • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/tess/

 

 

OTHER LISTS OF TOOLS

  • Scott Hanselman’s Ultimate tool list:
    • http://www.hanselman.com/blog/ScottHanselmans2011UltimateDeveloperAndPowerUsersToolListForWindows.aspx
  • SoftwareQaTest list of tools (very comprehensive):
    • http://www.softwareqatest.com/qatweb1.html?keepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=500&width=750

 

 

While this list includes mostly free tools, there are a few freeware or only trials. Also if you think I missed an important tool please let me know in the comments.

Updated Feb 11, 2021
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