Introduction to performance analysis: from theory to practice

Introduction What, how, why Performance testing is a fundamental activity in the software development lifecycle, but often underestimated or performed suboptimally. In this guide, we will explore the theoretical and practical foundations needed to approach performance analysis effectively, starting from definition and objectives, up to the most effective measurement methods. Definition Performance testing is the process aimed at determining the responsiveness, throughput, reliability and scalability of a system under a given workload. It’s important to note that the “system” refers to the interaction of different components, and not to a single isolated part. Sometimes, a performance issue could simply be resolved by moving the problematic block to another subsystem.