The document discusses automating load testing within DevOps using the k6 open source tool integrated with CI platforms like GitLab. It highlights the capabilities of k6 for developers to create and run load tests locally or in the cloud, as well as automate performance testing workflows. Key features include the ability to set thresholds, manage results, and integrate with existing CI systems for continuous performance assessment.

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Automate Load Testing
with CI Integration

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Robin Gustafsson
CTO, Load Impact Agenda
● Performance testing in DevOps
environment
● Introduction to k6 open source load
testing tool
● Automating load testing with k6, Load
Impact 4.0 and GitLab

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Performance testing is changing
DevOps adoption
Developers are getting involved in performance testing alongside QA

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Performance testing fits into your CI workflow
● Developers can load test
early in the dev cycle
● Load test in parallel with
other types of tests
● CI tool integration

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k6 - Open source load testing tool
● Built for developers & QA
testers
● Built in Go, scripting in JavaScript
ES6
● > 3800 GitHub Stars
● Local & Cloud Execution
● Fits nicely into DevOps
workflows / Automation
pipelines

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k6 execution modes
Local execution
○ Traffic is generated locally, results can be stored locally or
in the cloud (k6 run -o cloud script.js)
Cloud execution
○ Traffic is generated from cloud servers managed by Load
Impact, results are stored in the cloud and analyzed in Load
Impact Insights (k6 cloud script.js)

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Creating load tests for k6
Create user scenario
script(s) locally ● A single .js file defines the whole test
● Tests can also be modular/multi-file
● Use your favorite editor

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Running load tests with k6
Start test locally or in
the cloud using k6 CLI
Create user scenario
script(s) locally

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Automating tests with k6
Create test(s) Run baseline test(s)
Set thresholds for
pass/fail
Setup notifications
Setup automated
execution
Lean back and watch
the blinkin’ lights!

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Automating tests with k6
Create test(s) Run baseline test(s)
● Manually executed tests, find “normal” performance
level
● Tests can be run locally/on your infrastructure or in the
cloud!

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Automating tests with k6
Create test config(s) Run baseline test(s)
Set thresholds for
pass/fail
● Thresholds are set in the .js script, and will be honored
both when executing locally/on your infrastructure, or in
the Load Impact cloud

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Automating tests with k6
Create test config(s) Run baseline test(s)
Set thresholds for
pass/fail
● Notifications can be taken care of by your CI system,
or by loadimpact.com (if you send results there for
storage) Setup notifications

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Automating tests with k6 and GitLab
Create test config(s) Run baseline test(s)
Set thresholds for
pass/fail
Setup notifications
Setup automated
execution in GitLab CI

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Create a GitLab Configuration File
The GitLab Configuration File (YAML file): .gitlab-ci.yml manages the k6 load test job
YAML File

15. LOAD IMPACTLoad Impact 4.0
k6 + Load Impact Insights + Cloud Execution

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k6 + Load Impact 4.0 summary
k6, Insights & Cloud Execution
● Write test cases as JavaScript (ES6) code
● Store test cases locally, in VCS, on GitHub/GitLab, etc.
● Debug test cases locally, using k6 CLI tool
● Run tests locally or in the Load Impact cloud, using:
○ k6 CLI tool (locally or in the cloud)
○ SaaS UI (in the cloud)
● Integrate with your CI tool: GitLab, Jenkins, CircleCI, etc.
● Store/view/analyze results locally or at loadimpact.com

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Learn More
k6 documentation: https://k6.io (join our slack team! https://k6.io/slack/)
GitHub repo: https://github.com/loadimpact/k6
Insights: https://loadimpact.com/insights/
Load Impact Docs: https://support.loadimpact.com/4.0/
Load Impact Support - support@loadimpact.com
Example project on GitLab: https://gitlab.com/loadimpact/k6-gitlab-example
Note: Load Impact 4.0 is available as a free 30-day trial

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Automate load testing with CI integration
Thank you!