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k6

247
218
+ 1
56
Wrk

8
11
+ 1
0
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Wrk vs k6: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Wrk and k6

In this section, we will explore the key differences between Wrk and k6 in terms of their performance testing capabilities.

  1. Installation and Setup: Wrk is a command-line tool that requires manual installation and setup on the system. On the other hand, k6 provides a seamless installation process with downloadable binaries for various operating systems, making it easier and quicker to set up and start testing.

  2. Scripting Language: Wrk utilizes Lua scripting language for creating test scenarios, which may require some learning curve for users not familiar with Lua. In contrast, k6 supports JavaScript, a widely adopted and easy-to-use scripting language, making it more accessible and convenient for a larger user base.

  3. Metrics and Reporting: Wrk primarily focuses on providing basic performance metrics like requests per second and latency. On the other hand, k6 offers a comprehensive set of metrics that include not only basic performance metrics but also various advanced metrics, such as error rates, response time distribution, and custom metrics. k6 also provides built-in HTML and JSON reports for better visualization and analysis of test results.

  4. HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 Support: Wrk is primarily targeted for HTTP/1.1 requests and does not have built-in support for HTTP/2. On the other hand, k6 supports both HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 protocols, allowing users to test the performance of modern web applications leveraging the benefits of HTTP/2.

  5. Concurrency and Load Generation: Wrk allows users to set the desired level of concurrency and generates load accordingly. However, load generation in Wrk is limited to the single machine it is running on. In contrast, k6 not only allows users to set concurrency levels but also provides distributed load generation capabilities, enabling testing at scale across multiple machines.

  6. Extensibility and Customization: Wrk offers limited extensibility options, allowing users to only modify certain aspects of the tool. On the other hand, k6 is highly extensible and customizable, providing a rich ecosystem of community-contributed extensions, plugins, and integration with other tools, enabling users to tailor their performance testing workflows according to their specific needs.

In summary, k6 offers a more user-friendly installation process, supports JavaScript as a scripting language, provides comprehensive metrics and reporting capabilities, supports both HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 protocols, offers distributed load generation, and is highly extensible and customizable compared to Wrk.

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Pros of k6
Pros of Wrk
  • 13
    Fits nicely in a CI workflow
  • 11
    Test scripts are written in javascript
  • 11
    It's code-first
  • 11
    Open-source
  • 10
    Easy to use
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    Cons of k6
    Cons of Wrk
    • 3
      Requires bundling and transpiling to use npm packages
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      What is k6?

      It is a developer centric open source load testing tool for testing the performance of your backend infrastructure. It’s built with Go and JavaScript to integrate well into your development workflow.

      What is Wrk?

      It is a hiring platform that provides an affordable way for small businesses to get a handle on their hiring process—a seamless set of features to create custom job posts and application forms, manage incoming candidates, and document the entire journey.

      Need advice about which tool to choose?Ask the StackShare community!

      What companies use k6?
      What companies use Wrk?
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        What tools integrate with k6?
        What tools integrate with Wrk?
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          What are some alternatives to k6 and Wrk?
          Locust
          Locust is an easy-to-use, distributed, user load testing tool. Intended for load testing web sites (or other systems) and figuring out how many concurrent users a system can handle.
          Gatling
          Gatling is a highly capable load testing tool. It is designed for ease of use, maintainability and high performance. Out of the box, Gatling comes with excellent support of the HTTP protocol that makes it a tool of choice for load testing any HTTP server. As the core engine is actually protocol agnostic, it is perfectly possible to implement support for other protocols. For example, Gatling currently also ships JMS support.
          Apache JMeter
          It is open source software, a 100% pure Java application designed to load test functional behavior and measure performance. It was originally designed for testing Web Applications but has since expanded to other test functions.
          AWS Device Farm
          Run tests across a large selection of physical devices in parallel from various manufacturers with varying hardware, OS versions and form factors.
          Loader.io
          Loader.io is a free load testing service that allows you to stress test your web-apps/apis with thousands of concurrent connections.
          See all alternatives