DURHAM, USA: Web Performance, Inc. (WPI) released the most recent version of its industry-leading website load testing software last week.

Web Performance Load Tester version 3.6 includes a number of new features that make it even easier to use and more intuitive for its non-programmer user base.

One of the application's most appealing new features is its use of visual displays and video demonstrations that let users with zero programming experience create test cases, run load tests and analyze the results.

The new Click-to-Configure feature lets users configure dynamic text entry fields simply by importing a list of established values.

New Performance Goal Analysis instantly pinpoints the exact system location causing performance problems, while its User Capacity Analysis lets users know exactly how many visitors a site can handle given its current system architecture.

"Most of these new features come directly from our services work," says Chris Merrill, chief engineer at Web Performance, Inc. "We identified a number of key service areas that help our clients the most, then designed the new release to include these features, and to produce smarter reports that quickly direct the user to major problem areas."

Features also include expanded compatibility with today's leading web applications, including .NET and AJAX, user-level analysis tools and scenario builders, new test cases and customization tools, improved reports, advanced metrics and usability improvements among others.

To improve its users' experience, WPI asked its customers what features would help them perform their jobs more efficiently and accurately. WPI software engineers then incorporated many of these insights, along with a number of enhancements the developers had been working on simultaneously using their collective wisdom gained from testing hundreds of websites.