Locust Load Testing for Beginners: Hands-On & Practical

Master Performance Testing and API Load Testing with Locust (Beginner to Advanced)

This course provides a complete and structured introduction to performance testing and API load testing using Locust. It starts with foundational concepts and gradually progresses to advanced, real-world load testing scenarios.

The course focuses on understanding performance testing concepts, system behavior under load, and practical implementation using Python and Locust.

Course Overview

This course is designed to build a strong foundation in performance testing concepts along with hands-on automation skills.

Learners will begin with basic principles, understand different types of performance testing, learn Python fundamentals, automate APIs, and design and execute load tests commonly used in real projects.

By the end of the course, learners will be able to approach performance testing problems with clarity and structured thinking.

Learning Structure

Performance Testing Foundations

This section covers:

• Core performance testing concepts
• Reasons systems fail under load
• Load, Stress, Spike, Volume, Endurance, and Scalability testing
• Practical examples for better understanding

No prior experience in performance testing is required.

Core Concepts and Terminology

Topics include:

• Concurrent users and requests
• Throughput and response time
• SLA, SLO, and SLIs
• Application, database, and network bottlenecks
• Client-side and server-side performance issues

Python and Locust Fundamentals

This section introduces Python basics required for load testing:

• Data types, loops, functions, and object-oriented concepts
• Exception handling
• Writing readable and maintainable Locust scripts

The content is suitable for testers and learners without a development background.

API Automation and Load Testing

This section covers:

• API fundamentals
• Python Requests library
• Basic API automation workflows
• HTTP methods including GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE
• Authentication using JWT and Bearer tokens
• Data-driven testing using CSV and JSON

Core and Advanced Locust Concepts

Learners will work with:

• Locust project structure
• User behavior modeling
• Multiple API workflows
• Request chaining
• Validation and error handling
• Headless execution and dynamic load patterns
• Interpreting Locust results

Real-World Scenarios and Result Analysis

This section focuses on:

• Executing performance tests for real-world scenarios
• Stress, spike, volume, scalability, and endurance testing
• Analyzing response time metrics and errors
• Identifying performance bottlenecks
• Exporting results and creating reports

Interview Preparation and Career Guidance

This section discusses:

• Performance testing best practices
• Common interview discussion areas
• Professional expectations in performance testing roles

Intended Audience

• Beginners in performance testing
• Manual and automation testers
• QA and quality engineers
• Backend and API engineers
• Learners preparing for performance testing or reliability roles

Technologies Covered

• Python
• Locust
• Requests Library
• Postman
• CSV and JSON
• APIs and test applications

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, learners will be able to:

• Design performance testing strategies
• Automate APIs using Python
• Build load tests using Locust
• Analyze performance test results
• Apply performance testing concepts in practical scenarios

Instructor Note

This course is designed with practical experience and clear explanations to support structured learning and skill development.

Let’s begin the journey!