This section outlines how to create more complex extensions (scriptable variables and components) with a more advanced IDE (such as Visual Studio).

Create Visual Studio Project

In Visual Studio create a New Project.

  • In the New Project dialog select Templates > Visual C# > Windows (a). 
  • Select Class Library template (b)
  • Select .NET Framework 4.5 (c)
  • Give the project a name (d)
  • Click the OK button to create the project

Add StresStimulus references

Add a reference to the StresStimulus assemblies:

  • If you are running StresStimulus in the standalone version, add a reference to StresStimulus.Core.dll located in the installation folder (default location is %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Stimulus Technology\StresStimulus)
  • If you are running StresStimulus in the Fiddler addon version, add a reference to StresStimulus.Core.Fiddler.dll located in the installation folder (default location is %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Stimulus Technology\StresStimulus)


Both versions

If you wish to use your custom extension with both StresStimulus standalone and addon versions, create/compile two versions of the extension using the same codebase, but referencing two different StresStimulus assemblies.

Programming the extension

Programming the extensions is similar to programming them using the code editor. 

  • Add a reference to the namespace StresStimulus.Extensibility (a)
  • Inherit the necessary interface (b): IExternalVariable for scriptable variables or IExternalComponent2 for components.
  • Implement the interface (c)

Output path

Your assembly should be stored in the Bin subfolder in the test folder. For example, for the test called MyTest.ssconfig, copy the assembly .dll to MyTest\bin folder.

  • In the Solution Explorer, right-click on the project node and select Properties (a) to bring up the project properties window
  • Select the Build (b) settings
  • Set the Output path property (c) to the StresStimulus project bin directory

Debugging

To debug the extension inside StresStimulus:

  • In the project properties window select Debug (a) settings
  • Set the Start external program (b) to the path of StresStimulus executable:
    • If you are running StresStimulus in the standalone version, the startup program should be StresStimulus.Application.exe located in the installation folder (default location is %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Stimulus Technology\StresStimulus)
    • If you are running StresStimulus in the Fiddler addon version, the startup program should be Fiddler.exe located in the Fiddler installation folder (default location is %AppData%\Local\Programs\Fiddler)

Distributed Testing:

If using external variables in a distributed testing environment, it's important to consider what version of StresStimulus is running on the controller and agents being used.

  • If the controller is running the standalone version, the agents must be running the standalone version or as a Windows service.
  • If the controller is running the Fiddler add-on  version, the agents must be running the Fiddler add-on  version.
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