Google releases a Chrome extension to identify web app performance problems

boucher · on Dec 9, 2009

This app was demo'd at Google IO this past spring. It was incredibly cool back then, and it's only gotten better since. It's going to be an amazing tool for web developers.

PStamatiou · on Dec 9, 2009

I think this is what Yahoo! wanted that YSlow firebug add-on to be. I'm quite enjoying Speed Tracer but it's giving me a warning about Google Analytics embed code. Those two teams need to have a meeting..

PStamatiou · on Dec 9, 2009

Actually it was just trying to tell me to upgrade to the new Google Analytics code: http://analytics.blogspot.com/2009/12/google-analytics-launc...

bgray · on Dec 9, 2009

Very Nice! Now we need extension support on OSX Chrome even more! :)

peregrine · on Dec 9, 2009

I'm running Linux nightlys and extensions work very well. I might assume that OSX works the same...

This one does not work though, must be some api calls net setup correctly yet.

donjaime_hn · on Dec 9, 2009

Make sure you run chrome with the flag --enable-extension-timeline-api

You have to enable the instrumentation as explained in the getting started doc: http://code.google.com/webtoolkit/speedtracer/get-started.ht...

peregrine · on Dec 9, 2009

I did follow the guide it just didn't do anything afterwards. Oh well.

donjaime_hn · on Dec 9, 2009

If you have a chrome window open, or a zombie chrome process, running it again will just fork a new window from the existing browser process.

Make sure you shut them all down before running.

mattyb · on Dec 9, 2009

Works for me.

andylei · on Dec 9, 2009

we actually had it for a little while. they disabled it b/c of some security issue, but it'll be back soon.

http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=29086#c5

sparky · on Dec 9, 2009

I haven't dug into it yet, but from the video the sluggishness and network graphs seem to be a great level of abstraction at which to view the UX behavior of your application.

One question I have: I can't figure out if this is only for GWT (Java compiled to Javascript) apps or for any web app). Anyone?

donjaime_hn · on Dec 9, 2009

It was developed by members of the GWT team and was released as part of the GWT 2.0 launch, but it will work with any web application.

tdupree · on Dec 9, 2009

I believe you can run Speed Tracer against any web app (it's working fine profiling my stuff and I don't use GWT), kinda like using Firebug.

dminor · on Dec 9, 2009

This would be even better if it could break down javascript execution time on a line by line basis. I was able to spot an inefficient javascript file, but only found the culprit by commenting and uncommenting lines (inefficient jquery selector).

Way cool though.

ericb · on Dec 9, 2009

This is a cool tool, but I suspect its major use-case will be premature optimization.