# MeterSphere — Open-Source Continuous Testing Platform

> MeterSphere is an all-in-one testing platform covering API testing, performance testing, and test case management with built-in AI assistance.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# MeterSphere — Open-Source Continuous Testing Platform

## Quick Use
```bash
docker compose up -d
# Access dashboard at http://localhost:8081
# Default login: admin / metersphere
```

## Introduction
MeterSphere is an open-source continuous testing platform built for teams that need API testing, performance testing, and test management in a single tool. It provides a web-based interface for creating, executing, and tracking tests across the software delivery lifecycle.

## What MeterSphere Does
- Provides a visual API testing interface with request chaining and assertions
- Runs JMeter-based performance tests through a web dashboard
- Manages test cases, plans, and defect tracking in one place
- Offers an AI assistant to help generate test cases and analyze results
- Supports team collaboration with role-based access and project isolation

## Architecture Overview
MeterSphere is a Java application backed by MySQL for metadata and MinIO for file storage. The API testing engine executes HTTP requests directly, while performance testing delegates to embedded JMeter instances. A microservice architecture separates the web frontend, API gateway, and test execution nodes, allowing horizontal scaling of test runners.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Deploy with Docker Compose using the official quick-start template
- Configure database connection and storage backend in the properties file
- Set up SMTP for email notifications on test results
- Add execution nodes to distribute performance test load
- Integrate with Jenkins or GitLab CI for pipeline-triggered testing

## Key Features
- Unified platform for functional and performance testing
- Visual API test builder with environment variable management
- JMeter-compatible performance testing without JMeter expertise
- Built-in test case and defect management workflow
- Plugin ecosystem for extending protocols and integrations

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Postman** — focused on API development and manual testing; MeterSphere adds performance testing and test management
- **JMeter** — powerful load testing but requires XML configuration; MeterSphere wraps JMeter in a web UI
- **TestRail** — dedicated test management tool; MeterSphere combines management with execution
- **k6** — developer-centric load testing via scripts; MeterSphere offers a no-code visual approach
- **Hoppscotch** — lightweight API exploration tool; MeterSphere targets full testing workflows

## FAQ
**Q: What databases does MeterSphere support?**
A: It uses MySQL as its primary datastore. PostgreSQL is not officially supported.

**Q: Can it integrate with CI/CD pipelines?**
A: Yes, MeterSphere provides REST APIs and plugins for Jenkins, GitLab CI, and other CI tools to trigger test plans.

**Q: Is it suitable for large-scale performance testing?**
A: Yes, you can add multiple execution nodes to distribute load generation across machines.

**Q: Does it support non-HTTP protocols?**
A: Through plugins it supports TCP, WebSocket, and database protocols in addition to HTTP/HTTPS.

## Sources
- https://github.com/metersphere/metersphere
- https://metersphere.io

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-bcb2cac8
Author: AI Open Source