Browser Assignment Report Page

David B. Cowett

Liberty University

Home Tests Results

Introduction

The browser is probably the most widely used computer application of today. Browsers of today are far different from browser a few years ago. A modern browser must accommodate technologies such as JavaScript, DOM, XHTML, CSS2, Flash, and XML in Ajax-based programs. Additionally, Web 2.0 applications and sites require a compatible high performance browser. Browser speed is crucial in determining end user experience and productivity. This report presents a series of tests on five of the browsers in the market today in hope that it will help with determining the best browser.

The real premise of this report is to satisfy the browser assignment in my CMIS 310 Web Architecture and Development course at Liberty University. The intent of the assignment is to introduce different browsers and building webpages out of HTML code. We are required to install and run several browsers on our personal computer and evaluate them using a series of benchmark tests. The following section provides the assignments details.

Lesson Assignment

In preparation for the assignment, review the Browser Speed Comparison article at http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html. Then follow the five steps below to create your own version.

  1. Pick at least five browsers that web developer should test their work on.
  2. Download and install the browsers on your computer.
  3. Determine seven (7) benchmark tasks that are important for a browser to support.
  4. Run the tests on each of the five browsers.
  5. Prepare a report about the exercise and its findings. Publish the report as an HTML page.

Browsers Selected

According to web statistics and trends as of June 2011, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome account for over 93% of the market share in popularity. Safari and Opera capture 6%, leaving all the other browsers on the market in the remaining less than 1% group. For the assignment, I decided to use four of the top five popular browsers, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Opera. Instead of Safari, I decided to include Sea Monkey as a candidate since it labels itself as the “all-in-one” internet application suite.

Firefox SeaMonkey Opera IE Chrome
Mozilla
Firefox
Mozilla
Sea Monkey
Opera Software
Opera
Microsoft
Internet Explorer
Google
Chrome
Ver. 4.0.1 Ver. 2.2 Ver. 11.50
Build 1074
Ver. 8.0.6001.18702 Ver. 12.0.742.122

The computer used for the tests is a three-year-old HP Compaq 6715b Notebook PC with an AMD Turion™ 64 X22 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-58 1.59 GHz processor, and 1024 of DDR2 SDRAM at 667-MHz. The operating system is Genuine Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Version 2002, with Service Pack 3.

Tests Conducted

1. DROMAEO JavaScript Performance Testing

The Dromaeo JavaScript Performance Test Suite - named after the Dromaeosaurs (fast lizard) - was created by John Resig from Mozilla. The suite is collection of a number of benchmarks, which are broken up into two main categories – JavaScript, and DOM. Dormaeo includes a number of JavaScript library benchmarks, CSS benchmarks, and unique JavaScript benchmarks found only in Dromaeo (Smith, 2011). Running all the tests in the suite took over half an hour on my older laptop.

2. Acid3 Web 2.0 Standards Test

The Acid3 test is primarily designed for testing Web 2.0 dynamic Web applications, webfonts, and some visual rendering. It includes testing of specifications for DOM2, HTML4, HTTP, XHTML, and CSS2.

3. Kraken JavaScript Benchmark

Developed and released by Mozilla, the Kraken test is focused on real world workloads. "The goal of Kraken is less about proving how “fast” a browser is overall and more about offering a way to test actual, everyday tasks that mirror the things we all do with web browsers"(Gilbertson, 2010).

4. HTML5 Test

The HTML5 test gives an indication of how well your browser supports the HTML5 standards and specifications.

5. Peacekeeper Browser Benchmark Test

The Peacekeeper test will show you which browser performs best on your PC. It measures your browser's performance by testing its JavaScript functionality. Peacekeeper realistically simulates the load placed on the browser by common JavaScript functions as used by popular, modern websites such as such as social networks, video sharing communities and webmail services.

6. Flash GUIMark Test

The GUIMark test suite mostly addresses Rich Internet Application (RIA) technologies like Flash, Silverlight, and Java. For this test, I decided on Flash. "Flash is a browser plug-in, originally developed in the 1990s by Macromedia to add graphical animation and multimedia content to Web pages." ("Caplin | Which Web? How to choose an RIA technology," n.d.).

7. CSS Layout Performance Test

In this test, we focus on the browser layout engine to exercise the browser's handling of CSS 2.1 and CSS 3 layout constructs. These constructs are used to style HTML, and the layout engine is an important component of overall web browser performance. The mazes in this test are constructed from hundreds of HTML elements styled with CSS. Every step through the maze changes the style of a single HTML element. How quickly a browser can process that change determines how quickly the maze is completed. All tests were performed using the 40x40 maze.

Test Results

Test Name Firefox
Firefox
Opera
Opera
SeaMonkey
Sea Monkey
IE
IE
Chrome
Chrome
DROMAEO 514.00 695.57 169.36 Incomplete 454.00
Acid3 94/100 97/100 97/100 20/100 98/100
Kraken 18039.1ms 28699.9ms 18911.7MS Failed 11193.0ms
HTML5 272
and 9 bonus
286
and 7 bonus
272
and 9 bonus
41
and no bonus
314
and 13 bonus
Peacekeeper 2169 points 4083 points 2261 points 338 points 4412 points
Flash 26.71 fps 29.88 fps 29.76 fps 29.29 24.34 fps
CSS3 1006 seconds 53 seconds 1048 seconds 925 seconds
(30x30 maze)
21 seconds

Conclusion

First, let me say this assignment has been quite a time consuming exercise as well as a great learning experience. Since we discussed XHTML and CSS during this week’s module, I decided to utilize both for my page as well as for adding the WC3 markup and CSS validation checks.

Second, I had many difficulties during testing with Internet Explorer. The full DROMAEO test never completed. During each attempt, it hung after running partway though. I tried running the recommended tests option and the same happened. The CSS3 test would not allow choice of the 40x40 maze; the pull-down was protected for some reason. The Kraken test loaded, started, ticked off the first box, and then hung. I have no explanation for why my computer and IE had so many issues.

Third, based on the results, Internet Explorer is the worst performing browser of the group. Chrome and Firefox are the top two choices followed by Opera and Sea Monkey.

In closing, I find that all modern browsers are great choices as performance is not everything, but for me personally I will be staying with Chrome. Which browser do you use and why?

References

Acid3 Browser Test. (n.d.). The Web Standards Project. Retrieved July 13, 2011, from http://www.webstandards.org/action/acid3/

Caplin | Which Web? How to choose an RIA technology. (n.d.). Caplin | Single-dealer Platforms for the Capital Markets. Retrieved July 15, 2011, from http://www.caplin.com/whichweb.php

Gilbertson, S. (2010, September 15). The Kraken Awakes to Test Your Browser’s JavaScript Powers | Webmonkey | Wired.com. Webmonkey - The Web Developer's Resource | Wired.com. Retrieved July 14, 2011, from http://www.webmonkey.com/2010/09/the-kraken-awakes-to-test-your-browsers-javascript-powers/

How To Create. (n.d.). Retrieved July 11, 2011, from http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html

Shklar, L., & Rosen, R. (2009). Web application architecture: principles, protocols and practices. Chichester, England: Wiley.

Smith, M. (2011, April 8). Five Ways To Benchmark Your Web Browser’s Performance. Cool Websites, Software and Internet Tips. Retrieved July 12, 2011, from http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/ways-benchmark-web-browsers-performance/


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