AppDynamics 3 zeroing in on Java workload memory leaks

Workloads are increasingly architected as highly distributed components that may be executing on physical, virtual or cloud environments. Discovering and fixing performance issue can become an almost insurmountable task because the environment has become so complex. AppDynamics just introduced version 3.0 of its application performance management product that is designed to seek out these issues in a distributed java-based environment. I just had a chance to speak with Steve Roop, Senior VP of Marketing for AppDynamics while he was at a conference in Germany.

What AppDynamics has to say about 3.0

AppDynamics, Inc., the next generation Application Performance Management (APM) company, announced today the release of AppDynamics 3.0. Designed specifically for highly distributed Java applications in cloud, virtual and hybrid environments, AppDynamics 3.0 sets new standards for cloud application performance management as well as automatic memory leak detection for Java applications in production.

Over the past year, AppDynamics has been working with cloud pioneers who leverage both public and private clouds to run and scale applications that generate billions of dollars in revenue. As a result of this direct customer experience, AppDynamics is the standard bearer for managing high-volume cloud applications.

With AppDynamics 3.0, AppDynamics introduces:

• Dynamic Cluster Aggregation & Intelligent Instance Lifecycle Tracking: AppDynamics 3.0 adapts to dynamic changes in the number and identity of cloud instances as they happen, and self-learns “normal” performance levels accordingly.
• Extreme Single-Application Scalability: To manage massive scale, AppDynamics 3.0 enables up to 1000 cloud nodes to report to a single AppDynamics controller.

Additionally, by delivering the first low-cost algorithm for object deep size calculation, AppDynamics 3.0 provides:

Automatic Leak Detection: For applications in production, AppDynamics 3.0 provides real-time monitoring of Java heaps and garbage collection to automatically detect memory leaks as they happen. Root Cause Diagnostics: AppDynamics 3.0 provides actionable diagnostics by discovering the contents of a leak, identifying who is adding data to memory structures, as well as which business transaction or code path is causing it to grow.

Snapshot analysis

As workload complexity grows, it is next to impossible for a human being to know what is happening in real time.  This means that performance issues or system failure can occur faster than an organization's administrative staff can respond. Tools such as those offered by AppDyamics, CiteSeer, dynaTrace, Tidal Software, and a few others have become a requirement.

AppDynamics has gone to great efforts to make its software easy to use and help developers quickly isolate the root cause of a problem so that organizations don't have to stop and restart workloads or workload components to deal with symptoms of a problem.

Unasked for, shoot-from-the-hip advice

AppDynamics, your technology appears to be a very powerful tool and might be a fantastic addition to any Java developer's tool kit. Making decision-makers truly understand the problem and why your tool is the best solution is the big challenge you face.

Have you thought of creating a multi-media series of papers, videos, web seminars and conference presentations that target different audience members and lead them each through the process of awareness of the problem, interest in finding a solution, desire to learn more about your product and then, finally, take action on starting a pilot project with your software?