What are common mistakes developers make with VisualVM and Mission Control?

VisualVM and Mission Control are powerful tools for monitoring and profiling Java applications, but developers often make common mistakes that can hinder their effectiveness. Here are some of those mistakes:

  • Overlooking Garbage Collection Logs: Developers may not pay attention to GC logs, which are crucial for identifying memory issues.
  • Ignoring Profiling Information: Not utilizing the profiling information to optimize code can lead to performance bottlenecks.
  • Running with Default Settings: Failing to customize the profiling settings to match application needs can result in incomplete data.
  • Neglecting Thread Dump Analysis: Not analyzing thread dumps can miss potential deadlocks and threading issues, which are vital for performance.
  • Not Integrating Diagnostics with CI/CD: Skipping integration of VisualVM or Mission Control diagnostics in the CI/CD pipeline can result in missed performance regressions.
  • Insufficient Resource Monitoring: Failing to monitor CPU and memory usage can lead to unexpected application failures.

By being aware of these pitfalls, developers can leverage VisualVM and Mission Control more effectively, leading to better application performance and stability.


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