With the size and complexity of most Java applications, it's getting much more important to get an early handle on performance. Gartner estimates that only 14% of applications meet "all measured and tested response time estimates."
Find out more on how to optimize Java applications in the following article.
In the end, you don't wander into good performance by accident: you invest in it. In this paper, we've outlined two critical investments. First, a good process, with automated performance tests where possible, will allow you to monitor and optimize your application performance as early as possible, as problems are introduced. Second, a good set of tools is as essential for the Java developer as they are for a carpenter or mechanic. These investments will save you time and money. Finding problems earlier in the development cycle will let you fix them faster, when any design changes are less expensive. Automating performance testing will let you focus on developing code, knowing that your test suite will catch performance problems as they're introduced, making you more productive. And investments in tools will allow you to attack the most critical performance problems with confidence and efficiency. The result is a faster, more cost-effective development process.