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Mahimahi

Mahimahi is a free set of Linux tools for measuring and emulating web performance.

Place
#25 of 31
Score
5.7

What Mahimahi is

Mahimahi is a free set of Linux tools for measuring and emulating web performance. It is intended for browser developers, website authors, and network protocol designers examining how web behavior changes under different network conditions. The tools emulate propagation delay, link rates, and stochastic packet loss. LinkShell supports DropTail, DropHead, and CoDel queueing disciplines, and tools can be nested to combine network effects. RecordShell saves real HTTP content to disk for repeatable playback with ReplayShell. ReplayShell mirrors a page’s server distribution locally and serves requests from real web servers. The project says users can run unmodified Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, along with virtual machines and mobile-device emulators. Each tool starts a lightweight container, generally connected through a synthetic network device. Installation instructions cover Ubuntu via an apt repository, and the project also documents building from source. Its free software plan is listed as free for Ubuntu 14.04 or higher. The repository identifies GPL-3.0 as its license, and an automation API is available.

Good

  • Emulates delay, link rates, and stochastic packet loss.
  • Supports several queueing disciplines in LinkShell.
  • Can combine network effects by nesting tools.
  • Supports repeatable playback of saved HTTP content.
  • Free software plan is listed for Ubuntu 14.04 or higher.

Watch out

  • The listed free plan specifies Ubuntu 14.04 or higher.
  • Installation instructions and source-build guidance are Linux-focused.

Who it suits

Mahimahi suits browser developers, website authors, and network protocol designers who need to measure or emulate web performance on Linux.

Verdict

Mahimahi offers composable network emulation and replay tools for investigating web performance. Its Linux and Ubuntu focus is relevant when choosing an environment for the work.

Plans and prices

From Mahimahi's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
Free softwareFreeUbuntu 14.04 or higher, per the project site

The facts

Each one read from Mahimahi's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Client compatibility
The site says users can run unmodified Chrome, Firefox, Safari, virtual machines, and mobile-device emulators in its tools.checked 8 Oct 2026
Composability
Mahimahi tools can be nested to chain network effects.checked 8 Oct 2026
Implementation
Each tool spawns a lightweight container, generally connected through a synthetic network device.checked 8 Oct 2026
Installation
The site provides Ubuntu installation instructions using an apt repository and also documents building from source.checked 8 Oct 2026
Intended users
The site describes the tools as intended for browser developers, website authors, and network protocol designers.checked 8 Oct 2026
License
The public project repository identifies its license as GPL-3.0.checked 8 Oct 2026
Network conditions
Its tools emulate propagation delay, link rates, and stochastic packet loss.checked 8 Oct 2026
Purpose
Mahimahi is a set of lightweight tools for measuring and emulating web performance.checked 8 Oct 2026
Queueing
LinkShell supports DropTail, DropHead, and CoDel queueing disciplines.checked 8 Oct 2026
Record traffic
RecordShell can save real HTTP content to disk for repeatable replay with ReplayShell.checked 8 Oct 2026
Replay behavior
ReplayShell locally mirrors a page’s server distribution and serves requests from real web servers.checked 8 Oct 2026
Research
The site links a research paper presented at the 2015 USENIX Annual Technical Conference.checked 8 Oct 2026

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