System Design

With over two decades of hands-on experience in software engineering and system architecture, I have navigated the complexities of designing scalable, resilient systems across diverse industries. This journey has been marked by numerous challenges, from troubleshooting production outages in high-traffic environments to optimizing resource allocation in distributed infrastructures. The lessons I have learned—often through trial and error—have shaped my understanding of core principles such as trade-offs between performance and consistency, the intricacies of microservices deployment, and the critical role of security in cloud-native designs. It is this accumulated wisdom, gained the hard way through real-world implementations and iterative refinements, that motivates me to author this series of articles. By distilling these insights into a structured, accessible format, I aim to provide aspiring architects with a practical roadmap that bridges theoretical knowledge and applied expertise.

In this collection, I present key concepts in a nutshell format—concise, digestible capsules that encapsulate essential ideas without overwhelming detail. Each topic is broken down into clear explanations, supported by examples and best practices, allowing readers to quickly grasp foundational elements like CAP Theorem or advanced patterns such as Saga for distributed transactions. This approach stems from my observation that interview preparation often lacks the pragmatic lens of seasoned professionals; candidates frequently struggle with articulating trade-offs or scaling strategies under time constraints. By offering these capsules, I seek to equip readers with ready-to-use reference material that can be revisited during preparation, fostering confidence and depth in their responses.

Ultimately, this resource is designed for those aspiring to architect-level roles, where the ability to design robust systems is paramount. Whether you are transitioning from development to architecture or refining your skills for high-stakes interviews, these articles serve as a reliable companion. Drawing from my extensive career, I emphasize not just the “what” but the “why” and “how,” enabling you to approach system design problems with strategic foresight. Through this effort, I hope to shorten the learning curve for others, transforming hard-earned lessons into actionable guidance that propels your professional growth.

1. Introduction to System Design

2. Networking and Communication

3. Databases and Storage

4. Caching and Optimization

5. Distributed Systems and Scalability

6. Messaging Systems and Data Processing

7. Microservices Architecture

8. Cloud-Native Architecture and DevOps

9. Security and Monitoring

10. System Design Case Studies

  • Design a URL Shortener: Walks through designing a scalable URL shortening service.
  • Design a Web Crawler: Explains the architecture of a distributed web crawler.
  • Design a Distributed Key-Value Store: Covers designing a scalable key-value store like DynamoDB.
  • Design a Distributed Rate Limiter: Discusses building a rate limiter for distributed systems.
  • Design a Job Scheduler: Explains designing a distributed job scheduling system.
  • Design a Scalable Notification Service: Covers building a notification system for large-scale applications.
  • Design a “Likes” Counter for Social Media: Discusses designing a scalable likes counting system.
  • Design Social Media News Feed: Explains the architecture of a social media news feed system.
  • Design a Real-Time Leaderboard: Covers designing a leaderboard for real-time gaming.
  • Design a Proximity Service like Yelp: Discusses building a location-based service like Yelp.
  • Design WhatsApp: Walks through designing a real-time messaging system like WhatsApp.
  • Design Instagram: Explains the architecture of a photo-sharing platform like Instagram.
  • Design Uber: Covers designing a ride-sharing system like Uber.
  • Design YouTube: Discusses the architecture of a video streaming platform like YouTube.
  • Design Spotify: Explains designing a music streaming service like Spotify.
  • Design Google Docs: Covers building a collaborative document editing system.
  • Design a Search Engine: Discusses the architecture of a search engine like Google.
  • Design Netflix (Video Streaming, CDN Heavy): Explains designing a video streaming service with CDN integration.
  • Design Amazon E-Commerce (Catalog, Cart, Order, Payments): Covers designing an e-commerce platform.
  • Design Slack (Real-Time Messaging): Discusses building a real-time messaging platform like Slack.
  • Design Zoom/Teams (Real-Time Video Conferencing): Explains designing a video conferencing system.
  • Case Study: Migrating from Monolith to Microservices at Scale: Analyzes strategies for large-scale migrations.
  • Case Study: Multi-Cloud Architecture for High Availability: Discusses designing systems across multiple cloud providers.

Epilogue

As we conclude this journey through the intricacies of system design, I hope these set of articles has served as a valuable compass for navigating the complex landscape of architect-level interviews. Drawing from over two decades of experience, I have endeavored to distill the hard-earned lessons of designing scalable, resilient, and efficient systems into concise, digestible capsules. Each topic, from foundational principles like scalability and availability to advanced concepts like microservices orchestration and cloud-native observability, is crafted to empower you with the clarity and confidence needed to tackle real-world challenges and interview scenarios alike.

The path to becoming a skilled system architect is both demanding and rewarding, requiring a balance of technical depth, strategic thinking, and practical application. This book is not merely a collection of concepts but a bridge between theory and practice, designed to help you articulate trade-offs, justify design decisions, and approach problems with a seasoned perspective. As you prepare for your interviews or embark on designing systems in your professional career, let these insights guide you to think holistically, anticipate failure modes, and prioritize user-centric solutions.

I encourage you to revisit these chapters as a reference, refine your understanding through practice, and adapt these principles to the unique challenges you encounter. The field of system design is ever-evolving, and your growth as an architect will be fueled by curiosity, experimentation, and continuous learning. With this foundation, I wish you success in your interviews and beyond, as you shape the next generation of robust, scalable systems.