System Design

Master distributed systems from foundations to advanced architectures

Structured Learning Path

What You'll Learn:

  • Web foundations and client-server architecture
  • Networking, CDNs, and content delivery
  • Database design and storage strategies
  • Scaling techniques for millions of users
  • Distributed systems and microservices
  • Real-time communication and reliability patterns

Key Skills:

ScalabilityLoad BalancingCachingDatabase DesignMicroservicesCAP TheoremAPIsMessage Queues

🚀 How to Get Started

1

Start with Foundations

Begin with Module 1 to understand client-server architecture, DNS, HTTP, and APIs.

2

Progress Through Modules

Follow the structured path from networking to databases, scaling, and distributed systems.

3

Practice & Apply

Use interview tips and real-world examples to solidify your understanding.

📖 All Modules

Module 1: The Foundations of the Web

4 topics

Client-Server Architecture

The core concept where a client (browser/mobile app) requests data and a server processes and responds

IP Addresses & DNS

How computers identify each other using unique IP addresses and how DNS maps human-friendly names to those addresses

HTTP & HTTPS

The rules for communication, including headers, cookies, and the importance of encryption via SSL/TLS in HTTPS

APIs (REST vs. GraphQL)

The structured ways clients interact with servers, comparing REST with GraphQL approaches

Module 2: Networking & Content Delivery

3 topics

Proxies & Reverse Proxies

Acting as middlemen to hide client identities or protect backend servers

Latency

Understanding the round-trip delay caused by physical distance between the user and the server

CDN (Content Delivery Network)

A global network of servers used to deliver content from a location closest to the user to reduce buffering

Module 3: Database Fundamentals & Storage

3 topics

SQL vs. NoSQL

Choosing between structured, relational data with ACID properties (SQL) or flexible, high-scalability models (NoSQL)

Normalization vs. Denormalization

The trade-off between reducing data redundancy and combining data to speed up read queries

Blob Storage

Using services like Amazon S3 to store large, unstructured files like videos and PDFs

Module 4: Scaling Strategies

3 topics

Vertical vs. Horizontal Scaling

The difference between making one machine more powerful versus adding more machines to share the load

Load Balancing

Using a "traffic manager" to distribute requests across multiple servers using algorithms like Round Robin or IP Hashing

Caching

Storing frequently accessed data in memory (using patterns like Cache Aside) to avoid repeated slow database calls

Module 5: Scaling the Database

3 topics

Indexing

Creating lookup tables to speed up read queries, though this can slow down write operations

Replication

Creating primary and read-only copies of a database to spread out the load and improve availability

Sharding & Partitioning

Splitting a database into smaller pieces either by rows (horizontal) or by columns (vertical)

Module 6: Advanced Distributed Systems

4 topics

CAP Theorem

The principle that a distributed system can only provide two out of three: Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance

Monoliths vs. Microservices

Moving from a single large codebase to independent, decoupled services that handle specific responsibilities

Message Queues

Facilitating asynchronous communication between services to prevent system overloads

API Gateway

A centralized entry point for microservices that handles authentication, logging, and request routing

Module 7: Real-Time Communication & Reliability

3 topics

WebSockets vs. Webhooks

Choosing between a persistent two-way connection for real-time updates or server-to-server notifications triggered by events

Rate Limiting

Protecting servers by restricting the number of requests a client can make in a specific timeframe

Idempotency

Ensuring that a repeated request (like a payment) produces the same result without processing it multiple times

💡 Interview Success Strategy

System design interviews focus on your ability to think through trade-offs, scale systems, and make architectural decisions.

  • ✓ Start with requirements gathering (functional & non-functional)
  • ✓ Move to high-level design (draw boxes and arrows)
  • ✓ Dive into specific components and their trade-offs
  • ✓ Always discuss scalability, availability, and consistency
  • ✓ Justify your choices with concrete numbers

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