Tag Archives: software engineering

System Design Interview — An Insider’s Guide: Volumes 1 & 2

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Throughout the years, I have committed myself to continuously improving my skills in system design. My drive to pursue further knowledge and resources didn’t stem from seeking external validation or a new job opportunity. Instead, I sought to elevate my current role and excel in it. One of my go-to resources in this journey has been Alex Xu’s book, which has become a reliable companion. Every time I revisit it, I am reminded of crucial concepts and invigorated in my approach to problem-solving:

System Design Interview — An Insider’s Guide (Volume 1):

  • Solutions to 16 real system design scenarios, offering practical guidance for enterprise architects to enhance their problem-solving skills.

The book covers diverse topics, from scaling user traffic to designing complex systems like chat systems and search autocomplete systems.

System Design Interview — An Insider’s Guide (Volume 2):

  • A four-step framework serving as a systematic approach to system design interviews.
  • Detailed solutions to 13 real system design interview questions.
  • Over 300 diagrams offer visual explanations of various systems.

The book covers topics like proximity services, distributed message queues, and real-time gaming leaderboards, among others. It caters to readers who possess a basic understanding of distributed systems.

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Preparing for a System Design Interview: Focus on Trade-offs, Not Mechanics

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Are you getting ready for a system design interview? It is critical to approach it with the proper mindset and preparation. System design deals with components at a higher level, so staying out of the trenches is vital. Instead, interviewers are looking for a high-level understanding of the system, the ability to identify key components and their interactions, and the ability to weigh trade-offs between various design options.

During the interview, pay attention to the trade-offs rather than the mechanics. You must make decisions about the system’s scalability, dependability, security, and cost-effectiveness. Understanding the trade-offs between these various aspects is critical to make informed decisions.

Here are a few examples to prove my point:

  • If you’re creating a social media platform, you must choose between scalability and cost-effectiveness. Should you, for example, use a scalable but expensive cloud platform or a less expensive but less scalable hosting service?
  • When creating an e-commerce website, you must make trade-offs between security and usability. Should you, for example, require customers to create an account with a complex password or let them checkout as a guest with a simpler password?
  • When designing a transportation management system, you must balance dependability and cost-effectiveness. Should you, for example, use real-time data to optimise routes and minimise delays, or should you rely on historical data to save money?