πŸ–₯️
Sunil Notebook
Interview Preparation
  • πŸ“’Notebook
    • What is this about ?
  • System Design
    • πŸ’‘Key Concepts
      • 🌐Scalability
      • 🌐Latency Vs Throughput
      • 🌐Databases
      • 🌐CAP Theorem
      • 🌐ACID Transactions
      • 🌐Rate limiting
      • 🌐API Design
      • 🌐Strong Vs eventual consistency
      • 🌐Distributed tracing
      • 🌐Synchronous Vs asynchronous Communication
      • 🌐Batch Processing Vs Stream Processing
      • 🌐Fault Tolerance
    • πŸ’ŽBuilding Blocks
      • πŸ”ΉMessage
      • πŸ”ΉCache
      • πŸ”ΉLoad Balancer Vs API Gateway
    • πŸ–₯️Introduction to system design
    • ⏱️Step By Step Guide
    • ♨️Emerging Technologies in System Design
    • β˜‘οΈSystem design component checklist
      • πŸ”·Azure
      • πŸ”ΆAWS
      • ♦️Google Cloud
    • 🧊LinkedIn feed Design
    • 🏏Scalable Emoji Broadcasting System - Hotstar
    • πŸ’²UPI Payment System Design
    • πŸ“ˆStock Broker System Design - Groww
    • πŸ§‘β€πŸ€β€πŸ§‘Designing Instagram's Collaborative Content Creation - Close Friends Only
    • 🌳Vending Machines - Over the air Systems
    • Reference Links
  • DSA
    • Topics
      • Introduction
      • Algorithm analysis
        • Asymptotic Notation
        • Memory
      • Sorting
        • Selection Sort
        • Insertion Sort
        • Merge Sort
        • Quick Sort
        • Quick'3 Sort
        • Shell Sort
        • Shuffle sort
        • Heap Sort
        • Arrays.sort()
        • Key Points
        • Problems
          • Reorder Log files
      • Stacks and Queues
        • Stack Implementations
        • Queue Implementations
        • Priority Queues
        • Problems
          • Dijkstra's two-stack algorithm
      • Binary Search Tree
        • Left Leaning Red Black Tree
          • Java Implementations
        • 2-3 Tree
          • Search Operation - 2-3 Tree
          • Insert Operation - 2-3 Tree
        • Geometric Applications of BST
      • B-Tree
      • Graphs
        • Undirected Graphs
        • Directed Graphs
        • Topological Sort
      • Union Find
        • Dynamic Connectivity
        • Quick Find - Eager Approach
        • Quick Find - Lazy Approach
        • Defects
        • Weighted Quick Union
        • Quick Union + path comparison
        • Amortized Analysis
      • Convex Hull
      • Binary Heaps and Priority Queue
      • Hash Table vs Binary Search Trees
  • Concurrency and Multithreading
    • Introduction
    • Visibility Problem
    • Interview Questions
    • References
      • System design
  • Design Patterns
    • ℹ️Introduction
    • πŸ’ Classification of patterns
    • 1️⃣Structural Design Patterns
      • Adapter Design Pattern
      • Bridge Design Pattern
      • Composite Design Pattern
      • Decorator Design Pattern
      • Facade Design Pattern
      • Flyweight Design Pattern
      • Private Class Data Design Pattern
      • Proxy Design Pattern
    • 2️⃣Behavioral Design Patterns
      • Chain Of Responsibility
      • Command Design Pattern
      • Interpreter Design Pattern
      • Iterator Design Pattern
      • Mediator Design Pattern
      • Memento Design Pattern
      • Null Object Design Pattern
      • Observer Design Pattern
      • State Design Pattern
      • Strategy Design Pattern
      • Template Design Pattern
    • 3️⃣Creational Design Patterns
      • Abstract Factory Design Pattern
      • Builder Design Pattern
      • Factory Method Design Pattern
      • Object Pool Design Pattern
      • Prototype Design Pattern
      • Singleton Design Pattern
    • Java Pass by Value or Pass by Reference
  • Designing Data-Intensive Applications - O'Reilly
    • Read Me
    • 1️⃣Reliable, Scalable, and Maintainable Applications
      • Reliability
      • Scalability
      • Maintainability
      • References
    • 2️⃣Data Models and Query Languages
      • Read me
      • References
    • Miscellaneous
  • Preparation Manual
    • Disclaimer
    • What is it all about?
    • About a bunch of links
    • Before you start preparing
    • Algorithms and Coding
    • Concurrency and Multithreading
    • Programming Language and Fundementals
    • Best Practices and Experience
  • Web Applications
    • Typescript Guidelines
  • Research Papers
    • Research Papers
      • Real-Time Data Infrastructure at Uber
      • Scaling Memcache at Facebook
  • Interview Questions
    • Important links for preparation
    • Google Interview Questions
      • L4
        • Phone Interview Questions
      • L3
        • Interview Questions
      • Phone Screen Questions
  • Miscellaneous
    • 90 Days Preparation Schedule
    • My Preparation for Tech Giants
    • Top Product Based Companies
  • Links
    • Github
    • LinkedIn
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  1. System Design

Step By Step Guide

Step 1: Understand the Problem

Ask Clarifying Questions: Start by asking questions to fully understand the requirements and scope of the problem. This shows your interviewer that you are thorough and detail-oriented.

Example: Are we designing this system for a global audience or a specific region?

Tips:

  • Don't Rush: Take your time to understand the problem fully before diving into the solution.

  • Focus on Requirements: Ensure you know what the interviewer expects in terms of functionality and performance.

  • Engage with the Interviewer: Show your interest and thoughtfulness by asking relevant questions.


Step 2: Define the Scope and Requirements

Functional Requirements: Identify the core functionalities the system must have.

Example: The system should handle user authentication, data storage, and real-time updates.

Non-Functional Requirements: Determine performance, scalability, and reliability needs.

Example: The system should support up to 1 million concurrent users with 99.99% uptime.

Tips:

  • Prioritize Requirements: Focus on the most critical requirements first.

  • Be Specific: Clearly define both functional and non-functional requirements.

  • Balance Needs: Consider both user needs and technical constraints.


Step 3: Envelope Calculations

Estimate Load: Calculate the expected load on the system based on the number of users and their interactions.

Example: Assume 1 million daily active users, each making an average of 10 requests per day, resulting in 10 million requests daily.

Data Storage Requirements: Estimate how much data will be stored and processed.

Example: If each request generates 1 KB of data, we need to store approximately 10 GB of data daily.

Bandwidth Requirements: Calculate the bandwidth needed to handle data transfer.

Example: With each request/response being 1 KB, we need a bandwidth of around 10 GB per day.

Tips:

  • Be Realistic: Use realistic assumptions and data for calculations.

  • Document Assumptions: Clearly state any assumptions you make during calculations.

  • Prepare for Questions: Be ready to explain and justify your calculations.


Step 4: High-Level System Design

Draw the Architecture: Create a high-level diagram of the system architecture. Include key components like databases, servers, and external services.

Example: We'll use a microservices architecture with load balancers, a distributed database, and a CDN for content delivery.

Explain Your Choices: Justify the technologies and patterns you’ve chosen.

Example: We’re using microservices for better scalability and maintainability.

Tips:

  • Keep It Simple: Start with a simple design and add complexity as needed.

  • Use Standard Symbols: Make sure your diagrams are clear and easy to understand.

  • Communicate Clearly: Explain your thought process and choices to the interviewer.


Step 5: Detailed Component Design

Focus on Key Components: Dive deeper into the design of crucial parts of the system.

Example: For user authentication, we’ll implement OAuth 2.0 with JWT tokens.

Data Models: Define the data schema and storage mechanisms.

Example: We'll use a relational database for transactional data and a NoSQL database for user sessions.

Tips:

  • Modular Approach: Break down the system into smaller, manageable components.

  • Consider Alternatives: Discuss different design options and their trade-offs.

  • Ensure Consistency: Keep data models and design patterns consistent across components.


Step 6: Scalability and Reliability

Handling Traffic: Discuss strategies for scaling the system.

Example: We'll use auto-scaling groups and a global load balancer to handle traffic spikes.

Fault Tolerance: Explain how the system will handle failures.

Example: We’ll implement redundancy with multiple data centers and use a backup and restore strategy for data recovery.

Tips:

  • Plan for Growth: Design the system to handle increasing loads over time.

  • Redundancy is Key: Implement redundancy to ensure high availability.

  • Use Proven Solutions: Apply industry best practices for scalability and reliability.


Step 7: Security Considerations

Data Protection: Talk about securing data in transit and at rest.

Example: We'll use SSL/TLS for data in transit and AES encryption for data at rest.

Access Controls: Describe how you'll manage user permissions and roles.

Example: We'll implement role-based access control (RBAC) to restrict access based on user roles.

Tips:

  • Think Like an Attacker: Identify potential vulnerabilities and threats.

  • Use Encryption: Always encrypt sensitive data, both in transit and at rest.

  • Limit Access: Apply the principle of least privilege to minimize risks.


Step 8: Monitoring and Maintenance

Monitoring Tools: Explain how you’ll monitor the system's health and performance.

Example: We'll use Prometheus and Grafana for monitoring metrics and setting up alerts.

Maintenance Plan: Discuss how you’ll handle updates and maintenance without downtime.

Example: We'll use blue-green deployment for zero-downtime updates.

Tips:

  • Automate Monitoring: Use automated tools to track system performance and detect issues.

  • Proactive Maintenance: Plan regular maintenance to prevent issues before they occur.

  • Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest best practices and tools for monitoring and maintenance.


Step 9: Trade-offs and Considerations

Discuss Alternatives: Mention any alternative solutions and why you chose your approach.

Example: We considered using a monolithic architecture but opted for microservices for better scalability.

Acknowledge Trade-offs: Be honest about the trade-offs of your design.

Example: While microservices offer scalability, they also introduce complexity in terms of communication and monitoring.

Tips:

  • Be Honest: Clearly explain the trade-offs and why you made certain decisions.

  • Balance Needs: Consider all aspects, including performance, cost, and complexity.

  • Be Open: Show that you are open to feedback and willing to adjust your design if needed.

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