AI System Design

Concept Map

Follow the recommended path, or jump anywhere.

Recommended path

Scaling→Back-of-the-Envelope Estimation→Load Balancing→Caching→Database Replication→Consistent Hashing→Unique ID Generator→Database Sharding→Message Queues→Rate Limiter→CAP & Consistency→Key-Value Store

Level 1 · System Foundations

Scaling

● Sim

One server isn't enough. What would you do?

Back-of-the-Envelope Estimation

● Sim

How many servers do you need? Guess — then prove it.

Level 2 · Core Building Blocks

Rate Limiter

● Sim

Your API is under attack. Good luck.

Caching

● Sim

Your database is dying. Add a cache.

Consistent Hashing

● Sim

You have 4 servers and 10,000 keys. Now add server #5.

Unique ID Generator

● Sim

Mint 2 million IDs a second. No duplicates. Ever.

Load Balancing

● Sim

Spread the work so no single server drowns.

Database Replication

● Sim

Your database just died. Good luck.

Level 3 · Design Patterns

Message Queues

● Sim

Your queue has a million pending jobs. Fix the backlog.

Database Sharding

● Sim

One database can't hold it all. Split it.

CAP & Consistency

● Sim

Pick two. Actually, pick your poison.

Key-Value Store

● Sim

Two replicas just died. Keep reads and writes flowing.

Chapter coverage

Every chapter of System Design Interview Vol 1 & 2, and where to practise it here.

1Scale from zero to millions of users
Theory Scaling Caching Load Balancing Database Replication Database Sharding Mock interview
2Back-of-the-envelope estimation
Theory Back-of-the-Envelope Estimation Mock interview
3A framework for system design interviews
Theory Mock interview
4Rate limiter
Theory Rate Limiter Mock interview
5Consistent hashing
Theory Consistent Hashing Mock interview
6Key-value store
Theory CAP & Consistency Key-Value Store Design challenge Mock interview
7Unique ID generator
Theory Unique ID Generator Mock interview
8URL shortener
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
9Web crawler
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
10Notification system
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
11News feed
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
12Chat system
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
13Search autocomplete
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
14YouTube
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
15Google Drive
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
16Proximity service
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
17Nearby friends
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
18Google Maps
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
19Distributed message queue
Theory Message Queues Design challenge Mock interview
20Metrics monitoring & alerting
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
21Ad click event aggregation
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
22Hotel reservation
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
23Distributed email service
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
24S3-like object storage
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
25Real-time gaming leaderboard
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
26Payment system
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
27Digital wallet
Theory Design challenge Mock interview
28Stock exchange
Theory Design challenge Mock interview