System Design Interview - an Insider's Guide
by Alex Xu, Sahn Lam · first published 2020
67% recommend27% neutral7% critical
Why HN recommends it
Digestible, step-by-step walkthroughs of common system design problems, each sized for a short study session. Works as a primer on system design in general, not just interviews, for engineers new to the topic.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
An insider's take on what interviewers are really looking for and why including: a 4-step framework for solving any system design interview question and 16 real system design interview questions with detailed solutions.
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I thought this was really useful in getting a quick overview of a variety of systems in the real world, even though the book itself is designed to answer interview questions. https://www.amazon.com/System-Design-Interview-Insiders-Guid...
on “Ask HN: Where can I see many examples of real companies' software architecture?” ↗I also enjoyed: * Release It! by Michael Nygard * System Design Interview by Alex Xu
on “Ask HN: Best books on modern distributed systems” ↗Although not a blog/newsletter, System Design Interview - An Insider's Guide By Alex Xu is often recommended. Volume 2 will be available soon also.
on “What are some good resources around System Design?” ↗…more senior the job, the more likely part of the interview process is moving boxes and arrows around to design a scalable, reliable system. This book is a great place to start: https://www.amazon.com/System-Design-Interview-Insiders-Guid...
on “Besides coding, what's the most market-valuable skill to acquire?” ↗A typical go-to response is Kleppmann's Designing Data-Intensive Applications. I think Alex Xu's System Design Interview is a good primer to get familiar with the realm of topics.
on “Ask HN: How do you prepare for system design interviews?” ↗The book "System Design Interview" by Alex Su and Sahn Lam is a good place to get digestible examples. It walks you through step-by-step how you might solve various systems problems, introducing the pieces you need. Each problem fits…
on “Ask HN: Where can I see many examples of real companies' software architecture?” ↗I find the book System Design Interview by Alex Xu very helpful. It's focused on passing System Design Interviews, but I found it to be a great primer on System Design in general. He also has a new website to teach you System Design Fundamentals…
on “Ask HN: Resources on learning System Design (back end/data engineering)?” ↗> there's no way to do a "cracking the system design interview" the way you can with coding problems I'd disagree: - System Design Interview – An insider's guide: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CMF2CQF - System Design Interview Vol 2: https://smile.amazon.com/System-Design-Interview-Insiders-Gu... - Designing Data-Intensive Applications: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/1449373321…
on “Ask HN: What is best way to do hands-on practice for system design?” ↗Work through these books, then you start looking at any random app or system and can start from there: - System Design Interview – An insider's guide: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CMF2CQF - System Design Interview Vol 2: https://smile.amazon.com/System-Design-Interview-Insiders-Gu... - Designing Data-Intensive Applications: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/1449373321…
on “Ask HN: What is best way to do hands-on practice for system design?” ↗I know you're asking for hands on, but if you want reading material: https://www.amazon.co.uk/System-Design-Interview-insiders-gu... and https://www.amazon.co.uk/Designing-Data-Intensive-Applicatio... are great
on “Ask HN: What is best way to do hands-on practice for system design?” ↗…way. Nonetheless, I already started learning at least the theoretical foundations thanks to: * Designing Data-Intensive Applications * System Design Primer * Web Scalability for Startup Engineers * System Design Interview by Alex Xu * Quastor subscription * Infoq talks, etc. My interest is only increasing, and I try to participate as much as possible in architecture-related discussions at work with the more experienced…
on “Ask HN: What were your first steps in system architecture/design?” ↗…Chinese: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChineseLanguage/comments/7mjmjc/bes... This looks like a nice Anki deck for reviewing system design concepts: https://github.com/donnemartin/system-design-primer You might also be interested in Alex Xu's System Design Interview Book.
on “Ask HN: What are some good examples of Anki card decks?” ↗System Design Interview I and II - Alex Xu. Take one of the topics and do it practically.
on “How to do distributed locking (2016)” ↗I highly recommend the book System Design Interview by Alex Xu.
on “Ask HN: How to get good at software system architecture” ↗The book System Design Interview is quite good and pragmatic. Personally, I found Designing Data-Intensive Applications less useful because it works on a much lower level. Like if you want to know how database internals work, then read…
on “How to become good at system design?” ↗