Step 1: System Design Fundamentals
Navigation: Main Index | Step 2: Databases →
Overview
This step covers the foundational concepts of system design that form the basis for understanding distributed systems, scalability, and modern architecture patterns.
Topics Covered
1. Serverless vs Serverfull
- Deployment models comparison
- When to use each approach
- Trade-offs and decision frameworks
- Real-world examples and best practices
2. Horizontal vs Vertical Scaling
- Scale-out vs scale-up strategies
- Use cases for each approach
- Challenges and solutions
- Hybrid scaling approaches
3. Threads
- Concurrency within processes
- Thread synchronization mechanisms
- Race conditions and deadlocks
- Best practices for multithreading
4. Memory Pages
- Virtual memory and paging
- Page faults and TLB
- Memory management fundamentals
- Performance optimization
5. How the Internet Works
- TCP/IP model and layers
- DNS resolution
- Packet switching and routing
- Network protocols overview
Quick Navigation
| Topic | File | Key Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| Serverless vs Serverfull | serverless-vs-serverfull.md | Event-driven, auto-scaling, cold starts, vendor lock-in |
| Horizontal vs Vertical Scaling | horizontal-vs-vertical-scaling.md | Scale-out, scale-up, load balancing, state management |
| Threads | threads.md | Concurrency, synchronization, race conditions, thread pools |
| Memory Pages | memory-pages.md | Virtual memory, paging, TLB, page faults |
| How Internet Works | how-internet-works.md | TCP/IP, DNS, routing, packet switching |
Learning Path
- Start Here: Read topics in order for foundational understanding
- Focus Areas: Pay special attention to trade-offs and decision frameworks
- Practice: Try explaining concepts in your own words
- Connect: Notice how these concepts relate to later steps
Key Takeaways
- Deployment Models: Understand when to use serverless vs traditional servers
- Scaling Strategies: Know when to scale horizontally vs vertically
- Concurrency: Understand threads, processes, and synchronization
- Memory Management: Grasp virtual memory and paging concepts
- Networking: Understand how data travels across the Internet
Related Steps
- Step 2: Databases build on scaling concepts (sharding, replication)
- Step 4: Caching relates to memory management
- Step 5: Network protocols expand on Internet fundamentals
- Step 6: Load balancing essential for horizontal scaling
- Step 8: Microservices use serverless and scaling concepts
Study Tips
- Draw Diagrams: Visualize architectures and data flows
- Explain Aloud: Practice explaining concepts as if teaching
- Think Trade-offs: Every decision has pros and cons
- Use Examples: Relate to real systems (Netflix, Amazon, Google)
Next Step: Step 2: Databases & Data Management →
Back to: Main Index