System Design Interviews ⇒
Demonstrating design skills and the ability to defend decisions made during the process
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Understanding the problem and defining the scope of the design
It is risky to provide answers without fully understanding the requirements
→ red flag
Gather necessary information for system construction through questioning or making assumptions (Write down assumptions for later reference)
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Presenting a rough design proposal and seeking agreement
Present the initial blueprint of the design to the interviewer and seek feedback
Calculate rigorously whether the initial design meets the constraints related to the system's scale
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Detailed design
Identify the key areas of focus and prioritize the components based on their importance and interdependencies
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Conclusion
Never say that there’s no room for improvement
It's also beneficial to summarize the design and explain potential issues that may arise if errors occur
Dos
- Confirm through questioning
- Understand the requirements
- Keep in mind that there is no single correct answer
- Communicate with the interviewer
- Start from the most important component
- Never give up
Don’ts
- Don't prepare for typical interview questions
- Present the design before understanding the requirements
- Get caught up in details from the start