System Design Masterclass (2025) from Udemy

Welcome to System Design Masterclass (2024) - Your Shortcut to System Design Interview Success.

Are you ready to master system design for interviews and real-world applications? This course will equip you with a proven thinking model and a structured template to tackle any system design problem.

What You'll Learn:

System Design Template: We use a specific template (Defining Requirements, Capacity Estimation, API Design, High-Level Design, and Deep Dive) to solve any system design challenge. This structured template will prepare you to approach any design challenge during your interview.
8+ Real System Designs: Explore actual systems like YouTube, Newsfeed, WhatsApp, and more. You’ll learn to design these large-scale systems in depth preparing you for your interviews.
Constantly Growing Content: This Masterclass evolves with you. We continuously add new system designs and content, making this course your go-to resource for system design mastery.

Why Enroll?

Get interview-ready with FAANG engineers who know what it takes to excel.
Build scalable and robust systems using the same techniques employed by top tech companies.
Master the building blocks of software architecture, from databases to APIs and microservices.
Stay ahead with an ever-growing library of new system designs and resources to keep your skills sharp.

Who Should Take This Course?

Software engineers looking to master system design interviews.
Developers aiming to design large-scale systems for real-world applications.
Aspiring architects who want to sharpen their thinking and system design skills.

Who Should NOT Take This Course?

Individuals looking to dive deep into the internal workings of specific components, as this course focuses on the concepts necessary for interviews.
Those expecting in-depth explanations of how components like caches or message queues work internally—we teach their usage in system design but not their underlying mechanisms.

Whether you’re an aspiring software engineer / architect, preparing for system design interviews, or working on real-world projects, this course will give you the knowledge to succeed and grow in your career.

Enroll today and start building the confidence and expertise to solve any system design problem.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn to design real systems like youtube, newsfeed, and whatsapp with hands-on examples. master large-scale system design through practical, real-world cases.
A reusable template: a flexible design template that can be adapted for various system design interview scenarios, covering all fundamental building blocks.

Buzzword mastery: clear and simple explanations of common system design buzzwords to ensure you are prepared in your interview to talk about these concepts.
This evolving masterclass adds new system designs regularly, giving you an ever-growing resource to keep your system design skills sharp and up to date.

Learn to design real systems like youtube, newsfeed, and whatsapp with hands-on examples. master large-scale system design through practical, real-world cases.
A reusable template: a flexible design template that can be adapted for various system design interview scenarios, covering all fundamental building blocks.
Buzzword mastery: clear and simple explanations of common system design buzzwords to ensure you are prepared in your interview to talk about these concepts.
This evolving masterclass adds new system designs regularly, giving you an ever-growing resource to keep your system design skills sharp and up to date.

Syllabus

Introduction

Course Introduction

How this course is structured?

Framework for System Design Interviews

Design Instagram Newsfeed

Deciding Requirements - Functional Requirements

Deciding Requirements - Non-Functional Requirements

Time Taking Upload Process

Capacity Estimation - Introduction

Capacity Estimation - Why should you do capacity estimation?

Capacity Estimation - DAU/MAU

Capacity Estimation - Throughput

Calculate Throughput

Quiz Solution: Calculate Throughput

Capacity Estimation - Storage

High Level Design - Stream Content

Calculate Storage

Quiz Solution: Calculate Storage

Capacity Estimation - Memory

Capacity Estimation - Network Bandwidth

API Design - Create a Text Post

API Design - Create an Image / Video Post

API Design - Like / Comment on a Post

API Design

API Design - Follow / Unfollow another User

API Design - Read the NewsFeed (aka Timeline)

High Level Design - Follow / Unfollow another User

High Level Design - Create a Text Post

High Level Design - Create a Text Post (Continued)

High Level Design - Create an Image / Video Post

Optimizing Media Uploads

High Level Design - Read the NewsFeed (aka Timeline)

High Level Design - Comment on a Post

High Level Design - Like on a Post

Deep Dive Insights - Database Selection

API Design - Get Long URL back

Deep Dive Insights - Data Modeling

Deep Dive Insights - Pre-Signed URLs

Deep Dive Insights - Media Processing

Celebrity Accounts

Design Youtube / Netflix

High Level Design - Generate Short URL

Capacity Estimation - DAU / MAU

High Level Design - Problem: Collisions

High Level Design - Approach 1: Random String Generation

API Design - Upload Content

PUT vs POST

API Design - Stream Content

Streaming Vs Downloading

High Level Design - Upload Content

High Level Design - Upload Content (Continued)

High Level Design - Content Processor Workflow Engine

Deep Dive Insights - HLS Encoding

Design TinyURL

Introduction - What is a Tiny URL Service?

Introduction - Why do we need a Tiny URL Service?

Deciding Requirements - Non Functional Requirements

URL Redirections

API Design - Generate a Short URL

High Level Design - Approach 2: Random String Generation using LongURL

High Level Design - Approach 3: Check DB for Collisions

High Level Design - Approach 4: Lets Keep Counters

High Level Design - Approach 4 (Continued): Zookeeper

High Level Design - Approach 4 (Continued): Base 62 Encoding

Convert Base 62 to Base 10

High Level Design - Approach 4 (Continued): Final Design Diagram

Problem with Base62

High Level Design - Get Long URL

Predictable Short URLs

Deep Dive Insights - Redirection from Short URL

Design Rate Limiter

Introduction - Analogy

Introduction - What is a Rate Limiter?

Introduction - Why do we need a Rate Limiter?

Capacity Estimation - Storage & Memory

High Level Design - Placement of Rate Limiter

High Level Design - Basic High Level Design Flow

High Level Design - Storing Request Counters

High Level Design - Storing Rate Limiter Rules

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Uses a specific template to solve system design challenges, which will prepare learners to approach design challenges during their interviews and give them confidence

Explores actual systems like YouTube, Newsfeed, and WhatsApp, which are common examples used in system design interviews and real-world applications

Teaches the building blocks of software architecture, from databases to APIs and microservices, which are essential for designing scalable and robust systems

Focuses on the concepts necessary for interviews rather than diving deep into the internal workings of specific components, which may not suit learners seeking in-depth knowledge

Covers common system design buzzwords, which ensures learners are prepared to discuss these concepts effectively during their interviews and demonstrate their understanding

Includes topics such as API design, high-level design, and deep dive insights, which are crucial for mastering system design and performing well in interviews

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in System Design Masterclass (2025) with these activities:

Review Fundamental Data Structures and Algorithms

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of core data structures and algorithms. This will provide a solid foundation for understanding the trade-offs involved in system design choices.

Browse courses on Data Structures

Show steps

Review common data structures like arrays, linked lists, trees, and graphs.
Practice implementing basic algorithms such as sorting and searching.
Understand the time and space complexity of different data structures and algorithms.

Read 'System Design Interview – An Insider's Guide'

Show steps

Prepare for system design interviews by studying common interview questions and solutions. This book will provide valuable insights into the interview process.

View Machine Learning System Design Interview on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book cover to cover, focusing on the interview questions and solutions.
Practice solving the interview questions on your own.
Compare your solutions to the solutions provided in the book.

Read 'Designing Data-Intensive Applications'

Show steps

Gain a deeper understanding of the principles behind data-intensive applications. This book will provide valuable context for the system design concepts covered in the course.

View Secret Colors on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book cover to cover, taking notes on key concepts and technologies.
Focus on the chapters related to data storage, data processing, and distributed systems.
Relate the concepts discussed in the book to the system designs covered in the course.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Design a Simple URL Shortener

Show steps

Apply the system design principles learned in the course to a practical project. This will help you solidify your understanding of the concepts and identify areas where you need more practice.

Show steps

Define the requirements for the URL shortener, including functional and non-functional requirements.
Design the API for the URL shortener, including endpoints for creating and redirecting short URLs.
Implement a basic version of the URL shortener using a simple database.
Consider scalability and reliability issues, and design a more robust architecture.

Create a Blog Post on a System Design Topic

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of a specific system design topic by explaining it in your own words. This will also help you improve your communication skills.

Show steps

Choose a system design topic that you find interesting or challenging.
Research the topic thoroughly, using the course materials and other resources.
Write a clear and concise blog post explaining the topic to a general audience.
Include diagrams and examples to illustrate your points.

Participate in Mock System Design Interviews

Show steps

Practice your system design interview skills with your peers. This will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and get feedback on your approach.

Show steps

Find a partner who is also taking the course or preparing for system design interviews.
Take turns interviewing each other, using common system design interview questions.
Provide constructive feedback to each other on your performance.

Create a System Design Diagram for a Real-World Application

Show steps

Apply your system design skills to a real-world application that you are familiar with. This will help you develop a deeper understanding of the challenges involved in designing complex systems.

Show steps

Choose a real-world application that you are familiar with, such as a social media platform or an e-commerce website.
Identify the key components of the application and their interactions.
Create a system design diagram that illustrates the architecture of the application.
Write a brief description of the diagram, explaining the design choices you made.

Career center

Learners who complete System Design Masterclass (2025) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Backend Engineer

A backend engineer focuses on the server-side logic and databases of applications. This course is highly relevant to a backend engineer, as it teaches essential skills for designing scalable and efficient systems. With learnings in API design, capacity estimation, and database selection, a backend engineer will be well-equipped to handle the demands of complex applications. The course’s deep dives into data modeling and media processing would be particularly useful for a backend engineer. By exploring real-world systems like YouTube and TinyURL, this course helps a backend engineer apply these system designs to their work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Backend Engineer

Systems Architect

A systems architect is responsible for the overall design and structure of a software system. This course provides a strong foundation for a systems architect by teaching a structured approach to system design. The course's focus on practical system design, using examples like YouTube, WhatsApp, and Newsfeed, builds a systems architect's skills in handling large-scale challenges. The specific system design template taught in the course, combined with capacity estimation and API design, helps a systems architect create robust and scalable software systems. This course may be particularly useful if you aspire to be a systems architect because of its emphasis on real-world applications and design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Architect

Software Engineer

A software engineer designs, develops, and tests software systems. This course directly helps a software engineer by providing a structured approach to system design, which is a critical part of building scalable and robust applications. The course's template for system design, including defining requirements, capacity estimation, API design, high-level design, and deep dives, helps a software engineer understand how to approach complex systems. Learning designs of real systems, like YouTube and WhatsApp, helps build practical skills applicable in many software engineering roles. This course may be particularly useful for software engineers looking to advance their ability to design complex systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Technical Lead

A technical lead is responsible for guiding a team of engineers and making crucial technical decisions. This course directly benefits a technical lead by providing a structured approach to system design, which is critical for leading successful projects. The course’s specific template for tackling system design challenges, helps a technical lead make informed architectural decisions. Learning real system designs, like YouTube and Newsfeed, also helps a technical lead guide their team with confidence. This course may be particularly useful if you wish to become a technical lead, because it focuses on scalable and robust system design, which is essential for success in that role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Lead

Solutions Architect

A solutions architect designs technical solutions to meet specific business needs. This course helps a solutions architect by enhancing their skills in designing scalable and adaptable systems. The detailed system design template covered in the course, including requirement scoping, capacity planning, API design, and in-depth analysis, allows a solutions architect to approach complex problems systematically. Exposure to real-world system designs, such as YouTube and WhatsApp, provides valuable experience for a solutions architect when they create solutions. This course may be particularly helpful if you aspire to be a solutions architect because it develops practical system design expertise.

See salaries and explore the career path for Solutions Architect

Application Architect

An application architect designs the structure of applications, ensuring they meet business requirements. This course helps an application architect by providing skills in designing robust and scalable systems. The focus on system design principles, such as high-level design and deep-dive analysis, is directly applicable to the tasks faced by an application architect. By learning the specifics of system design and capacity estimation, and through examples of real world applications, an application architect can build expertise to handle the complexities of the job. This course may be useful for aspiring application architects because it offers a practical approach to system design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Application Architect

Platform Engineer

A platform engineer designs and builds the infrastructure that software applications run on. This course helps a platform engineer by developing their skills in system design, which is critical to creating stable and scalable platforms. The course’s focus on real-world systems, such as YouTube and TinyURL, helps a platform engineer understand the intricacies of large-scale system design. The template for system design, which includes capacity estimation and API design, allows a platform engineer to work effectively. This course may be particularly useful for platform engineers because it helps them think systematically about system architecture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Platform Engineer

Cloud Architect

A cloud architect designs and oversees an organization’s cloud computing strategy. This course may be useful to a cloud architect by enhancing their ability to design scalable and efficient cloud-based systems. The detailed system design template the course uses, including API design and deep-dive analysis, provides a cloud architect with best practices on how to build complex, reliable systems. The course's practical approach, which includes examples from real systems, provides valuable insights for a cloud architect when they develop cloud architectures. This course may be particularly useful if you want to be a cloud architect because it covers many aspects of system design used in cloud environments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Architect

Site Reliability Engineer

A site reliability engineer focuses on ensuring that software systems are reliable and performant. This course may be useful for a site reliability engineer, because it focuses on critical elements of system design. The course's template for system design, including capacity estimation, API design, and deep dive analysis is useful to site reliability engineers who are responsible for maintaining system stability. This course may be particularly useful because it covers designs of real-world systems, like YouTube and WhatsApp, that require very high levels of reliability.

See salaries and explore the career path for Site Reliability Engineer

DevOps Engineer

A DevOps engineer focuses on automating and streamlining the software development lifecycle. This course helps a DevOps engineer by providing knowledge of system design principles, which inform the deployment and maintenance of scalable applications. The course's structured template for system design, which covers requirements, capacity planning, API design, and deep dives, gives a DevOps engineer a more complete understanding of how large systems operate. The real-world examples, like YouTube and WhatsApp, allow a DevOps engineer to understand the complexities of deploying and managing such applications. This course may be useful for a DevOps engineer to better understand the systems they manage.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Data Engineer

A data engineer designs and builds systems for collecting, storing, and processing data. This course helps a data engineer by providing knowledge of system design, particularly how data flows through complex systems. The course's focus on API design, capacity estimation, and database selection, provides a data engineer with practical insights for designing robust data infrastructure. Learning about designs of real systems, like YouTube and Newsfeed, helps a data engineer understand large-scale data management. This course may be useful for data engineers wanting to improve their skills in designing scalable and efficient systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Technical Project Manager

A technical project manager oversees technical projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. This course helps a technical project manager gain a better grasp of system design concepts, enabling them to manage technical teams more effectively. The course's explanations of system design principles, including requirement analysis, capacity estimation, and API design, help a technical project manager understand the technical challenges of a project. This course may be useful to technical project managers, as it gives them a broad overview of the technical aspects of system design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Project Manager

Database Administrator

A database administrator manages and maintains databases, ensuring their reliability and performance. This course may be useful to a database administrator as it covers concepts like database selection and data modeling. Insights into capacity estimation and how system designs integrate databases, benefits a database administrator. While this course does not focus on the details of database management, its content may help a database administrator, by offering context about system design within which databases are implemented.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Network Engineer

A network engineer designs and maintains computer networks. This course may be useful to a network engineer because it covers how systems communicate with each other, via APIs, and the importance of network capacity. The course's focus on capacity estimation also involves network bandwidth considerations. While this course does not focus on the low-level details of network infrastructure, it could help a network engineer understand the system design principles that they work with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer

Quality Assurance Engineer

A quality assurance engineer is responsible for testing software and ensuring its quality. This course may be useful for a quality assurance engineer by enhancing their understanding of how software systems function. The course’s structured approach to system design, combined with real-world examples, can help the quality assurance engineer test software applications more effectively. This course may be useful to a quality assurance engineer in order to be aware of the system context, even though the course does not delve deeply into testing or quality assurance in particular.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Engineer

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in System Design Masterclass (2025).

Secret Colors

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of the concepts and technologies used in building scalable and reliable systems. It covers topics such as data storage, data processing, and distributed systems. It is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals. Reading this book will give you a deeper understanding of the underlying principles behind the system designs discussed in the course.

Machine Learning System Design Interview

Save

Provides a practical guide to preparing for system design interviews. It covers common system design interview questions and provides detailed solutions. It useful reference tool for anyone preparing for system design interviews. This book adds breadth to the existing course by providing more examples and interview strategies.

Machine Learning System Design Interview

Paperback

System Design Masterclass (2025)

What's inside

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Syllabus

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Activities

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Reading list

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