Hi I’m Fahim
As a software engineer at Meta and Microsoft, I helped develop cloud-scale distributed systems, including Azure and Facebook storage.
In my 20+ years in tech, I have also personally led hundreds of System Design Interviews.
These are the resources I wish I could have given to candidates to guide them through the interview process.
The best part — it’s all 100% free.
I hope you find this handbook useful. Good luck with your interviews!
The System Design Handbook
- End-to-end System Design Interview mastery
- FAANG-approved best practices
- Real-world case studies & practice questions
Why are System Design Interviews such a big deal?
This might be controversial, but here it goes: System Design Interviews aren’t just a hoop to jump through.
They actually really matter. Here’s why
Your ability to reason through trade-offs is a huge predictor of on-the-job success.
There’s a reason why every top company today (especially FAANG) has a System Design loop of some kind. Trust me, it pays to be prepared.
Because they are so open-ended, SDI loops can be tricky for even the best software engineers.
But luckily there’s a way through.
Learn what interviewers are actually looking for
Get the offer
Demonstrate hireable skills and navigate your interview loops with confidence.
Avoid getting down-leveled
Maximize your comp package by getting hired at a higher starting level and salary.
Set yourself up for success
Learn System Design skills that will serve you for the rest of your career.
More free System Design Interview guides
System Design: The Complete Guide 2025
System Design Interview Guide for Software Engineers in 2025
System Design Interview Questions: Top 40 for 2025 (FAANG Prep)
Meta System Design Interview: A step-by-step Guide
Generative AI System Design Interview: A step-by-step Guide
OpenAI System Design Interview: A step-by-step Guide
Master System Design Interviews with a Free Roadmap
Our System Design interview handbook is built to take you step by step through the essentials. Instead of random tips scattered across the web, you’ll follow a structured learning path designed by engineers with real interview experience.
Here’s what you’ll gain:
- A System Design preparation roadmap that explains what interviewers evaluate and how you can demonstrate strong reasoning.
- Guidance on core concepts like scalability, consistency, availability, latency, and partitioning.
- Deep dives into scalable architecture patterns—from microservices and event-driven designs to caching, load balancing, and distributed queues.
- Practical frameworks to structure open-ended interview questions without getting lost in details.
Whether you’re just starting out or brushing up before an interview loop, this free System Design learning resource ensures you’re not only prepared but confident.
Real Case Studies & Guided Design Problems
Theory alone won’t carry you through an interview. That’s why we include System Design case studies with solutions based on actual prompts used in hiring processes.
Our System Design interview problems and distributed systems tutorials include:
- Job Scheduler Design — handling queues, scaling workers, retries, and fault tolerance.
- Real-World Applications — build a streaming architecture like Spotify, a file-sharing platform like Dropbox, or a content delivery system like YouTube.
- Machine Learning System Design — go beyond CRUD apps and learn how to design ML-enabled pipelines that operate at scale.
And so much more!
Each problem is presented in two phases: first, you attempt the design on your own; then you walk through a detailed, step-by-step solution that highlights trade-offs, alternative approaches, and why certain decisions work better in real environments. These end-to-end architecture design examples teach you how to think like an interviewer while sharpening your engineering instincts.
Why System Design Interviews Really Matter
It’s tempting to think of design rounds as just another hurdle. In reality, they’re one of the most influential parts of the hiring process.
Here’s why mastering System Design in software engineering is essential:
- Critical Job Skills: Designing large-scale systems demonstrates your ability to solve ambiguous problems, weigh trade-offs, and communicate clearly. Companies rely on this skill to evaluate real-world engineering ability.
- Level and Compensation: Strong performance in FAANG System Design interviews can determine whether you’re hired at L4 vs. L5—or whether you’re down-leveled despite strong coding skills. Understanding why System Design is critical in interviews directly impacts your career trajectory and earning potential.
- Long-Term Growth: Once hired, the same skills you use in interviews will define your impact as an engineer. The importance of System Design in software engineering goes far beyond interviews—it’s what makes you valuable on high-impact teams and scalable projects.
By showing not only “what” to design but “why” and “how,” System Design Handbook equips you for interviews and long-term success.
Start Learning Today — Free System Design Resources
Unlike many platforms, our approach is simple: there are no paywalls or subscriptions—just progress. Everything you need to prepare for interviews and improve your System Design skills is free and openly available.
Here’s how you can get started right now:
- Beginner-Friendly Primer: Our System Design tutorials for beginners introduce you to the fundamentals in a clear, approachable way.
- Guided Study Materials: Work through our complete System Design study guide online and track your progress step by step.
- Practice Hub: Tackle practice System Design interview problems with solutions designed to mirror real interview scenarios.
- Insights Blog: Read updates on industry practices, emerging patterns, and insider tips from experienced engineers.
If you’re searching for the best website to learn System Design for interviews, look no further. Our mission is to make high-quality, free System Design learning resources accessible to every engineer preparing for a career move.