The System Design Primer
The most starred free system design resource on GitHub, covering the concepts, a set of worked design exercises and flashcards for revision. Enormous, so treat the table of contents as a menu rather than a reading list.
Guide
System Design
Donne Martin
3 to 6 weeks
Intermediate
Free
What it is
An open source repository that has become the default free system design reference: concept explanations, a study guide by available preparation time, worked design problems with solutions, object oriented design exercises and Anki decks.
Its strength and its weakness
The strength is coverage and the price. The weakness is the same coverage, because the sheer volume makes it easy to browse indefinitely without finishing anything. It also lacks an opinionated order, so it rewards a reader who already knows what they need.
How to use it
Use the study guide section at the top to pick a scope based on your actual timeline, and ignore everything outside it. Then do the design exercises rather than only reading them.
Best for: self directed learners who want a free spine for their preparation.
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