Stage 1 · Lesson 1 of 7
Service and data ownership boundaries
Every , database and shared API needs one owning team. That team can change it, reviews changes from others and gets when it breaks. As a senior engineer you worked inside boundaries someone else drew.
At staff level you draw them. explains why this matters: systems end up mirroring how teams talk to each other. So a boundary that cuts across two teams who rarely talk becomes a painful place where their work has to fit together.
Start every cross-team design by listing each component and its owner. Everything later in this stage, from to , assumes these service and data ownership boundaries are already clear.
Common trapthe shared database written by three services, where no team can change a column without a meeting.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 2 cheat sheet entries come with the full roadmap. Unlock
Resources for this stage
Start with· follow one of these
- CoursePaidSystem Design Patterns: From Fundamentals to Real Systems
Design Gurus · Intermediate · Subscription
The distributed patterns behind most designs, to judge proposals from other teams
- GuideFreeMartin Fowler's Website
Martin Fowler · Intermediate
Free, clear writing on architecture styles, microservices and evolving designs