Design Patterns for Humans explains software design patterns in simplified terms.
System Design 101
System Design 101 explains complex systems with visuals and plain language for interview preparation.
About System Design 101
System Design 101 is a GitHub repository that explains complex computing systems using visuals and simple terms. Its table of contents covers API and web development subjects such as polling, WebSockets, load balancers, gRPC, HTTP, REST and GraphQL, alongside real-world architecture case studies and sections on AI and machine learning, databases, storage and messaging. It is intended both for people preparing for system design interviews and for readers who want to understand how systems work beneath the surface.
Key features
- Visual, plain-language explanations of load balancers, HTTP, REST, GraphQL and gRPC
- Real-world architecture case studies from Netflix, Uber, Discord, Figma and others
- Sections on databases, storage, message queues, Kafka and event sourcing
- AI and machine learning topics including ChatGPT, AI agents and data pipelines
- Table of contents organized by topic area for browsing individual articles
- Links to a related YouTube channel and newsletter
Best for: Developers and interview candidates who want a visual, plain-language reference on how common systems and architectures work.
Good for
- Explains systems with visuals and simple terms rather than dense technical prose
- Spans a wide range of topics, from API design to databases and company architecture case studies
- Organized as a browsable repository with a categorized table of contents
Watch out for
- The repository page does not state pricing, plans or access terms
- Content is presented as a collection of articles rather than a guided course
System Design 101 at a glance
- Category
- Education & Learning › Learn to Code
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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System Design 101 FAQ
What is System Design 101 for?
It explains complex systems using visuals and simple terms, and is intended to help readers prepare for system design interviews or understand how systems work beneath the surface.
What topics does it cover?
The table of contents covers API and web development, real-world case studies, AI and machine learning, and database and storage, among other areas.
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