System Design Roadmap

Level: Intermediate

How to follow this roadmap

  1. Start with Phase 1 (Concepts & Fundamentals) — work through scalability, CAP theorem, consistent hashing, load balancing, and caching before moving on. Each topic links out to a deep-dive article.
  2. Use the checkbox next to each item to mark progress. Progress is saved to your browser locally — no signup required.
  3. Watch the recommended video for each section in the side sheet. Most are 15-45 minutes and pair well with the reading material.
  4. Move to Phase 2 (Interview Problems) only after you can sketch a high-level diagram for caching, queuing, and database sharding from memory.
  5. Use Phase 3 (Supplementary Resources) — books like Designing Data-Intensive Applications and System Design Interview Vol. 1 — to deepen specific weak areas before live interviews.

When to choose this path

Choose this roadmap if you're preparing for FAANG-level interviews or moving into senior/staff engineering roles where designing scalable distributed systems is part of the job. It's also the right fit for backend engineers transitioning to platform or infrastructure teams. If you're a frontend or fullstack engineer with no backend experience, start with the Frontend Developer Roadmap and a backend fundamentals course first — system design assumes comfort with databases, networking, and async programming.

What you’ll learn

Recommended resources

Frequently asked questions

How long does the system design roadmap take to complete?
Most engineers complete the roadmap in 8-12 weeks at 1-2 hours per day. Phase 1 (concepts) takes 2-3 weeks, Phase 2 (interview problems) 4-6 weeks, and Phase 3 (supplementary reading) ongoing. The roadmap is interactive and your progress is saved locally, so you can pause and resume anytime.
Is the system design roadmap free?
Yes. The roadmap, all linked articles on AlgoMaster, and the embedded YouTube videos are free to use without signup. Some recommended books and the ByteByteGo platform are paid, but they're optional.
Do I need a CS degree to follow this system design roadmap?
No. The roadmap assumes comfort with at least one backend language (Python, Java, Go, or Node.js), basic SQL, and a working knowledge of HTTP and APIs. CS fundamentals like networking and data structures help, but you can pick them up alongside the roadmap.
Will this roadmap prepare me for FAANG interviews?
Yes. The 45+ interview problems cover the canonical FAANG and big-tech interview question pool — design TinyURL, design Twitter/X feed, design Uber, design WhatsApp, etc. Pair the roadmap with mock interviews and you're well-prepared.
How is this different from roadmap.sh's system design page?
roadmap.sh shows a high-level visual node graph with no progress tracking. Talos.tools' roadmap is interactive — checkboxes, embedded videos, curated reading per section, and three structured phases. It's designed to be worked through end-to-end, not just glanced at.
Can I track my progress across devices?
Progress is saved to your browser's localStorage so it stays on the device you used. Cross-device sync requires a free account (coming soon). If you switch devices, you can manually re-check items based on memory of what you've completed.
What should I learn before starting the system design roadmap?
Be comfortable with one backend language, basic SQL, REST APIs, and Git. A working knowledge of data structures and algorithms helps but is not strictly required. If you're brand new, complete the Frontend Developer Roadmap first, then a backend fundamentals course, then return here.

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Last updated: 2026-04-27