I’ll be honest — Google’s system design interview felt like standing at the foot of a mountain with no clear path up. I had the tech knowledge but didn't know how to structure answers or think at scale. After dozens of hours of trial and error, I found a treasure trove of resources that didn’t just teach me theory — they rewired the way I think about systems.
If you want to nail your system design interview at Google (or any FAANG), here’s the curated battle-tested list that got me from fumbling to confident. Each resource comes with my personal insights, how I used it, and why you should consider it too.
1. Educative’s Grokking the System Design Interview — The Gold Standard
Why it stood out: When I first tried deep diving into system design, I hit a wall of vague advice and overly long blog posts. Educative’s Grokking the System Design Interview shattered that. It packs concepts into digestible modules with real-world examples — think Twitter, Uber, and YouTube architectures broken down clearly.
My pro tip: Walk through each case study aloud, sketching out system components as if explaining to an interviewer. This turns passive reading into an active design exercise.
What you get:
- Step-by-step frameworks to approach common design problems
- Tradeoffs between latency, scalability, availability, and maintainability
- Checklists and framework questions to ask interviewers (yes, prepare questions!)
Lesson: Structured frameworks prevent rambling and build credibility in interviews.
2. ByteByteGo’s System Design YouTube Channel — Visual Learning on Steroids
Nothing beats seeing architecture diagrams in motion. ByteByteGo animates system design problems with clarity and humor. The channel helped me internalize concepts like consistent hashing and data sharding through visuals rather than dense jargon.
My journey: When I was stuck on understanding distributed caches, their animated breakdown made the "aha" moment click faster than any textbook.
Why it’s gold:
- Covers trendy and classical system design problems
- Deep dives into performance bottlenecks and optimizations
- Frequent Q&A episodes answering real viewer questions
Pro tip: Take notes while watching, then recreate the architecture diagrams manually — muscle memory helps retention.
3. DesignGurus.io’s System Design Interview Course — Master the Interview Narrative
While learning design principles is essential, I struggled with how to communicate solutions effectively. DesignGurus.io’s course helped me master the storytelling aspect of the interview — how to frame problems, discuss tradeoffs, and engage interviewers.
Check it out here: DesignGurus.io
Why I loved it:
- Focus on communication and soft skills so vital for design interviews
- Detailed scripts and outlines that you can adapt live during interviews
- Practice problems with sample answers that feel natural, not robotic
Key takeaway: A brilliant design isn’t enough — how you articulate your thought process can make or break your interview.
4. “System Design Interview – An Insider’s Guide” by Alex Xu — The Book That Feels Like Mentoring
For a deep dive into system design fundamentals, Alex Xu’s book is my go-to. I carried it everywhere during my prep months. He distills complex concepts into approachable language, with diagrams that aid memory and understanding.
Grab it here on Amazon.
How I used it:
- Repeatedly read chapters on scalability and caching until clear
- Applied sample problems as mock interview drills
- Referenced architecture patterns during whiteboard exercises
Lesson: Never underestimate the power of a well-structured handbook.
5. Leetcode Discuss and HackerRank Projects — Hands-on Practicals
Reading and watching videos isn’t enough. When I started building mini-projects from system design concepts on HackerRank and discussing approaches on Leetcode Discuss, I found gaps in my understanding — and filled them fast.
My practical routine:
- Pick a system design problem variant daily
- Build simplified prototypes in code to test ideas
- Engage with community feedback to refine approaches
Why this matters: It moves theory into muscle memory — essential for thinking on your feet.
6. Google’s Tech Blog and Open Source Projects — Real-World Insights
Want to see how Google engineers design systems? Their official Google Cloud blog and open source projects are treasure troves of technical deep dives.
I remember reading about Google Spanner and how it achieves global consistency — mind blowing stuff that gave me real-world context.
How to leverage it:
- Follow Google tech blogs for updates on distributed systems
- Read research papers cited in blog posts for deeper knowledge
- Explore open-source codebases to understand practical implementations
Pro tip: Connect theory to practice by referencing these examples in your interview answers for extra cred.
7. Mock Interviews with Peers and Mentors — The Final Gamechanger
All the resources are useless if you don’t practice live. My biggest breakthroughs happened during mock interviews with peers who grilled me on tradeoffs, triggered spontaneous brainstorming, and gave feedback.
My approach: Use platforms like Pramp and Interviewing.io to simulate the pressure and unpredictability of real interviews.
Benefits:
- Learn to think aloud even under stress
- Hear diverse perspectives on system tradeoffs
- Build interview stamina and confidence
Wrapping Up: Your System Design Interview Roadmap
I know firsthand how overwhelming system design prep feels — like learning a new language while running a marathon. But these resources gave me a clear path, community, and technique to scale that mountain at Google’s interview.
Remember:
- Start with frameworks Educative’s Grokking to organize your thinking
- Watch visual breakdowns (ByteByteGo) to cement concepts
- Master storytelling (DesignGurus.io) to communicate with impact
- Read deeply (Alex Xu’s book) to build foundational knowledge
- Practice hands-on (Leetcode/HackerRank) to build intuition
- Learn from Google’s own engineers for real-world relevance
- And finally, rehearse relentlessly with mock interview partners
You’re closer than you think.
Bonus: Tools & Resources Summary
| Resource | Link | Focus Area | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grokking the System Design | https://www.educative.io/courses/grokking-the-system-design-interview?aff=xjW0 | Frameworks & Examples | Structured approach & cases |
| ByteByteGo YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/c/ByteByteGo | Visual architectures | Animated diagrams & explanations |
| DesignGurus.io | https://designgurus.io/courses | Communication & narrative | Effective storytelling |
| System Design Interview Book | https://www.amazon.com/System-Design-Interview-Insiders-Guide/dp/B08CMF2CQF | Fundamentals & patterns | Deep dive & handbook |
| HackerRank 10 Days of System Design | https://www.hackerrank.com/domains/tutorials/10-days-of-system-design | Hands-on practice | Coding prototypes |
| Google Cloud Blog | https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/developers-practitioners | Real-world systems | Practical insights & research |
| Pramp & Interviewing.io | https://www.pramp.com#system-design & https://interviewing.io | Mock interviews | Live practice & feedback |
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Happy Designing,
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