Muhammad Salem

Posted on Jun 21

How do I prepare for low level system design?

Preparing for low-level system design interviews requires a structured approach to mastering object-oriented design (OOD) and software design principles. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you prepare effectively:

1. Understand the Basics of OOD

Object-Oriented Principles: Learn the four main principles of OOD:
- Encapsulation: Keeping the data (attributes) and the code (methods) that manipulates the data together.
- Abstraction: Hiding complex implementation details and showing only the necessary features of an object.
- Inheritance: Mechanism to create a new class using the properties and methods of an existing class.
- Polymorphism: Ability of different classes to be treated as instances of the same class through inheritance.

2. Learn SOLID Principles

Single Responsibility Principle (SRP): A class should have one and only one reason to change.
Open/Closed Principle (OCP): Classes should be open for extension but closed for modification.
Liskov Substitution Principle (LSP): Objects of a superclass should be replaceable with objects of a subclass without affecting the functionality.
Interface Segregation Principle (ISP): Many client-specific interfaces are better than one general-purpose interface.
Dependency Inversion Principle (DIP): Depend on abstractions, not on concretions.

3. Study Common Design Patterns

Creational Patterns: Singleton, Factory, Abstract Factory.
Structural Patterns: Adapter, Facade, Decorator.
Behavioral Patterns: Strategy, Observer.
Resources: "Head First Design Patterns" by Eric Freeman and Elisabeth Robson.

4. Practice Common System Design Problems

Design a Parking Lot
Design a Library Management System
Design an Online Bookstore
Design a Social Media Platform
Design a Chess Game

5. Brush Up on UML Diagrams

Class Diagrams: Represent classes and their relationships.
Sequence Diagrams: Show how objects interact in a particular sequence.
Use Case Diagrams: Illustrate system functionalities and user interactions.
Activity Diagrams: Represent workflows of stepwise activities.

6. Implement Small Projects

Create small projects that require careful design:
- Inventory Management System
- Employee Management System
- E-commerce Application
Focus on how you structure your classes, relationships, and interactions between components.

7. Code Reviews and Refactoring

Regularly review and refactor your code.
Learn to identify code smells and apply refactoring techniques.
Resources: "Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code" by Martin Fowler.

8. Mock Interviews and Practice

Participate in mock interviews with peers or mentors.
Use platforms like Pramp, Interviewing.io, or LeetCode Discuss to practice system design problems.
Record your solutions and get feedback to improve.

9. Study Real-World Systems

Analyze the design of popular open-source projects on GitHub.
Read engineering blogs and case studies from tech companies.

10. Review and Revise

Regularly review your notes and solutions.
Stay updated with new design patterns and architectural styles.

Sample Problem Walkthrough: Design a Parking Lot

Step 1: Gather Requirements

Different types of parking spots: regular, compact, handicapped.
Payment methods and fee calculation.
Entry and exit points.
Tracking available spots.

Step 2: Identify Main Components

ParkingLot: Manages parking spots, entry, and exit.
ParkingSpot: Represents a single parking spot.
Vehicle: Base class for vehicles.
Ticket: Manages parking tickets.
Payment: Handles payment processing.

Step 3: Define Classes and Relationships

class ParkingLot {
    List<ParkingSpot> spots;
    Map<String, Ticket> activeTickets;

    Ticket parkVehicle(Vehicle vehicle);
    void exitVehicle(Ticket ticket);
}

class ParkingSpot {
    String spotId;
    boolean isOccupied;
    Vehicle currentVehicle;
    SpotType spotType; // Enum for regular, compact, handicapped

    boolean assignVehicle(Vehicle vehicle);
    void removeVehicle();
}

class Vehicle {
    String licensePlate;
    VehicleType vehicleType; // Enum for car, truck, bike
}

class Ticket {
    String ticketId;
    Date entryTime;
    Date exitTime;
    Vehicle vehicle;
    double calculateFee();
}

class Payment {
    String ticketId;
    double amount;
    boolean processPayment();
}

Step 4: Design UML Diagram

Create class and sequence diagrams to visualize the interaction and design.

Step 5: Implement and Test

Write unit tests for each class.
Simulate parking, exiting, and payment scenarios.

By following this structured approach and continually practicing, you can effectively prepare for low-level system design interviews and improve your ability to design robust software systems.

To get the most value from practicing low-level design problems, especially with a resource like "Grokking the Object-Oriented Design Interview," you should follow a methodical approach. Here are tips and tricks for effective low-level design practices:

1. Understand the Problem Thoroughly

Clarify Requirements: Before diving into the solution, ensure you understand the problem statement and clarify any ambiguities.
Identify Key Features: Break down the problem into essential features and functionalities.

2. Break Down the Design

Modular Design: Divide the problem into smaller, manageable modules or components.
Single Responsibility Principle: Ensure each class or module has a single responsibility or purpose.

3. Use Design Patterns Wisely

Appropriate Patterns: Identify and apply suitable design patterns for each component. For example, use the Singleton pattern for managing a single instance of a class.
Pattern Combinations: Sometimes, combining multiple patterns can lead to an optimal solution.

4. Think Through Edge Cases

Robust Design: Consider edge cases and how your design will handle them. This includes error handling, boundary conditions, and performance considerations.
Scalability and Extensibility: Design with scalability in mind, allowing for easy extension or modification.

5. Visualize with UML

Class Diagrams: Create class diagrams to visualize the relationships between different components.
Sequence Diagrams: Use sequence diagrams to understand object interactions over time.
Use Case Diagrams: Map out user interactions and system functionalities.

6. Implement and Test

Write Clean Code: Follow best practices for clean and maintainable code. Use meaningful names, consistent formatting, and document your code.
Unit Testing: Write unit tests for each class and component. Test both typical and edge cases.
Refactor: Continually improve your design and code. Refactor for better performance, readability, and maintainability.

7. Review Solutions Critically

Analyze Sample Solutions: Study the solutions provided in your resource. Understand why certain design choices were made and how they address the problem requirements.
Compare and Contrast: Compare your solution with the sample. Identify areas of improvement or alternative approaches.
Feedback Loop: Seek feedback from peers, mentors, or online forums. Use constructive criticism to refine your design skills.

8. Practice Regularly and Variedly

Diverse Problems: Practice a variety of design problems. Each problem will help you understand different aspects of OOD.
Consistency: Set a regular practice schedule. Consistent practice will reinforce concepts and improve your skills.
Time Yourself: Simulate interview conditions by timing your design process. This helps improve your efficiency and ability to think under pressure.

9. Document Your Process

Design Journal: Keep a journal of your design problems, solutions, and learnings. Document the steps you took, the design patterns used, and any challenges faced.
Reflect and Iterate: Periodically review your journal to reflect on your progress. Identify patterns in your mistakes and areas where you can improve.

10. Build Projects

Real-World Applications: Apply your design skills to small projects or contribute to open-source projects. This gives practical experience and reinforces your learning.
Incremental Complexity: Start with simple projects and gradually take on more complex systems. This builds confidence and competence.

Sample Approach Using Grokking OOD Problems

Read and Analyze: Carefully read the problem statement and break it down into core requirements.
Plan: Sketch a high-level design and decide on the classes, interfaces, and relationships.
Detail Design: Flesh out the details of each component, considering design principles and patterns.
Code: Implement the design in code, adhering to clean coding standards.
Test: Write tests to ensure your implementation meets the requirements and handles edge cases.
Review: Compare your solution with the provided solution, noting differences and improvements.
Refine: Refactor your design and code based on insights gained from the review.

Example Problem Walkthrough: Design a Library Management System

Step 1: Clarify Requirements

Core Features: Book catalog, member management, borrowing and returning books, fee calculation.
Key Entities: Books, Members, Librarians, Borrowing Records.

Step 2: Identify Classes and Responsibilities

Book: Title, Author, ISBN, Status (available, borrowed).
Member: Member ID, Name, Contact Details, Borrowing Limit.
Librarian: Manage books, Assist members.
BorrowingRecord: Book, Member, Borrow Date, Return Date, Fee.

Step 3: Apply Design Patterns

Factory Pattern: For creating instances of Books, Members.
Observer Pattern: To notify members of due dates.
Singleton Pattern: For a single instance of Library.

Step 4: Create UML Diagrams

Draw class and sequence diagrams to visualize the structure and interactions.

Step 5: Implement and Test

Code the classes and write unit tests to validate the functionality.

Step 6: Review and Refine

Compare with the solution from Grokking OOD, identify improvements, and refine your design.

By following these steps and continually practicing, you will develop strong low-level design skills and be well-prepared for your interviews.

Here's a step-by-step thought process for converting system requirements into an object-oriented design (OOD):

1. Analyze the Requirements:

Identify Nouns and Verbs: Start by meticulously examining the system requirements document. Look for nouns that represent entities or data and verbs that describe actions or functionalities. These often map to classes and their methods in your OOD.
Categorize Requirements: Group similar requirements together. This helps identify objects with common functionalities and potential relationships between them.

2. Identify Objects and Classes:

From Nouns to Classes: Look at the identified nouns and consider:
- Do they represent real-world entities with attributes and behavior? (e.g., User, Product)
- Do they hold data that needs protection and controlled access? (e.g., Account)
Nouns as Collaborators: Some nouns might not be central entities but rather collaborators. For instance, "Order" might collaborate with "Product" and "Customer" classes.

3. Define Class Attributes and Responsibilities:

Identify Attributes: For each class, define the data it holds. These become the class attributes. Consider what information is essential for the class to function effectively.
Define Methods: Think about the actions the class can perform based on the verbs associated with it in the requirements. These translate to methods within the class.

4. Establish Relationships Between Objects:

Identify Interactions: Review the requirements again to see how objects interact with each other. Look for associations, dependencies, or message passing between them.
Relationships: These interactions can translate to different relationships between classes like:
- Has-a: One object contains another as a part (e.g., Car has-a Engine)
- Uses-a: One object utilizes the services of another (e.g., Order uses-a Product)
- Is-a (Inheritance): One object inherits properties and behavior from another (e.g., Manager is-a Employee)

5. Refine and Iterate:

Review and Refine: Once you have a preliminary class structure and relationships, go back to the requirements and ensure your design addresses them effectively.
Consider Trade-offs: There might not be a single perfect solution. Think about potential trade-offs between simplicity, efficiency, and future maintainability.
Iterate and Improve: Be prepared to refine your design as you go. This is an iterative process, and you might need to adjust class structures or relationships based on your analysis.

Additional Tips:

Use UML Diagrams (Optional): Consider using UML class diagrams to visually represent your object model. It can improve clarity and communication of your design.
Start High-Level, Refine Gradually: Don't get bogged down in intricate details initially. Start with a high-level overview of classes and relationships, then progressively add details as you refine.
Focus on Reusability: Think about how your design can be reused or extended in the future. This promotes maintainability and reduces the need for major rework as requirements evolve.

By following these steps, you can systematically translate system requirements into a well-structured object-oriented design that effectively addresses the needs of the system.

Absolutely! Let's imagine we're designing a system for a simple online library. Here's how I, as a professional software engineer, would approach converting the requirements into an object-oriented design:

1. Analyze the Requirements:

Requirements Snippet: "The system shall allow users to search for books by title or author. Users can borrow books and return them. The system keeps track of loaned books and due dates."
Identified Nouns and Verbs:
- Nouns: User, Book, Loan
- Verbs: Search, Borrow, Return, Track

2. Identify Objects and Classes:

Class Candidates: Based on the nouns, we have strong candidates for classes like User, Book, and Loan.

3. Define Class Attributes and Responsibilities:

User Class:
- Attributes: Name, ID (unique identifier)
- Methods: SearchBook(title, author) - to search for books
Book Class:
- Attributes: Title, Author, ISBN (unique identifier)
- Methods: GetLoanStatus() - to check if the book is loaned out
Loan Class:
- Attributes: UserBorrowing (User object), BookBorrowed (Book Object), DueDate
- Methods: MarkAsReturned() - to update loan status upon return

4. Establish Relationships Between Objects:

Interactions: Users search for Books, Users borrow Books, Loans track borrowed Books and their due dates.
Relationships:
- User - Borrows -> Loan (One user can have many loans)
- Book - BelongsTo -> Loan (One book can be in one loan at a time)
- Loan - Contains -> User, Book (A loan links a User and a Book)

5. Refine and Iterate:

Reviewing the Design: This initial design seems to capture the core functionalities. We can represent the relationships using a UML class diagram for better visualization.
Additional Considerations: We might consider adding attributes like "genre" to the Book class or implementing a shopping cart functionality using a separate class. These can be incorporated as the design evolves.

This is a simplified example, but it demonstrates the thought process involved in converting requirements into an object-oriented design. As a professional software engineer, I would continuously refine this design based on more detailed requirements, considering factors like scalability, error handling, and potential future needs of the library system.