System Design Newsletter
by Neo Kim
Simplified system design for the modern engineer. Neo Kim's newsletter delivers visual explanations of complex technical concepts and large-scale architectural trends.
About System Design Newsletter
System Design Newsletter is the 'visual encyclopedia' of distributed systems. Its weekly newsletter is famous for its 'Architecture Breakdowns'—frequently explaining how companies like Uber, Netflix, or Discord handle millions of requests per second. It's unique for its simplified, visual-first approach—using clean diagrams to explain the difference between Kafka and RabbitMQ, or why you'd choose SQL over NoSQL. It is an essential read for anyone looking to transition from 'coder' to 'architect'.
What Makes This Newsletter Unique
Complex Concepts, Simplified. They excel at using clear, consistent visuals to make high-level engineering accessible to everyone.
Who Should Subscribe?
Developers preparing for system design interviews, and architects who want to stay updated on the latest cloud-native trends.
Content Format
A visually-rich weekly email featuring one 'Big Question' or 'Case Study' with original diagrams.
Recent Newsletter Issues
Pricing & Subscription Options
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Our Take: Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent visual explanations of complex topics
- Highly relevant for technical interviews at top firms
- Frequent, high-quality updates
Cons
- Can be competitive with ByteByteGo (overlap in content)
- Deep-dives and high-res PDFs require a paid subscription
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it associated with Alex Xu?
No, it is an independent project by Neo Kim, though it covers similar high-level system design territory.
How often is System Design Newsletter published?
System Design Newsletter is published weekly.
Who writes System Design Newsletter?
System Design Newsletter is written by Neo Kim. Neo Kim is an experienced engineer with a talent for breaking down complex systems into digestible, visual chunks.
About the Author: Neo Kim
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