Examius
🌍 Worldwide · Programming
System Design Syllabus
Architect scalable, reliable distributed systems and master the structured approach to system design interviews.. The complete System Design outline — 6 subjects, 35 chapters and 130 topics — laid out so you can see exactly what has to be covered and tick each item off as you go.
System Design subjects
Each subject below has its own page with the full chapter → topic → sub-topic tree and a set of real exam-style flashcards.
5 chapters · 19 topics
Data Storage and Databases6 chapters · 25 topics
Distributed System Components6 chapters · 22 topics
Architecture Patterns and APIs6 chapters · 22 topics
Reliability, Security, and Operations5 chapters · 19 topics
System Design Interview Practice7 chapters · 23 topics
System Design flashcard decks
329 question-and-answer cards across 6 decks, written against this syllabus. Preview any deck free.
How to work through the System Design syllabus
The outline on this page is arranged the way the syllabus itself is: subject, then chapter, then topic, then sub-topic. That last level is what most study plans skip, and it is where coverage actually goes wrong — a chapter marked "done" often has three sub-topics inside it that were never touched.
Weight your plan accordingly: Data Storage and Databases carries 25 topics while Reliability, Security, and Operations carries 19. Giving both the same number of weeks is the most common planning mistake for System Design.
The ~100 hour estimate above is a first pass only: roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic. Revision cycles, past papers and mocks sit on top of that number.
System Design syllabus FAQ
What subjects are in the System Design syllabus?
System Design covers 6 subjects: Fundamentals of System Design, Data Storage and Databases, Distributed System Components, Architecture Patterns and APIs, Reliability, Security, and Operations and System Design Interview Practice. Together they contain 35 chapters and 130 named topics.
How big is the System Design syllabus?
The full System Design outline breaks down into 35 chapters, 130 topics and 0 sub-topics. Data Storage and Databases is the largest single subject with 25 topics across 6 chapters.
How long does it take to cover the whole System Design syllabus?
Roughly 100 hours for one full pass. That estimate allows about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, so it is first-pass coverage — revision, past papers and mock tests sit on top of it. At 3 hours a day that is about 5 weeks.
Are there System Design flashcards?
Yes — 329 question-and-answer flashcards across 6 decks, one per subject, written against this syllabus. A sample of every deck is readable on this site for free, and the complete decks are in the Examius app.
Is this System Design syllabus free to use?
Yes. Every page here is free to read, and importing the System Design syllabus into the Examius app to tick off topics as you finish them is free too. No account is needed to start.
Related Programming syllabuses
Design and build server-side applications, APIs, authentication, and database integration.
Cloud Computing syllabusMaster cloud platforms, services, and architectures for building scalable, resilient, and cost-efficient on-demand infrastructure.
CS50x: Introduction to Computer Science syllabusHarvard's renowned introduction to computer science and the art of programming, covering algorithmic thinking and problem-solving with C, Python, SQL, and web technologies.
Cybersecurity syllabusLearn to protect systems and networks through security principles, threats, defenses, cryptography, and operational security practice.
Data Structures & Algorithms syllabusMaster core data structures and algorithmic techniques for problem solving and technical interviews.
freeCodeCamp syllabusA free, project-based programming curriculum spanning web development, data science, and developer certifications, from responsive web design to machine learning.
Frontend Web Development syllabusBuild modern, responsive, accessible user interfaces using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and popular frameworks like React.
Git & Version Control syllabusTrack changes, collaborate, and manage code with Git, branching, and pull request workflows.
Mobile App Development syllabusEnd-to-end study path for building native (iOS/Swift, Android/Kotlin) and cross-platform (React Native, Flutter) mobile apps, covering UI, data, networking, testing, and store deployment.