Key Points of a Common System Design Interview Question — Photo Sharing Platform
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This problem can be seen as a simplified version of designing a platform like Facebook or Twitter, but with a more focused use case. The core functionality revolves around uploading images and accessing images. Despite the simplicity, there are still many extended requirements that can be discussed.
Here’s a high-level design diagram from Bugfree, outlining the main components, although it’s kept fairly simple.
Key Points:
Media File Storage:
How should images be stored?
- What should the database schema look like for efficient storage of media files? (e.g., using Blob Storage)
2. Handling High-Volume Traffic for Media Files:
- How do we ensure the system remains available under high traffic?
- What kind of caching strategies should be used and where?
- What technologies are appropriate? (e.g., CDN, Redis, etc.)
3. Handling Duplicate Images:
- What if users upload a large number of duplicate images? How can we optimize to reduce database storage?
- This could involve using hashing or similarity algorithms to detect and handle duplicates.
4. Discussion on Extended Features:
- a) How would we implement a feature for liking or rating images?
- b) How could we support image search functionality?
- c) What would be the best way to add privacy controls for images?
- d) How could we implement a feature like Snapchat’s “view once” functionality where the image is deleted after viewing?
Additional Tips:
While for a junior engineer, it’s sufficient to clearly explain the core functionalities, present a well-structured design diagram, and logically reason through the solution. However, to stand out, you’ll need to:
- Drive the discussion yourself, steering the conversation in a direction that shows your understanding.
- Beyond the core features, guide the interviewer through extended functionalities or areas you are comfortable and experienced with, which can demonstrate a higher level of competency.
(Note: It’s important to stick to areas you are familiar with, as the interviewer may follow up with more detailed questions, and you don’t want to get caught in a tough spot.)
