Episode 6

Mastering System Design Interview: From Concept to Scale Building Efficient URL Shorteners

Published on: 7th January, 2025

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URL Shortener Designs

Unlock the secrets to designing a high-performing URL shortener system in our latest episode with Ben at the helm! Get ready to master the essentials that transform a simple idea into a robust tool, essential for platforms with strict character limits like Twitter. We'll walk you through the core elements of creating effective short URLs, from ensuring seamless redirects to setting expiration dates tailored for various industries like marketing firms. Discover the importance of high availability in read-heavy systems, and learn how to craft a service that not only meets but anticipates user demands.

Dive into the architectural complexities of building a URL shortener that can scale to billions of requests. Ben breaks down the nitty-gritty of data model structuring and the strategic benefits of non-relational databases like Cassandra for horizontal scaling. Learn to harness the power of character hashes and explore innovative ways to keep your URLs unique and efficient. We'll reveal the architectural tactics like adding database replicas and load balancers to maintain system availability and performance. Tune in for a wealth of strategies and insights that promise to elevate your system design skills to new heights!


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About the Podcast

Learn System Design
A bi-weekly podcast hosted by a senior engineer named Ben Kitchell that takes a deep dive into learning about technical system design by learning together. Each episode we will explore the inner workings of what makes these systems so complex and fascinating while building on our knowledge of how they came together.

All music written and performed by the mysterious Aimless Orbiter. You can find more info about him and his music at https://soundcloud.com/aimlessorbitermusic

About your host

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Benny Kitchell

A developer with over a decade's worth of experience who has a passion to helping others grow. Benny has held positions ranging from staff engineer to interim engineering manager. He found he has a knack for explaining complicated subjects in an easily digestible format.