Systems 101
A tiny sampler that checks a few basics — pick an answer and see what happens.
Welcome
This short course asks you three questions. Pick an answer, read why, and move on.
Which best describes a server?
What is a database mainly for?
What problem does a cache mainly solve?
Write SQL that returns the NAMES of the users who are admins (any order).
Black Friday is coming — how do you add headroom?
Live architecture — watch the requests flow, then pick a strategy to see what changes.
Match each component to what it does
Tap a term on the left, then its match on the right.
Put a web request in order
Reorder the steps into the correct sequence, then check.
- The client sends a request
- The server processes it
- The database is queried
- The response returns to the client
Fill in the blank
Fill each blank, then check.
A spreads incoming traffic across many .
Sort each service by whether it keeps state
Tap an item, then the bucket it belongs to (or drag it). Then check.
Pick the pieces of a scalable read path
Tap the pieces that belong — leave out the ones that don't. Then check.
Available pieces
Your build
In one word: what property makes an operation safe to retry?
Nice work
You finished the sampler. Your progress is saved in this browser.
Lesson complete!
Nice work. Here's what you earned this session.
You hit your XP goal for today — keep the streak alive tomorrow!
Skill mastered!
Nice work. Repeat it any time to raise its crown.
