A curriculum built around dependency

Learn in the order systems become difficult.

Start with failure, time, and consistency. Then layer in authority, data distribution, coordination, and operations.

01

Begin here

Foundations

Distributed systems →CAP theorem →PACELC →Consistency models →Time & ordering →

02

Build authority

Replication & consensus

Replication →Quorums →Raft consensus →Leader election →

03

Distribute data

Partitioning

Consistent hashing →Range partitioning →Rebalancing →Hot partitions →

04

Coordinate change

Transactions

Two-phase commit →Saga →MVCC →Idempotent workflows →

05

Build data systems

Databases & storage

LSM trees →Distributed databases →Compaction →Distributed SQL →

06

Move information

Messaging

Kafka / distributed logs →Delivery semantics →Consumer groups →Backpressure →

07

Survive reality

Reliability

Failure & retry patterns →Partial failures →Circuit breakers →Load shedding →

08

Operate globally

Multi-region

Active / active →Geo replication →RPO & RTO →Conflict resolution →