Why Everyone on your Team Should Understand the System Design
System design is an essential engineering skill, and it will be increasingly essential in today's job market.
👋 Hi, this is Thomas, with a new issue of “Beyond Code: System Design and More”, where I geek out on all things system design, software architecture, distributed systems and… well, more.
Understanding system design is essential for everyone on an engineering team because it enhances collaboration, ensures robust system architecture, and prepares teams for future changes.
In a tech news climate dominated by bylines such as “AI assistants will help you code 10x times faster” and “AI will replace SWEs”, I wanted to take a step back and focus on on a fundamental engineering skill that won’t be supplanted by AI (although it may be supported on some level).
Every individual in an engineering team should have thorough grasp of system design for the following reasons:
Holistic View and Informed Decision-Making: A comprehensive understanding of system design allows every team member to make informed decisions that align with the project's architectural goals and business objectives. This knowledge leads to better coding practices, effective problem-solving, and strategic planning.
Enhanced Collaboration: Knowing the system design improves collaboration across various roles within a team. It ensures that everyone understands the broader architectural decisions, which reduces miscommunications and aligns efforts, leading to more cohesive and efficient project development.
Adaptability and Flexibility: With the rapid pace of technological change, systems need to be adaptable. A deep understanding of system design equips team members to handle unforeseen changes more gracefully, whether due to new business requirements, technological shifts, or evolving market demands.
Prevention of Knowledge Silos: Sharing system design knowledge prevents the formation of knowledge silos and ensures continuity when there are changes in team composition. This shared understanding is crucial for maintaining the integrity and performance of the system over time.
Proactive Approach to Challenges: An understanding of system design prepares teams to proactively address potential design flaws and bottlenecks. It facilitates a proactive rather than reactive approach to software development, which is critical in managing complex systems and preventing costly overhauls.
In short, I argue that system design is not just the responsibility of architects or senior engineers but is a fundamental aspect of software development that every team member should understand. This approach not only enhances individual and team performance but also contributes to the creation of more robust, scalable, and maintainable software systems.
I originally wrote about this topic in this article:
Why Everyone on your Team Should Understand the System Architecture (Even a Little)?
I explored these topics:
Architecture is a Team Sport
How to Stop Architecture Knowledge Loss
Characteristics of Good Architects that Every Engineer Should Embrace
Overcoming Challenges in Learning System Architecture
📚 Interesting Articles & Resources
How to Stop the Knowledge Loss and Support Writing Documentation - Daniel Idaszak
Writing is not an easy skill to learn and sometimes just unredacted notes can be better than nothing.
System Architecture Design: Tutorial & Best Practices - Thomas Johnson
This article explores the fundamental principles and nuances of system architecture design, in particular common architectural designs for distributed systems.
InfoQ Software Architecture and Design Trends Report - Thomas Betts and Blanca Garcia Gil
Socio-technical architecture is replacing "architecture as a team sport" and it’s important to consider Conway's Law when designing complex systems that are built and maintained by many teams.
Glad to see my article resonated with you—thanks for the shout-out!