An analysis of 27 commonly asked distributed systems interview questions with Channel Talk interviewers! Learn about everything from server scaling to sharding, replication, and consistency through diagrams, and prepare for system design interviews with sample answers and a post service design case study.
170 learners
Level Basic
Course period Unlimited
Reviews from Early Learners
5.0
은미
I’ve always had a hard time getting my head around concepts like CAP and replication in distributed systems, but this lecture made them much easier to understand by illustrating each scenario step by step 😊 I especially liked seeing how problems can occur across multiple servers, because it helped me understand why these concepts are necessary! It’s a great lecture not only for interview prep, but also for reviewing concepts I’ve struggled with. Thanks again for another great lecture 🥰
5.0
우혁준
Even after studying the concepts, I found it hard to understand how distributed systems actually work, so I really appreciated how this lecture used diagrams to explain a variety of scenarios..! What impressed me most was that it didn’t just explain the concepts—it also got me thinking about why these problems arise and what choices to make. Thanks to the lecture, I was able to clarify some things I’d only had a vague understanding of. Thanks again for another great lecture!!
5.0
김민재
Knowing the theory alone often isn’t enough to make it easy to apply in real-world work. When you try to put what you know into practice, it may not fit the existing structure well, or you may end up overdoing it, and so on. I liked that this course let me experience that process of working through those concerns, even if in a simplified form. The explanations of the theory were great, too... That said, I think there are a lot of people who know the theory. (Of course, that doesn’t mean there’s any less reason to study it diligently.) But I don’t think there are all that many people who can clearly explain how they actually applied it, what prompted them to think things through, what meaningful considerations they had, and how their thought process unfolded along the way. I think the best way to develop that ability is to learn gradually through trial and error. This course gives you a rough sense of where to start, and I think it can serve as a high-quality guide overall. And even if I estimate very conservatively, the time it would take to read a few books and the cost of finding someone to work through these questions with me would probably be more than the price of this course. At this price, I feel like I’ve spent my time quite usefully, and I’m already feeling more confident. If they release another course covering different cases—and if I have the time—I’ll probably buy it again without much hesitation.
A perfect model answer as judged by the interviewer
Easily understand even complex distributed systems theory with rich diagrams and real-world execution flows.
A complete collection of actual past interview questions and follow-up questions from Naver, Kakao, Line, Coupang, Baemin, Danggeun Market, Toss, and unicorn companies
Answering skills that leave you saying "I aced the interview" instead of "I bombed it"
Who is this course right for?
Those who want to get hired by IT service companies like Kakao, Naver, LINE, and Toss.
For those who want to cram for a distributed systems interview in just five hours.
For those who want to know the interview questions that are frequently asked and the evaluation criteria.
For those who want to know what an interviewer is really thinking when they hear your answer: “What would I think if I heard this answer?”
Someone who has never interviewed for a CS role and has no idea what kinds of questions might come up.
Someone who can answer questions but goes blank when a follow-up question comes along.
Inflearn Verified
Career Verified
2,654
Learners
161
Reviews
15
Answers
5.0
Rating
6
Courses
[Contact]
[Career]
Present) Channel Corporation - Lv 4. Backend Engineer
Formerly, Chai Corporation (PortOne) - Backend Engineer
[Education]
Current) F-Lab Backend Mentor
Current) JSCODE Backend Mentor
Former) Woowa Tech Course 5th Cohort Backend Reviewer & 3rd Cohort Backend Graduate
Co-instructor
All
36 lectures ∙ (4hr 42min)
Course Materials:
All
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Reviews 4
∙
Average Rating 5.0
5
I’ve always had a hard time getting my head around concepts like CAP and replication in distributed systems, but this lecture made them much easier to understand by illustrating each scenario step by step 😊 I especially liked seeing how problems can occur across multiple servers, because it helped me understand why these concepts are necessary! It’s a great lecture not only for interview prep, but also for reviewing concepts I’ve struggled with. Thanks again for another great lecture 🥰
Hello, Eun-mi! Thank you so much for checking out this installment on distributed systems after the previous lectures, and for leaving such a heartfelt, warm review 😊 Concepts in distributed systems, like CAP and replication, can be hard to grasp because they’re not easy to see. I’m so glad you recognized exactly what I was hoping to convey by illustrating situations where problems arise across multiple servers: 'why these concepts are needed.' It’s very rewarding to hear that the lectures have been a reliable help not only with your interview prep, but also with understanding concepts you’ve found difficult. If any questions come up while you’re studying, please feel free to ask anytime. I’ll always be cheering you on as you continue to grow! You’ve got this 💪
Reviews 2
∙
Average Rating 5.0
5
I’ve studied databases and networks before, but I never had a chance to study distributed systems specifically, so this was my first proper introduction to them! The material felt a little unfamiliar at first, but the lectures weren’t boring and the explanations were clear, so I got through them faster than I expected, haha. I liked that there were points here and there that made me think, “This is something worth considering at work, too.” I’ll check out the next installment when it comes out 😊
Hello, Oneuldo Yageun-gak! Congratulations on completing the entire Distributed Systems course, and thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review 😊 Compared to databases or networking, distributed systems can be difficult to explore and feel unfamiliar unless you’ve worked with them directly. I’m so glad to hear you completed the course without getting bored and found it clear and concise. I especially wanted to go beyond basic theory and highlight engineering challenges you might actually encounter and think through on the job, so it’s really rewarding to know you found that part useful. I’ll do my best to make the next course just as solid and genuinely helpful for your work and interviews. If any questions or concerns come up as you study, please feel free to reach out anytime. I’m always rooting for you to enjoy a great career in development, clock out on time without overtime, and continue to grow! You’ve got this 💪
Reviews 5
∙
Average Rating 5.0
Edited
5
Even after studying the concepts, I found it hard to understand how distributed systems actually work, so I really appreciated how this lecture used diagrams to explain a variety of scenarios..! What impressed me most was that it didn’t just explain the concepts—it also got me thinking about why these problems arise and what choices to make. Thanks to the lecture, I was able to clarify some things I’d only had a vague understanding of. Thanks again for another great lecture!!
Hello, Woo Hyeok-jun! Thank you so much for joining us for this course on distributed systems after taking my previous courses, and for leaving such a thoughtful review. Because distributed systems are invisible and can be hard to grasp, I designed the course to visualize a variety of scenarios and help you think through the trade-offs behind 'why we need to make these technical choices.' I’m really glad you picked up on that intention. If anything comes up that you’re curious or unsure about as you take the course, please feel free to ask anytime. I’m sincerely rooting for your continued growth as a backend engineer! You’ve got this :)
Reviews 5
∙
Average Rating 5.0
5
I heard you loud and clear!
Hello, Jo Seong-woo! Thank you so much for coming back and completing this new Distributed Systems course, just as you did the previous courses on Java, Networks & Web, and Operating Systems. Seeing you continue to learn with us since the earlier series has always been a great source of encouragement and fulfillment for me as a knowledge sharer. I’m so glad you found this Distributed Systems course useful and completed it. If you have any questions or run into anything you’re unsure about while studying, please feel free to reach out anytime. I’ll always be cheering you on in your wonderful engineering journey. Thank you :)
Reviews 1
∙
Average Rating 5.0
5
Knowing the theory alone often isn’t enough to make it easy to apply in real-world work. When you try to put what you know into practice, it may not fit the existing structure well, or you may end up overdoing it, and so on. I liked that this course let me experience that process of working through those concerns, even if in a simplified form. The explanations of the theory were great, too... That said, I think there are a lot of people who know the theory. (Of course, that doesn’t mean there’s any less reason to study it diligently.) But I don’t think there are all that many people who can clearly explain how they actually applied it, what prompted them to think things through, what meaningful considerations they had, and how their thought process unfolded along the way. I think the best way to develop that ability is to learn gradually through trial and error. This course gives you a rough sense of where to start, and I think it can serve as a high-quality guide overall. And even if I estimate very conservatively, the time it would take to read a few books and the cost of finding someone to work through these questions with me would probably be more than the price of this course. At this price, I feel like I’ve spent my time quite usefully, and I’m already feeling more confident. If they release another course covering different cases—and if I have the time—I’ll probably buy it again without much hesitation.
Hello, Kim Min-jae! Congratulations on completing the Distributed Systems course, and thank you so much for leaving such a thoughtful and in-depth review 😊 Knowing the theory is one thing; applying it to real-world work and systems and learning through the many challenges and trade-offs you encounter is an entirely different matter. You captured the core intention of the course so accurately: rather than simply listing concepts, I wanted to share the thought process behind making technical choices—what prompts them and the path of considerations that leads to them. As someone who shares knowledge, that truly gives me a thrill and a deep sense of fulfillment. Hearing you say this was time far more valuable than the time spent searching through books or finding colleagues to think things through with—and that you’re already feeling more confident—means a great deal to me and gives me a real boost. I’ll make sure the next course lives up to your willingness to come back without hesitation. I’ll fill it with a variety of real-world cases and vivid, practical challenges, and prepare it to be even better than you expect. If any questions or concerns come up as you study, please feel free to reach out anytime. I’ll always be cheering you on as you continue your wonderful engineering journey and grow! You’ve got this! 💪
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