Redis from a Kakao Interviewer Who Handles 500,000+ Traffic per Second
You may have felt frustrated using Redis without being able to explain why it should be designed that way or why certain patterns emerged. Through my experience in both practical development and as an interviewer, I have treated Redis not just as a simple cache, but as a core component that determines service stability and scalability. This course is not about memorizing commands; instead, I will share my experiences on which structures to choose in real traffic environments and their trade-offs, helping you establish the criteria to explain these concepts confidently in both interviews and practical work.
Beyond simply entering commands, this course covers practical precautions based on real infrastructure environments and even the perspective of hash slots... I believe this is a lecture that shows what it means to be a real developer rather than just a simple coder, and what specific aspects a real developer needs to know about Redis.
Personally, I don't think it's right for anyone to say there's nothing to learn from this course. I feel there was a lot to learn (from a realistic perspective rather than just a simple command-based one).
I've come to understand what a developer, not just a coder, contemplates. Thank you.
5.0
02년생 개발자
86% enrolled
I paid to watch this for the Lunar New Year, and I learned much more than I expected. This is what a truly skilled developer looks like.... I feel quite ashamed of myself ㅠㅠ Thank you!!
5.0
warna
86% enrolled
I saw that you created a lecture as a Lunar New Year special, so I purchased and watched it right away!! I watch your lectures often, and every time I do, I feel like you cover only the core essentials with really great content!!
I believe this lecture is also one where I could learn a lot of practical information and build a solid foundation.
1. Most of the lecture consists of hands-on practice.
- You explain all the theories, but the practice sessions are not lacking at all; in fact, I felt there was even more practice than theory.
2. The content is taught concisely and realistically.
- There was no unnecessary fluff, and I was able to learn practical usage methods and patterns.
3. It focuses strictly on Redis.
- This could be both a pro and a con, but if you simply want to learn the Redis service, I don't think there is any lecture better than this one.
I'll be looking forward to your next lecture. Thank you for making such a great course!!
What you will gain after the course
The perspective to explain not just "using" Redis, but why it must be used that way.
Practical answering skills for responding to interviewer questions using structure and trade-offs rather than memorization
Criteria for selecting Single, Replica, Sentinel, or Cluster based on the situation
A mindset to avoid the misuse of Redis in practice beforehand
A perspective of viewing Redis as a core service component beyond just a cache
Development · Programming · Backend
Redis by a Kakao Interviewer Handling 500,000+ Requests Per Second
You might be using Redis, but it's often difficult to explain why it needs to be designed that way. This course isn't about memorizing commands; it covers how to choose specific architectures in real-world traffic environments and how to evaluate the trade-offs. We will help you establish the criteria to explain your decisions confidently in both interviews and practical work.
Difficulty: Beginner
7 hours 21 minutes
28 lectures
Practice-oriented
Class materials provided
Unlimited access period
Curriculum organized by an active Kakao interviewer · macOS · Docker · Node.js hands-on practice
Why this course was started
A current Kakao interviewer made the proposal first
Below is the actual conversation. Saying that "the Redis course you made alone is not enough," the interviewer stepped forward, offering to organize and deliver the material personally.
Kakao InterviewerHong, there's something I want to do.
What is it... I already used up my annual leave to film all the topics I wanted to cover ㅠㅠ
Kakao InterviewerDidn't you work with Redis on your own before? And you split it into two parts. I'm not satisfied with that. Why did you only cover it to that extent? lol I want to teach you more deeply.
Honestly, I think Redis is just as important as a database. I would never hire someone in an interview who doesn't know this. In the first place, there's no one who doesn't know it.
Fine… I guess I have to do what I'm told. Instead, organize all the practice files and theoretical content yourself and give them to me. I really don't have much time these days.
Kakao InterviewerHaha, alright. I'll organize it myself and send it over. Just wait a bit.
That is how this course was created. It contains the exact content that the interviewer said they "wanted to organize and teach personally."
“
I would never hire someone in an interview who doesn't know Redis.
— Current Kakao Server Developer · Interviewer
Have you ever had a moment like this?
I know how to use Redis, but I struggle to explain it.
Redis is an in-memory data store that keeps data in memory, used in areas that determine the speed and stability of the backend, such as caches, sessions, queues, and leaderboards. You might be familiar with the commands, but when asked "why this structure," you find yourself at a loss for words. The problem isn't the commands, but the reasoning behind them.
I am using Redis, but it is difficult to explain why it was designed that way.
Whenever Redis questions come up in interviews, my answers always remain shallow.
I use cache only as a simple function and have never considered its structure or trade-offs.
There are no clear criteria for when to choose between Single, Replica, Sentinel, or Cluster modes.
I have experienced Redis failures or performance issues in practice, or I am always anxious that they might occur.
Same question, different answers
"Please explain the Redis environment configuration patterns"
This single question, frequently asked by interviewers, separates the depth of the candidates.
BEFORE
Interviewer: Please explain the Redis environment configuration patterns.
"Ah... yes, just a moment. As far as I know, it consists of four types: Single, Replica, Sentinel, and Sharding Cluster."
Just listing the memorized items and ending there. It doesn't explain why those structures were created or what specific problems each one solves.
AFTER · 이 강의를 듣고 나면
Interviewer: Please explain the Redis environment configuration patterns.
"A single instance has memory limits and makes it difficult to ensure high availability. That's why the replica structure was introduced, but the issue of manual master reelection remains. Sentinel emerged to automate this, and as the scale grows further, we move toward a sharding cluster that distributes the data..."
It explains in a single flow why the structure emerged, what it solves, and what trade-offs remain. It's about understanding, not memorization.
What you will gain from this course
Five things this course leaves you with
A perspective that allows you to explain not just that you "use" Redis, but "why it must be used that way"
Practical answering skills to respond to interview questions with structure and trade-offs rather than memorization
Criteria for choosing between Single, Replica, Sentinel, and Cluster based on the situation
A mindset for avoiding the misuse of Redis in practice in advance
A perspective that views Redis as a core service component beyond just a cache
Curriculum
Total 28 lectures · 7 hours 21 minutes
Theory and practice go hand in hand. We will go over the concepts for each data structure and immediately move to hands-on practice to get familiar with them.
섹션 1. 강의 소개 3강 · 5분
Course Introduction · Preview05:35
Source CodeResources
Useful Pages Related to Redis · PreviewResources
섹션 2. Redis 입문 2강 · 35분
Every company seems to use Redis, but what exactly are you?18:28
Various Cluster Environment Design Techniques for Redis16:54
섹션 3. 기본 자료구조 · 명령어 · 실습 10강 · 2시간 39분
80% of Redis usage patterns involve the String type31:13
[Hands-on] Setting up the test environment and String14:18
Priority Queue using Blocking, Redis List23:11
[Practice] Redis List Practice and BLPOP Debug12:05
Redis Set that does not allow duplicates15:50
[Practice] Redis Set that does not allow duplicates08:08
Redis Hash, which can be more memory-efficient than String17:50
[Hands-on] Redis Hash05:50
Redis Sorted Set for Game Rankings and Leaderboards16:21
[Practice] Sorted Set14:58
섹션 4. 실무 관점의 주의사항 · Memory Persistence 2강 · 42분
Covers Redis precautions and persistence strategies that are easy to miss in practice.42:00
섹션 5. Redis를 전문가처럼 쓰기 위한 개념 · 실습 8강 · 1시간 58분
Go beyond simple usage and master expert patterns and concepts through hands-on practice.1:58:00
섹션 6. Redis 환경설정 Master Section 3강 · 1시간 19분
Master the configuration perspective by directly handling the environment setup.1:19:00
The Reality of the Job Market
Redis is no longer an option, it is a must.
Even a quick glance at job postings shows that it's hard to find a backend position that doesn't require Redis.
NAVER CloudService BE DevelopmentRedis Required
NEXONServer ProgrammerRedis Required
KB Group Backend Developer Redis Required
There isn't a single reputable company that doesn't use Redis. Even in large-scale services, there are many cases where it is used incorrectly due to a lack of proper understanding. In other words, those who know how to use it correctly can stay that much further ahead of the competition.
I recommend this to the following people
Target Audience
Developers who use Redis but find it difficult to explain why they use it that way
Developers who always give shallow answers when asked about Redis in interviews
Developers who use cache only as a simple function and have never considered its structure or trade-offs
Developers who have experienced Redis failures or performance issues in practice, or are anxious that they might.
Developers who want to understand Redis from an interviewer's perspective, rather than through simple memorization.
Technologies Covered · Practice Environment
What will be used for the hands-on practice?
Redis
String
List
Set
Hash
Sorted Set
JavaScript
Node.js v23.11.0
Docker 28.0.0
backend
macOS (M3)
All hands-on exercises are conducted by setting up a Redis environment using Docker. Examples are written in JavaScript (Node.js) from a backend perspective and organized based on macOS. For each data structure, a hands-on session follows immediately after the conceptual lecture.
Reviews from those who took the course first
"Not just a coder, but a real developer"
★★★★★
"Beyond simply entering commands, it covers everything from precautions in infrastructure environments to the perspective of hash slots. I believe this lecture shows what a real developer is, rather than just a coder, and what aspects a true Redis developer needs to know."
— Amy
★★★★★
"I purchased and watched this over the Lunar New Year holiday, and I learned much more than I expected. So this is what a truly skilled developer looks like... I feel quite humbled ㅠㅠ Thank you!"
— Developer born in '02
★★★★★
"The course is almost entirely hands-on, and the content is delivered concisely and realistically. It's a lecture that focuses strictly on Redis, allowing you to build a solid foundation."
— warna
Frequently Asked Questions
Things you might be curious about first
Redis는 어떤 데이터베이스인가요?
Redis is an open-source in-memory data store that keeps data in memory rather than on a disk. Because of this, read and write operations are extremely fast, and it is widely used for roles that determine the speed and stability of the backend, such as caches, sessions, leaderboards, and queues. The perspective of this course is to treat it as a core component of a service, going beyond a simple cache.
실습 환경은 어떻게 구성하나요?
We will proceed by setting up the Redis environment ourselves using Docker. The example code is written in JavaScript (Node.js) and organized based on macOS. You can complete all the hands-on exercises locally without any separate paid cloud subscriptions.
Redis를 처음 써봐도 따라갈 수 있나요?
Yes. As an introductory course, we will cover both the concepts and hands-on practice of basic data structures such as String, List, Set, Hash, and Sorted Set. Basic programming experience is all you need.
싱글·레플리카·센티널·클러스터, 언제 뭘 쓰나요?
We cover why each structure was created and what trade-offs they have as criteria for selection in different situations. The goal is not to memorize commands, but to enable you to explain for yourself which configuration to choose in actual traffic environments.
Who is teaching?
Created together by active server developers and interviewers.
Knowledge Sharer · Pangyo Platform Server Development
Hong
I am in charge of platform server development in Pangyo. I continue my activities as a knowledge sharer to share the methods I used for self-study and the problems and solutions I encounter in practice. These lectures are not created alone, but together with several developers currently working in the industry.
Over 9,700 cumulative students on Inflearn · Course rating 4.7
[Former] Blockchain · Metaverse Backend Development
[Current] Pangyo Platform Server Developer
Kakao · 12th Year Server Developer · Interviewer
Choi
I am a 12-year veteran developer currently serving as both a server developer and an interviewer at Kakao Headquarters. I incorporate experiences and traffic scales far beyond typical platforms into my lectures, helping you prepare based on questions that actually appear frequently in real interviews.
[Current] Kakao HQ Server Developer · Interviewer
Experience in a traffic environment with a scale of 500,000+ requests per second
Summary of perspectives and concepts based on real-world interview questions
Let's grow together
Developer Open Chat Room
I run an open group chat for developers to share career advice, real-world scenarios, and technical knowledge. Please feel free to share any questions you have while taking the course or any concerns from your actual work.
I started studying development after finding it interesting while lounging around at home, and I am currently working as a platform server developer in Pangyo. I am continuing my activities as a knowledge sharer because I want to provide you with the methods I used to study, as well as various problems and solutions you may encounter in practice.
Lectures are not created solely through my own knowledge. Every lecture is made together with others.
Hello, Dolphin Festival!! Thank you for leaving such a great review!! I'll continue to provide even more helpful content in the future!! Have a wonderful day haha
Even though I've only watched about half of it, it's already very helpful.
I'm really enjoying it because you seem to clearly address the things I've been pondering while using Redis lately. Thank you.
I saw that you created a lecture as a Lunar New Year special, so I purchased and watched it right away!! I watch your lectures often, and every time I do, I feel like you cover only the core essentials with really great content!!
I believe this lecture is also one where I could learn a lot of practical information and build a solid foundation.
1. Most of the lecture consists of hands-on practice.
- You explain all the theories, but the practice sessions are not lacking at all; in fact, I felt there was even more practice than theory.
2. The content is taught concisely and realistically.
- There was no unnecessary fluff, and I was able to learn practical usage methods and patterns.
3. It focuses strictly on Redis.
- This could be both a pro and a con, but if you simply want to learn the Redis service, I don't think there is any lecture better than this one.
I'll be looking forward to your next lecture. Thank you for making such a great course!!
Hello wrana, thank you for leaving such a thoughtful review!! As you mentioned, I tried to approach things from a realistic and practical perspective as much as possible, so I look forward to your continued interest.
It's a bit late, but Happy New Year and stay healthy!! Thank you!