System Design LiveA SOUNDCASTLE AI PRODUCT

Think in systems.
Build understanding.
Together.

THE THINKING BEHIND THE SOFTWARE

Your value is bigger than the code.

A dedicated system design workspace to make architecture tangible. Connect components, explore the trade-offs, and work through the decisions with other people.

Start designing ↗Explore the workspace ↓

For desktop and laptop browsers.

◇   Notification service / architectureILLUSTRATIVE BOARD
Explore an example system architectureA client connects to an API gateway. Reads go through a cache to the database. Writes pass through a queue and worker. Use the buttons below to highlight each path. ClientHTTPS request API gatewayRoute / rate limit CacheHot reads DatabaseSource of truth QueueAsync writes WorkerBackground jobs

Serve frequent reads from cache. Reduce database load, and decide how much stale data your users can tolerate.

ARCHITECTURE, WITH CONTEXTModel the systemQuestion the trade-offsDesign together
01 / A WORKSPACE FOR ENGINEERING THINKING

Go beyond the boxes.

Keep the big picture and the details
in the same conversation.

01 / MODEL

Make the architecture tangible.

Draw connected components, organize layers, and model entities and relationships. Explore API examples alongside the structure of your system.

02 / UNDERSTAND

Build your design judgment.

Use guided tutorials and reusable templates to explore system design problems. Turn an idea you have read about into a decision you can explain.

03 / COLLABORATE

Work through it. Live.

Invite teammates to a persistent shared board. Follow participant cursors, make changes together, and choose edit or view-only access.

02 / FOR YOUR NEXT ROLE

Practice a way to think.

Prepare for a system design interview, grow into a senior role, or explore a new architecture on your own. Start with a private board and work through guided examples, including messaging and social systems.

  • Frame the requirements and constraints.
  • Model the data and connect the components.
  • Challenge bottlenecks, failure modes, and assumptions.
03 / FOR YOUR NEXT DESIGN REVIEW

Give the team a shared picture.

Bring people into the design while it is taking shape. Trace a request together, question a trade-off, and help the next engineer understand how it all connects.

  • Share a live board with an invitation link or code.
  • Choose who can edit and who can view.
  • Keep design discussions close to the diagram.
BEFORE YOU START

A few good questions.

How is this different from a general whiteboard?

System Design Live centers on software architecture: connected components, layers, entity relationships, API examples, and design decisions. It brings engineering context into the same workspace as the diagram.

Can I learn on my own?

Yes. Start with a private board, explore the guided tutorials, and use templates as a starting point. Invite someone into a shared board when you want to work through the design together.

Can my team edit the same board?

Yes. Shared boards support simultaneous changes and participant cursors. Invite collaborators using a link or code, with edit or view-only access.

Do I need to install anything?

No installation is required. Open the app in a desktop or laptop browser and sign in to use the workspace. This product page can also be read on mobile.

SYSTEM DESIGN LIVE / BY SOUNDCASTLE AI

Build less on assumption.
Design more with intent.

A workspace for learning. A place to build together.

Open System Design Live ↗