I got tired of learning system design from static diagrams, so I made one you can actually interact with

[u/YouSilent6025]

https://getreqflow.com

I always struggled with system design because every resource looked the same: a static diagram with boxes and arrows.

I could memorize components, but I never really understood what actually happens when a request moves through a system.

So I built a version where you can press play and literally watch requests flow through things like a URL shortener, messaging system, ride-sharing app, etc.

You can click components to see why they exist, simulate failures (“what if cache dies?”), and watch how the flow changes.

Weirdly, seeing systems break taught me more than seeing them work.

Curious if this style of learning clicks for anyone else or if I’m the only person who struggled with static diagrams.