Distributed File System Design

System DesignDatabricksLast reported May 2026Medium Frequency
Reported
4× across candidate reports
First seen
August 2025
Last reported
May 2026
Reported outcome
mixed

Problem Overview

Design a distributed file system. The system has the following properties and requirements: 1. Files are immutable once written (no in-place updates). 2. The system must support a delete API, including recursive deletion of directories/folders. 3. You are given a long text description of the system requirements at the start…

  • 7 candidate-reported follow-ups — the exact probes interviewers asked, with the trigger for each
  • The rest of the problem statement — full requirements, constraints, and edge cases
  • Approach and trade-offs — what passing candidates did, and the mistakes that sink people
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Verified Source
Every question is reconstructed from multiple independent candidate reports. Verbatim follow-ups, not invented ones.
Codex Fact-Checked
Technical claims, formulas, and scale numbers are reviewed against primary sources.
Interviewer Follow-ups
The exact follow-ups reported by candidates, with the trigger that prompts each one — plus the mistakes that sink people.
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