Description
To augment the static text, the Primer will upgrade its interactive learning tools. The existing Anki flashcards will be replaced or supplemented with a modern, web-based spaced-repetition platform that supports collaboration, real-time updates, and richer content (code snippets, images, etc.). This section also considers interactive Q&A or quiz elements to reinforce learning.
Justification: Spaced repetition is proven to help retain complex concepts, and the Primer’s inclusion of Anki flashcards has been popular. However, the current approach (providing an .apkg deck) is limited – not everyone uses Anki, and updates to the deck are not seamlessly delivered to users. A web-based platform can make flashcards accessible on any device with just a link, and allow multiple maintainers to update the deck continuously. Additionally, a modern platform can handle rich formatting (diagrams, code) which is useful for system design (e.g. flashcards could show a diagram on front, explanation on back). By moving to a collaborative platform, the community can contribute new flashcards or suggest improvements easily. Beyond flashcards, interactive quizzes or practice questions can engage users more deeply than passive reading.
Implementation Steps:
- Select a Web-Based SRS Platform: Identify an open-source or hosted solution that supports spaced repetition and collaborative editing:
- If no satisfactory solution exists, consider a custom lightweight approach for a start: e.g. using GitHub Pages to host a static web app (with a library like Anki.js or similar) that can fetch flashcard data from the repo.
- Decide if it worth to Migrate Existing Flashcards: Some platforms uses AI to create the cards - review the existing cards to see if they contain value above what he AI systems can produce.
- While migrating, take the opportunity to trim or reorganize cards if needed. Some users noted that the existing deck was very large and dense, so splitting complex cards into smaller ones or grouping them by topic could improve usability.
- Add rich content to cards where useful – e.g. if a card references a diagram or specific architecture, include a diagram or a small table.
- Collaborative Editing Setup: Ensure multiple contributors can maintain the deck:
- If the platform is self-hosted (e.g. running our own instance of Scholarsome), set up accounts or an authentication mechanism for maintainers to add/modify cards. It might involve deploying the app (it’s containerized, as noted, making it easy to run on a server or cloud instance).
- As a backup or alternative, maintain the source of truth for flashcards in the repository (e.g. a YAML or markdown list of Q&A) and have a script to sync them to the platform. This way changes via PRs can be reviewed and merged, then reflected online.
- Real-Time Updates: Leverage the platform’s capabilities to push updates to users:
- For example, if using Scholarsome or a similar open solution, once a flashcard is added or edited in the set, anyone accessing the set online will immediately get the updated version (no need to download a new deck file). This ensures that as the Primer content evolves (new topics or corrections), the flashcards stay in sync.
- Communicate to users how to access this. Provide a link in the repository README to the “System Design Primer Flashcards” online set. Possibly embed an example card or quiz on a GitHub Pages site for demonstration.
- Additional Interactive Learning Tools: Beyond flashcards, consider other engagement:
- Quizzes/MCQs: Create short quizzes at the end of each major section in the course structure. For instance, after the “Core Concepts” section, include a link to a 5-question quiz on those basics. This can be done on the same flashcard platform (many allow quiz modes) or using a form/Google Quiz, or even a static markdown quiz (with answers hidden under dropdowns).
- Interactive Diagrams: Once diagrams are in Mermaid (section 5), we can incorporate interactive elements like having users modify a diagram for a challenge (though this might be more for advanced tooling).
- Discussions/Q&A: Encourage use of GitHub Discussions for asking and answering practice questions. Possibly seed a “quiz corner” or “daily design challenge” in Discussions where a question is posted and community can answer – this is interactive in a social sense.
- If technically feasible, embed a simple chatbot or Q&A interface on GitHub Pages that quizzes users on random flashcard questions or explains answers (this could use a small script or an AI backend if allowed, though that might be out of scope initially).
- Testing and Feedback: Have a group of users beta test the new flashcard system. Ensure that the spaced repetition scheduling works as expected. Check that images and formatting on cards display correctly on both desktop and mobile. Gather feedback: is it user-friendly, are the cards helpful, any suggestions for additional cards?