Lecture 5 System Design
Lecture 5 System Design
LECTCURE 5
Systems Design
Design guidelines provide best practices and principles to ensure system efficiency,
usability, maintainability, and security.
Key principles include:
• Modularity: Breaking the system into smaller, manageable modules.
• Scalability: Designing for future growth and expansion.
• Security: Implementing authentication, encryption, and access control.
• Performance Optimization: Ensuring efficient resource usage.
• Maintainability: Using well-structured code and documentation.
• User-Centered Design: Prioritizing usability and accessibility.
• Error Handling & Recovery: Designing for fault tolerance and system stability.
Input Design
Input design determines how users enter data into the system to ensure accuracy and
efficiency.
Key considerations:
• Data Validation: Implement checks to prevent incorrect data entry (e.g., numeric
validation, mandatory fields).
• User-Friendly Forms: Use clear labels, drop-down menus, and auto-fill features.
• Minimize Data Entry Errors: Implement real-time feedback, tooltips, and
autocomplete features.
• Consistent Formatting: Standardize formats (e.g., date format, currency).
• Security Measures: Protect against SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and
other vulnerabilities.
Output Design
Considerations:
• Readability: Use clear fonts, colors, and visual hierarchy.
• Real-time Processing: Deliver real-time data where necessary.
• Customization: Allow users to filter and export reports.
User Interface (UI) Design
UI design defines the visual and interactive elements of the system to enhance user
experience.
Key principles:
• Consistency: Uniform layout, buttons, and color schemes across all screens.
• Simplicity: Avoid clutter; keep navigation intuitive.
• Responsiveness: Ensure the interface adapts to different screen sizes.
• Accessibility: Support for visually impaired users (e.g., screen readers).
• Feedback Mechanism: Provide real-time validation and user feedback.
• Minimal Clicks: Optimize for efficiency with fewer steps.
UI
Database Design
Database design structures how data is stored, retrieved, and managed efficiently.
Key steps:
1. Identify Entities & Relationships: Define tables, attributes, and their relationships.
2. Normalization: Reduce redundancy and improve consistency.
3. Indexing: Improve data retrieval speed.
4. Security: Implement role-based access control (RBAC), encryption, and backups.
5. Scalability: Support future data growth with cloud solutions or distributed
databases.
Examples
Program Models