AI writes the code. You make the call.

Output is cheap now. Judgment is everything.

And judgment comes from understanding how systems actually work — every one of them built from the same 7 building blocks. For junior engineers, vibe coders, and anyone building with AI.

Learn the Framework See the Courses

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AI writes code faster than ever.

But it can't tell you whether the design is right. That call is yours.

Junior Engineer

You write features but can't explain the architecture. When someone asks "why did you use a queue here?" you don't have a clear answer.

Vibe Coder

You ship fast but don't know why it breaks. AI wrote the code, but when it falls over in production, you're stuck.

Career Changer

You can code but haven't worked on production systems. You know syntax, but not how real applications are put together.

The 7 Building Blocks

Instagram, Netflix, Uber, Gmail. They all use the same pieces.

Task Blocks

Service Service
Worker Worker

Storage Blocks

Key-Value Store Key-Value Store
File Store File Store
Queue Queue
Relational Database Relational DB
Vector Database Vector DB

Free and open source. 7 articles. Interactive challenges.

Explore the Framework

How It Works

Knowledge → practice → judgment. You can't read your way to judgment — you build it in three steps, and the first two are free.

1

Learn the framework

Knowledge · free. Read the 7 articles or watch the full video series. Learn what each building block does and when to reach for it.

2

Practice on real systems

Practice · free. Play the building blocks game, then run the Claude skills — Design with Blocks and Scaffold — on your own code. Doing, not just reading.

3

Build the judgment

Judgment · the courses. Graded reps, interactive labs, and multi-part design challenges with feedback you can't get on your own. Where knowing becomes judgment.

Taught at UC Berkeley

This framework was developed over 10 years of teaching full-stack web architecture to graduate students. The same patterns, now available to everyone.

Kay Ashaolu
Kay Ashaolu

Continuing Lecturer at UC Berkeley School of Information. Engineering Manager with 15+ years experience at Pinterest, AncestryDNA, and Morgan Stanley. Teaching engineers to think in systems.

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What Students Say

"The way Kay integrates AI tools into his teaching gave me the confidence I once had in software development."

Student

"Kay has this incredible ability to make any complex technical challenge seem very simple."

Former UC Berkeley Student

"Kay has that rare gift of not only demonstrating deep expertise in his field, but also being able to communicate his insights in a way that is understandable to wide audiences."

Former Colleague

"I am liking the course. Will definitely recommend to folks around."

Course Student

"Thank you professor! I just bought the course. You are awesome! Thanks again."

Course Student

"I find your teaching very valuable and needed for me to get back into the job market."

Course Student

"I have pre-ordered courses 2 to 4 and am excited to learn the 'real' stuff from your vast experience."

Course Student

"The way Kay teaches software development has helped me use tools like Claude Code more effectively."

Student

"He is an inspiring role model for leadership in the tech industry, combining technical excellence with a supportive approach."

Former Student

"Kay is deeply committed to creating an inclusive, supportive learning environment. His approachability and genuine care make him an invaluable resource."

Former Student

"I see a lot of value in your courses."

Course Student

"I am all set and excited to learn from the courses!"

Course Student

Free gets you the knowledge. The courses build the judgment.

Reading and watching gets you the knowledge. The courses build the judgment — through graded reps and feedback you can't get on your own.

Free Framework

$0

  • 7 building-block articles
  • Full 7-lesson video series
  • Building blocks game
  • Design with Blocks + Scaffold skills
  • Email course option
Start Free

Course I

$99

  • 12 video lessons
  • 2 interactive Python labs
  • AI-graded assessments
  • 3-part design challenge
  • Open comments on every lesson
Explore Course I

Courses II, III, and IV are live. Videos are still being recorded.

$114 each $149 EARLY BIRD

Course II Course III Course IV

7-day money-back guarantee · Lifetime access

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 7 building blocks?
Service, Worker, Key-Value Store, File Store, Queue, Relational Database, and Vector Database. These are the universal components that make up every software system, from Instagram to Netflix to Uber. Learn them once, and you can understand any architecture.
Is this interview prep?
No. This is about understanding how systems actually work. That understanding helps in interviews, but it also helps when you're building, debugging, or directing AI to write code. The goal is comprehension, not memorization.
Do I need programming experience?
You should be comfortable reading code, but the framework itself is technology-agnostic. The 7 building blocks are concepts, not code. If you can understand "photos need to be stored somewhere" and "users need to log in," you can learn this framework.
What's free vs paid?
The 7 building block articles and interactive challenges are free. Course I ($99) adds 12 video lessons, interactive Python labs, AI-graded assessments, and a 3-part design challenge with feedback. Courses II, III, and IV are $149 each — $114 early-bird while videos are being recorded (content, labs, and challenges are already live).
How does this help me work with AI?
AI tools are great at writing code but need human guidance for architectural decisions. When you understand building blocks, you can tell AI exactly what to build: "Service for the API, Relational Database for users, Key-Value Store for sessions." Instead of "build me an app" and hoping for the best.
How long does Course I take?
Course I is designed as a 10-week experience at 1-2 hours per week. It's fully self-paced, so you can move faster if you want. All content stays accessible forever.