[Zeebrommer]

Can we please come up with a more specific name for this type of expertise? A large-scale system can mean anything from a social security system to a rocket. I was a bit disappointed that it only concerns websites here (though I'm aware that I'm browsing HN).

[cc-d]

The label is fine.

Nobody is confused as to what a "system administrator" is, even though technically the word "system" itself can have a much broader range of meaning.

[mcqueenjordan]

I'm not saying the label is wrong, but I agree with the parent's sentiment for a more specific label. "How to design a large-scale CRUD system" seems more precise.

Large scale systems come in many different shapes and forms; this is an instance of one of them. Its learnings are interdisciplinary and cross-functional, but this isn't the roadmap for other types of systems, especially asynchronous reactive systems.

[s-shellfish]

I agree. From my inferences in reading the usage of the label, large scale means not only users interacting with defined components that operate in predefined, predictable, static ways, but also components that involve the automation of development. This can be anything from the development of APIs, testing frameworks, parsers, code generation - all the computer science stuff basically.

Large scale usually means some aspect of the business is focused on catering to developers, because the systems have become that complex that they require some form of automating existing automation.