Obare Geoffrey
Closing complex system architecture and user-centric design.
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I Built My Own System Design Tool Because Nothing Free Was Good Enough
A few months ago I was working on a system architecture for a project and needed to diagram it out. I opened the usual suspects, draw.io (http://draw.io), Excalidraw, Lucidchart. All either too generic, paywalled for the good stuff, or missing the cloud-specific components I actually needed. I just wanted a free tool built for engineers, with real AWS, GCP, and Azure components, that I could use without hitting a paywall mid-session.
So I built one.
The idea
SysDesign started as a learning project as much as a product. I wanted to go deep on React Flow, understand how canvas-based UIs work under the hood, and ship something real at the end of it. The constraint I set myself was one week to get a working version out.
The hardest part
The canvas broke me for a bit. Getting drag and drop to feel right, handling node grouping, wiring up step undo/redo, making sure nothing felt laggy at scale. React Flow gives you a solid foundation but the moment you layer real interactions on top of it, edge cases pile up fast. I rewrote parts of the canvas interaction logic more than once before it felt right.
What ended up shipping
A searchable registry of 200+ components across AWS, GCP, Azure, databases, microservices, security, observability, AI/ML, and DevOps
Drag and drop canvas with node grouping, inline annotation, and step undo/redo
Real-time project persistence with PostgreSQL and Google OAuth
Terraform HCL and Mermaid export so you can turn a visual diagram directly into infrastructure-as-code scaffolds
AI-powered diagram generation, describe your architecture in plain text and SysDesign generates the diagram for you
That last one was the most fun to build. Being able to type "a microservices architecture with an API gateway, three services, and a PostgreSQL database" and watch it render on the canvas felt like the tool clicking into place.
Why open source
Because the whole reason I built this was that the good tools were locked away. It felt wrong to do the same thing. If you're an engineer who diagrams systems, wants to contribute, or just wants to poke around the code, it's all there.
Live: sysdesign.obare27.com
(http://sysdesign.obare27.com)GitHub: github.com/g-obare13/sysdesign (https://github.com/g-obare13/sysdesign)
I'm actively improving it. If you use it and something feels off or missing, open an issue or just tell me in the comments.
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Led the comprehensive redesign of the Solv management dashboards, transforming a complex back-office system into a high-performance administrative suite. I architected an extensive ecosystem of over 200 screens focused on data density and operational efficiency, providing administrators with a centralized command center to oversee loan
processing, credit lines, and system-wide financial analytics for the Kenyan market.
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Led the comprehensive redesign of the Solv mobile application, transforming a complex fintech ecosystem into a robust, high-efficiency financial tool. I architected an end-to-end experience spanning over 300 screens, meticulously optimizing the journey from credit application to disbursement to ensure the platform is intuitive, secure, and data-driven for dealers and merchants
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Specializing in high-quality alcohol and wines at competitive prices, The Good Mix Co. is dedicated to curating beverages directly sourced from trusted distilleries, wineries, and breweries, fostering personal connections with suppliers.
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Led the comprehensive redesign of the Patika application, focusing on simplifying the complex bookkeeping process for businesses. I transformed a data-heavy financial environment into a "simple and clean" user experience, prioritizing cognitive ease and rapid data entry to help business owners manage their finances without the typical overhead of traditional accounting software.
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Designed a transformative digital health experience for Lifesten, creating a comprehensive platform for Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) education and prevention across Africa. I focused on gamifying health data and simplifying complex medical information into a fun, accessible interface that empowers users to track healthy goals and access critical care directories.
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