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Python Code Samples

Medium snippets you can copy, study, and run in the browser editor.

16 matches
Files & data medium

How to Merge Sorted Chunk Files in Python

Merge multiple sorted text files into one sorted output file using a heap for efficient k-way merging.

heapq merge-sort external-sort
Python
import heapq


def merge_sorted_chunks(chunks, output_path):
    """Merge multiple sorted iterables into single sorted output file."""
    with open(output_path, "w") as out_f:
        # Open all chunk files
        handles = [open(chunk, "r") for chunk in chunks]
        try:
            # Heap of (value, index) tupl…
14 0 Open
Algorithms & data structures medium

Binary Search on Answer in Python: Koko Eating Bananas

Find the minimum eating speed so Koko finishes all banana piles within a given hour limit using binary search on the answer.

binary-search algorithms search
Python
import math

def min_eating_speed(piles, h):
    """Return minimum integer eating speed K so Koko finishes within h hours."""
    def hours_needed(speed):
        return sum(math.ceil(p / speed) for p in piles)

    low, high = 1, max(piles)
    while low < high:
        mid = (low + high) // 2
        if hours_needed…
15 0 Open
Algorithms & data structures medium

Find Missing Numbers, Duplicates, and Ranges in Python

Analyze a list to identify missing numbers, duplicate values, and contiguous ranges using sets and the Counter class.

algorithms sets counting
Python
def find_missing_duplicates_ranges(numbers):
    """Find missing numbers, duplicates, and ranges in a list."""
    from collections import Counter
    
    if not numbers:
        return {"missing": [], "duplicates": [], "ranges": []}
    
    full_range = set(range(min(numbers), max(numbers) + 1))
    present = set(n…
12 0 Open
Algorithms & data structures medium

Find the Duplicate Number in Python Using Floyd's Cycle Detection

Detects the duplicate integer in an array of n+1 numbers (values 1 to n) in O(n) time and O(1) space using Floyd's cycle detection algorithm applied to a linked-list model.

floyd-cycle duplicate-number two-pointers
Python
def find_duplicate(nums):
    slow = nums[0]
    fast = nums[0]
    
    # Phase 1: Find intersection point of the cycle
    while True:
        slow = nums[slow]
        fast = nums[nums[fast]]
        if slow == fast:
            break
    
    # Phase 2: Find the start of the cycle (the duplicate)
    slow = nums[0…
14 0 Open
Algorithms & data structures medium

Game of Life Next State Grid in Python

Compute the next generation of Conway's Game of Life from a 2D grid using the standard three rules with neighbor counting.

game-of-life grid cellular-automaton
Python
def next_state(grid):
    m, n = len(grid), len(grid[0])
    new = [[0] * n for _ in range(m)]
    for r in range(m):
        for c in range(n):
            total = 0
            for dr in (-1, 0, 1):
                for dc in (-1, 0, 1):
                    if dr == 0 and dc == 0:
                        continue
   …
14 0 Open
Algorithms & data structures medium

How to Decode a String with Repeated Brackets in Python

Decodes strings with patterns like '3[a]2[bc]' by using a stack to handle nested and repeated bracket groups.

stack string-decoding algorithms
Python
def decode_string(s: str) -> str:
    stack = []
    current_num = 0
    current_str = ""

    for ch in s:
        if ch.isdigit():
            current_num = current_num * 10 + int(ch)
        elif ch == "[":
            stack.append((current_str, current_num))
            current_str = ""
            current_num = 0…
13 0 Open
Algorithms & data structures medium

How to Evaluate RPN Expressions in Python

Use a stack to evaluate Reverse Polish Notation token lists with a dictionary of operator lambdas, truncating division toward zero.

rpn stack expression
Python
def eval_rpn(tokens):
    stack = []
    ops = {
        '+': lambda a, b: a + b,
        '-': lambda a, b: a - b,
        '*': lambda a, b: a * b,
        '/': lambda a, b: int(a / b)  # truncate toward zero
    }
    for token in tokens:
        if token in ops:
            b = stack.pop()
            a = stack.pop(…
12 0 Open
Algorithms & data structures medium

How to Generate a Power Set in Python with Bitmasks

Generate the power set of a small list using a bitmask approach, producing all possible subsets.

bitmask power set subset generation
Python
def power_set(items):
    """Generate the power set of a list using bitmask approach."""
    n = len(items)
    result = []
    
    for mask in range(1 << n):
        subset = []
        for i in range(n):
            if mask & (1 << i):
                subset.append(items[i])
        result.append(subset)
    
    r…
14 0 Open
Algorithms & data structures medium

How to Solve the Trapping Rain Water Problem in Python

Compute the total water trapped between elevation bars using a two-pointer O(n) algorithm.

algorithms two-pointers arrays
Python
def trap(height):
    if not height:
        return 0
    
    left, right = 0, len(height) - 1
    left_max, right_max = 0, 0
    water = 0
    
    while left < right:
        if height[left] < height[right]:
            if height[left] >= left_max:
                left_max = height[left]
            else:
         …
17 0 Open
Algorithms & data structures medium

Validate Sudoku Board Rows Columns and Boxes in Python

Validate a 9x9 Sudoku board by checking that each row, column, and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once.

sudoku validation matrix
Python
def validate_sudoku(board):
    def is_valid_group(group):
        return sorted(group) == list(range(1, 10))

    def get_columns():
        return [[board[r][c] for r in range(9)] for c in range(9)]

    def get_boxes():
        boxes = []
        for box_row in range(0, 9, 3):
            for box_col in range(0, 9,…
11 0 Open
Concurrency & performance medium

Merge K Sorted Lists in Python with heapq

Merge k sorted lists into one sorted list in O(N log k) time using a min-heap of current elements.

heapq merge sorted-lists
Python
import heapq

def merge_k_sorted_lists(lists):
    heap = []
    for i, lst in enumerate(lists):
        if lst:  # only push non-empty lists
            heapq.heappush(heap, (lst[0], i, 0))
    result = []
    while heap:
        val, list_idx, elem_idx = heapq.heappop(heap)
        result.append(val)
        if elem…
13 0 Open
System design patterns medium

How to Implement the Strategy Pattern in Python

This Python code demonstrates the Strategy design pattern using interchangeable sorting algorithms (bubble sort and quick sort) that can be swapped at runtime.

design-pattern strategy oop
Python
class SortingStrategy:
    def sort(self, data):
        raise NotImplementedError

class BubbleSort(SortingStrategy):
    def sort(self, data):
        result = data.copy()
        n = len(result)
        for i in range(n):
            for j in range(0, n - i - 1):
                if result[j] > result[j + 1]:
      …
13 0 Open
Caching & Redis medium

Redis Leaky Bucket Rate Limiting Mock in Python

Simulates a Redis-backed leaky bucket rate limiter using a local class with continuous leaking and token capacity checks.

rate-limiting redis algorithms
Python
import time
from collections import deque


class LeakyBucket:
    def __init__(self, capacity, leak_rate):
        self.capacity = capacity
        self.leak_rate = leak_rate
        self.water = 0.0
        self.timestamp = time.time()
        self.history = deque()

    def allow(self):
        current = time.time(…
14 0 Open
Big data & Spark medium

How to Build a DAG Execution Stage Calculator in Python

Computes the execution stages of a directed acyclic graph (DAG) by grouping nodes that become ready simultaneously using topological sorting with Kahn's algorithm.

dag topological-sort kahn-algorithm
Python
from collections import defaultdict, deque


def get_stages(edges):
    """Return list of stages, where each stage is a list of nodes
    that become ready at the same time in a DAG."""
    graph = defaultdict(list)
    in_degree = defaultdict(int)
    nodes = set()

    for src, dst in edges:
        graph[src].appen…
15 0 Open
A/B testing & experimentation medium

How to simulate a contextual bandit in Python

Simulate a contextual multi-armed bandit with random features and epsilon-greedy action selection in Python.

bandit-algorithms simulation epsilon-greedy
Python
import random


class ContextualBandit:
    def __init__(self, n_actions=3, n_features=4):
        self.n_actions = n_actions
        self.n_features = n_features
        self.theta = [random.random() for _ in range(n_actions * n_features)]

    def mock_context(self):
        return [random.uniform(-1, 1) for _ in ra…
13 0 Open
A/B testing & experimentation medium

Thompson Sampling Mock Bandit in Python

Implement a Thompson sampling multi-armed bandit to explore and exploit reward probabilities across multiple options, updating Beta distributions over time.

thompson-sampling bandit-algorithms exploration-exploitation
Python
import random

class ThompsonSamplingBandit:
    def __init__(self, num_arms, alpha=1.0, beta=1.0):
        self.num_arms = num_arms
        self.alpha = [alpha] * num_arms
        self.beta = [beta] * num_arms

    def select_arm(self):
        samples = [random.betavariate(a, b) for a, b in zip(self.alpha, self.beta…
12 0 Open

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