Merge remote-tracking branch 'upstream/master'

33 files changed, 3764 insertions, 2702 deletions

diff --git a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/.cbuild b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/.cbuild
index 835981f6f1..a14ec76520 100644
--- a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/.cbuild
+++ b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/.cbuild
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 BUILD = ch-1 ch-2
-BUILD = ch-1
 CFLAGS = -Wall -g
 #LDFLAGS = -lm
 #CFLAGS = -g
diff --git a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/Makefile b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1b34ccd3b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Makefile rules generated by CB
+CC	= gcc
+CFLAGS	= -Wall -g
+BUILD	= ch-1 ch-2
+
+all:	$(BUILD)
+
+clean:
+	/bin/rm -f $(BUILD) *.o core a.out
+
+args.o:	args.c
+ch-1:	ch-1.o args.o parseints.o printarray.o
+ch-1.o:	ch-1.c args.h parseints.h printarray.h
+ch-2:	ch-2.o args.o parseints.o printarray.o
+ch-2.o:	ch-2.c args.h parseints.h printarray.h
+parseints.o:	parseints.c args.h parseints.h printarray.h
+printarray.o:	printarray.c
+
diff --git a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/README b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/README
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bb9a44abc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/README
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+Thought I'd also have a go at translating ch-1.pl and ch-2.pl into C..
+
+Both C versions produce near identical (non-debugging and debugging)
+output to the Perl originals.
+
+These C versions use some of my regular support modules:
+- a tweaked version of my command-line argument processing module args.[ch],
+- a tweaked version of csvlist-of-int parsing module parseints.[ch], and
+- an int-array printing module printarray.[ch].
diff --git a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/args.c b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/args.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..20c21e6c30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/args.c
@@ -0,0 +1,234 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
+#include <assert.h>
+
+
+bool debug = false;
+
+
+// process_flag_noarg( name, argc, argv );
+//	Process the -d flag, and check that there are no
+//	remaining arguments.
+void process_flag_noarg( char *name, int argc, char **argv )
+{
+	int arg=1;
+	if( argc>1 && strcmp( argv[arg], "-d" ) == 0 )
+	{
+		debug = true;
+		arg++;
+	}
+
+	int left = argc-arg;
+	if( left != 0 )
+	{
+		fprintf( stderr, "Usage: %s [-d]\n", name );
+		exit(1);
+	}
+}
+
+
+// int argno = process_flag_n_args( name, argc, argv, n, argmsg );
+//	Process the -d flag, and check that there are exactly
+//	n remaining arguments, return the index position of the first
+//	argument.  If not, generate a fatal Usage error using the argmsg.
+//	
+int process_flag_n_args( char *name, int argc, char **argv, int n, char *argmsg )
+{
+	int arg=1;
+	if( argc>1 && strcmp( argv[arg], "-d" ) == 0 )
+	{
+		debug = true;
+		arg++;
+	}
+
+	int left = argc-arg;
+	if( left != n )
+	{
+		fprintf( stderr, "Usage: %s [-d] %s\n       Exactly %d "
+			"arguments needed\n", name, argmsg, n );
+		exit(1);
+	}
+	return arg;
+}
+
+
+// int argno = process_flag_n_m_args( name, argc, argv, min, max, argmsg );
+//	Process the -d flag, and check that there are between
+//	min and max remaining arguments, return the index position of the first
+//	argument.  If not, generate a fatal Usage error using the argmsg.
+//	
+int process_flag_n_m_args( char *name, int argc, char **argv, int min, int max, char *argmsg )
+{
+	int arg=1;
+	if( argc>1 && strcmp( argv[arg], "-d" ) == 0 )
+	{
+		debug = true;
+		arg++;
+	}
+
+	int left = argc-arg;
+	if( left < min || left > max )
+	{
+		fprintf( stderr, "Usage: %s [-d] %s\n       Between %d and %d "
+			"arguments needed\n", name, argmsg, min, max );
+		exit(1);
+	}
+	return arg;
+}
+
+
+// process_onenumarg_default( name, argc, argv, defvalue, &n );
+//	Process the -d flag, and check that there is a single
+//	remaining numeric argument (or no arguments, in which case
+//	we use the defvalue), putting it into n
+void process_onenumarg_default( char *name, int argc, char **argv, int defvalue, int *n )
+{
+	char argmsg[100];
+	sprintf( argmsg, "[int default %d]", defvalue );
+	int arg = process_flag_n_m_args( name, argc, argv, 0, 1, argmsg );
+
+	*n = arg == argc ? defvalue : atoi( argv[arg] );
+}
+
+
+// process_onenumarg( name, argc, argv, &n );
+//	Process the -d flag, and check that there is a single
+//	remaining numeric argument, putting it into n
+void process_onenumarg( char *name, int argc, char **argv, int *n )
+{
+	int arg = process_flag_n_args( name, argc, argv, 1, "int" );
+
+	// argument is in argv[arg]
+	*n = atoi( argv[arg] );
+}
+
+
+// process_twonumargs( name, argc, argv, &m, &n );
+//	Process the -d flag, and check that there are 2
+//	remaining numeric arguments, putting them into m and n
+void process_twonumargs( char *name, int argc, char **argv, int *m, int *n )
+{
+	int arg = process_flag_n_args( name, argc, argv, 2, "int" );
+
+	// arguments are in argv[arg] and argv[arg+1]
+	*m = atoi( argv[arg++] );
+	*n = atoi( argv[arg] );
+}
+
+
+// process_twostrargs() IS DEPRECATED: use process_flag_n_m_args() instead
+
+
+// int arr[100];
+// int nel = process_listnumargs( name, argc, argv, arr, 100 );
+//	Process the -d flag, and check that there are >= 2
+//	remaining numeric arguments, putting them into arr[0..nel-1]
+//	and returning nel.
+int process_listnumargs( char *name, int argc, char **argv, int *arr, int maxel )
+{
+	int arg=1;
+	if( argc>1 && strcmp( argv[arg], "-d" ) == 0 )
+	{
+		debug = true;
+		arg++;
+	}
+
+	int left = argc-arg;
+	if( left < 2 )
+	{
+		fprintf( stderr, "Usage: %s [-d] list_of_numeric_args\n", name );
+		exit(1);
+	}
+	if( left > maxel )
+	{
+		fprintf( stderr, "%s: more than %d args\n", name, maxel );
+		exit(1);
+	}
+
+	// elements are in argv[arg], argv[arg+1]...
+
+	if( debug )
+	{
+		printf( "debug: remaining arguments are in arg=%d, "
+		        "firstn=%s, secondn=%s..\n",
+			arg, argv[arg], argv[arg+1] );
+	}
+
+	int nel = 0;
+	for( int i=arg; i<argc; i++ )
+	{
+		arr[nel++] = atoi( argv[i] );
+	}
+	arr[nel] = -1;
+	return nel;
+}
+
+
+//
+// bool isint = check_unsigned_int( char *val, int *n );
+//	Given an string val, check that there's an unsigned integer
+//	in it (after optional whitespace).  If there is a valid
+//	unsigned integer value, store that integer value in *n and
+//	return true; otherwise return false (and don't alter *n).
+bool check_unsigned_int( char *val, int *n )
+{
+	// skip whitespace in val
+	char *p;
+	for( p=val; isspace(*p); p++ )
+	{
+		/*EMPTY*/
+	}
+	if( ! isdigit(*p) ) return false;
+	*n = atoi(p);
+	return true;
+}
+
+
+//
+// bool isint = check_int( char *val, int *n );
+//	Given an string val, check that there's an integer
+//	in it (after optional whitespace).  If there is a valid
+//	integer value, store that integer value in *n and
+//	return true; otherwise return false (and don't alter *n).
+bool check_int( char *val, int *n )
+{
+	// skip whitespace in val
+	char *p;
+	for( p=val; isspace(*p); p++ )
+	{
+		/*EMPTY*/
+	}
+	int sign = 1;
+	if( *p == '+' ) p++;
+	else if( *p == '-' )
+	{
+		sign = -1;
+		p++;
+	}
+	if( ! isdigit(*p) ) return false;
+	*n = atoi(p) * sign;
+	return true;
+}
+
+
+//
+// bool ok = check_unsigned_real( char *val, double *n );
+//	Given an string val, check that there's an unsigned real
+//	in it (after optional whitespace).  If there is a valid
+//	unsigned real value, store that value in *n and
+//	return true; otherwise return false (and don't alter *n).
+bool check_unsigned_real( char *val, double *n )
+{
+	// skip whitespace in val
+	char *p;
+	for( p=val; isspace(*p); p++ )
+	{
+		/*EMPTY*/
+	}
+	if( ! isdigit(*p) ) return false;
+	*n = atof(p);
+	return true;
+}
diff --git a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/args.h b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/args.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..df765fa21e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/args.h
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+extern bool debug;
+
+extern void process_flag_noarg( char * name, int argc, char ** argv );
+extern int process_flag_n_args( char * name, int argc, char ** argv, int n, char * argmsg );
+extern int process_flag_n_m_args( char * name, int argc, char ** argv, int min, int max, char * argmsg );
+extern void process_onenumarg_default( char * name, int argc, char ** argv, int defvalue, int * n );
+extern void process_onenumarg( char * name, int argc, char ** argv, int * n );
+extern void process_twonumargs( char * name, int argc, char ** argv, int * m, int * n );
+extern int process_listnumargs( char * name, int argc, char ** argv, int * arr, int maxel );
+extern bool check_unsigned_int( char * val, int * n );
+extern bool check_int( char * val, int * n );
+extern bool check_unsigned_real( char * val, double * n );
diff --git a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/ch-1.c b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/ch-1.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9c0054d5a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/ch-1.c
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
+#include <assert.h>
+
+#include "args.h"
+#include "parseints.h"
+#include "printarray.h"
+
+
+#define MAX(a,b)	((a)>(b)?(a):(b))
+
+int max = 0;
+
+int intcompare( const void *a, const void *b )
+{
+	return *((int *)a) - *((int *)b);
+}
+
+
+//
+// int pos = posinlist( v, nel, list );
+//	Return the position of v if it's in list[nel], -1 otherwise
+//
+int posinlist( int v, int nel, int *list )
+{
+	for( int i=0; i<nel; i++ )
+	{
+		if( list[i] == v ) return i;
+	}
+	return -1;
+}
+
+
+//
+// findall( sumsofar, nel, list );
+//	Given a sumsofar, and a list[nel], find all "kill-and-win"
+//	paths through the list, updating max with the maximum
+//	of all total sums of each complete path.
+//
+void findall( int sumsofar, int nel, int *list )
+{
+	if( nel == 0 )
+	{
+		max = MAX( max, sumsofar );
+		return;
+	}
+
+	// find all distinct values in list
+	int *distinct = malloc( nel * sizeof(int) );
+	assert( distinct != NULL );
+	int ndistinct = 0;
+	for( int i=0; i<nel; i++ )
+	{
+		if( posinlist( list[i], ndistinct, distinct ) == -1 )
+		{
+			distinct[ndistinct++] = list[i];
+		}
+	}
+	// sort them
+	qsort( distinct, ndistinct, sizeof(int), &intcompare );
+
+	if( debug )
+	{
+		printf( "debug: distinct values: " );
+		print_int_array( 60, ndistinct, distinct, ',', stdout );
+		putchar( '\n' );
+	}
+
+	for( int i=0; i<ndistinct; i++ )
+	{
+		// ok, pick distinct[i] as our value to kill-and-win
+		int v = distinct[i];
+
+		// kaw rule: remove all v-1 and v+1 values and ONE v value
+
+		// give ourselves two new arrays:
+
+		// the one containing the elements we delete
+		int *deleted = malloc( nel * sizeof(int) );
+		assert( deleted != NULL );
+		int ndeleted = 0;
+		int delsum = 0;
+
+		// and the one containing the elements we keep
+		int *newl = malloc( nel * sizeof(int) );
+		assert( newl != NULL );
+		int newn = 0;
+
+		int nvseen = 0;			// how many "v"s have we seen
+		for( int j=0; j<nel; j++ )
+		{
+			int el = list[j];
+			bool include = true;
+			if( el == v-1 || el == v+1 )
+			{
+				include = false;
+			} else if( el == v )
+			{
+				if( nvseen++ == 0 )
+				{
+					include = false;  // delete 1st v
+				}
+			}
+			if( include )
+			{
+				newl[newn++] = el;
+			} else
+			{
+				deleted[ndeleted++] = el;
+				delsum += el;
+			}
+		}
+
+		int newsum = sumsofar + delsum;
+		if( debug )
+		{
+			printf( "debug: kaw: list=" );
+			print_int_array( 60, nel, list, ',', stdout );
+			printf( ", v=%d, deleted=", v );
+			print_int_array( 60, ndeleted, deleted, ',', stdout );
+			printf( ", newl=" );
+			print_int_array( 60, newn, newl, ',', stdout );
+			printf( ", newsum=%d\n", newsum );
+		}
+		findall( newsum, newn, newl );
+
+		free( deleted );
+		free( newl );
+	}
+}
+
+
+int main( int argc, char **argv )
+{
+	int argno = process_flag_n_m_args( "kill-and-win", argc, argv,
+		1, 1000, "intlist" );
+	int nel;
+	int *list = parse_int_args( argc, argv, argno, &nel );
+
+	if( debug )
+	{
+		printf( "debug: initial list: " );
+		print_int_array( 60, nel, list, ',', stdout );
+		putchar( '\n' );
+	}
+
+	max = 0;
+	findall( 0, nel, list );
+	printf( "%d\n", max );
+
+	free( list );
+
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/ch-2.c b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/ch-2.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d2ec3e5799
--- /dev/null
+++ b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/ch-2.c
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+//
+// Task 2: Number Collision
+// 
+// C version.
+// 
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
+#include <assert.h>
+
+#include "args.h"
+#include "parseints.h"
+#include "printarray.h"
+
+
+//
+// int pos = find_pos_neg( nel, list );
+//	Search in the given list[nel] for a positive number
+//	immediately followed by a negative number.
+//	If you find such a pair return the position of
+//	the positive number.
+//	If there is no such pair, return -1.
+//
+int find_pos_neg( int nel, int *list )
+{
+	for( int i=0; i<nel-1; i++ )
+	{
+		if( list[i]>=0 && list[i+1]<0 )
+		{
+			return i;
+		}
+	}
+	return -1;
+}
+
+
+//
+// int newnel = remove_elements( nel, list, delpos, ndel );
+//	Delete ndel elements starting at delpos from list[nel],
+//	returning the new number of elements (should be nel-ndel)
+//
+int remove_elements( int nel, int *list, int delpos, int ndel )
+{
+	if( debug )
+	{
+		// give ourselves a new array containing the deleted elements
+		int *deleted = malloc( nel * sizeof(int) );
+		assert( deleted != NULL );
+		int ndeleted = 0;
+
+		for( int i=delpos; i<delpos+ndel; i++ )
+		{
+			deleted[ndeleted++] = list[i];
+		}
+		printf( "debug: deleting %d elements starting at pos %d: ",
+			ndel, delpos );
+		print_int_array( 60, ndeleted, deleted, ',', stdout );
+		putchar( '\n' );
+
+		free( deleted );
+	}
+
+	for( int i=delpos+ndel; i<nel; i++ )
+	{
+		list[i-ndel] = list[i];
+	}
+
+	return nel-ndel;
+}
+
+
+int main( int argc, char **argv )
+{
+	int argno = process_flag_n_m_args( "number-collision", argc, argv,
+		1, 1000, "intlist" );
+	int nel;
+	int *list = parse_int_args( argc, argv, argno, &nel );
+
+	if( debug )
+	{
+		printf( "debug: initial list: " );
+		print_int_array( 60, nel, list, ',', stdout );
+		putchar( '\n' );
+	}
+
+	for( int round = 1;  ; round++ )
+	{
+		int pos = find_pos_neg( nel, list );
+		if( debug )
+		{
+			printf( "round %d: list = ", round );
+			print_int_array( 60, nel, list, ',', stdout );
+			printf( " pos = %d\n", pos );
+		}
+	if( pos == -1 ) break;
+
+		int a = list[pos];
+		int b = list[pos+1];
+		if( debug )
+		{
+			printf( "debug: elements %d and %d collide\n", a, b );
+		}
+		int ma = a;
+		int mb = abs(b);
+		int rempos = pos;		// remove which starting position?
+		int nrem = 1;			// how many to remove?
+		if( ma == mb )			// remove both
+		{
+			if( debug )
+			{
+				printf( "debug: both elements %d and %d "
+					"explode\n", a, b );
+			}
+			rempos = pos;
+			nrem = 2;
+		} else if( ma > mb )
+		{
+			if( debug )
+			{
+				printf( "debug: element %d explodes\n", b );
+			}
+			rempos = pos+1;
+		} else
+		{
+			if( debug )
+			{
+				printf( "debug: element %d explodes\n", a );
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Remove nrem elements starting at rempos from list[nel]
+		nel = remove_elements( nel, list, rempos, nrem );
+
+		if( debug )
+		{
+			printf( "end of round %d: list = ", round );
+			print_int_array( 60, nel, list, ',', stdout );
+			putchar( '\n' );
+		}
+	}
+
+	print_int_array( 60, nel, list, ',', stdout );
+	putchar( '\n' );
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/parseints.c b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/parseints.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3e820eb334
--- /dev/null
+++ b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/parseints.c
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+// Simple routine to parse one or more arguments,
+// looking for individual ints or comma-separated
+// lists of ints.
+// 
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
+#include <assert.h>
+
+#include "args.h"
+#include "printarray.h"
+#include "parseints.h"
+
+typedef struct
+{
+	int nel;	// current number of elements 
+	int maxel;	// maximum number of elements allocated
+	int *list;	// malloc()d list of integers
+} intlist;
+
+
+//
+// intlist il.. then initialize il..  then:
+// add_one( element, &il );
+//	
+static void add_one( int x, intlist *p )
+{
+	if( p->nel > p->maxel )
+	{
+		p->maxel += 128;
+		p->list = realloc( p->list, p->maxel );
+		assert( p->list != NULL );
+	}
+	#if 0
+	if( debug )
+	{
+		printf( "PIA: appending %d to result at "
+			"pos %d\n", x, p->nel );
+	}
+	#endif
+	p->list[p->nel++] = x;
+}
+
+
+//
+// intlist il.. then initialize il..  then:
+// add_one_arg( argstr, &il );
+//	
+static void add_one_arg( char *argstr, intlist *p )
+{
+	int x;
+	if( !check_int(argstr,&x) )
+	{
+		fprintf( stderr, "PIA: arg %s must be int\n", argstr );
+		exit(1);
+	}
+	add_one( x, p );
+}
+
+
+//
+// int nel;
+// int *ilist = parse_int_args( argc, argv, argno, &nel );
+//	process all arguments argv[argno..argc-1], extracting either
+//	single ints or comma-separated lists of ints from those arguments,
+//	accumulate all integers in a dynarray list, storing the total number
+//	of elements in nel.  This list must be freed by the caller.
+//	Note that the list of elements used to be terminated by a -1 value,
+//	but I've commented this out from now on.
+//
+int *parse_int_args( int argc, char **argv, int argno, int *nel )
+{
+	int *result = malloc( 128 * sizeof(int) );
+	assert( result != NULL );
+	intlist il = { 0, 128, result };
+
+	#if 0
+	if( debug )
+	{
+		printf( "PIA: parsing ints from args %d..%d\n", argno, argc-1 );
+	}
+	#endif
+	for( int i=argno; i<argc; i++ )
+	{
+		assert( strlen(argv[i]) < 1024 );
+		char copy[1024];
+		strcpy( copy, argv[i] );
+		char *com;
+		char *s;
+		for( s=copy; (com = strchr(s,',')) != NULL; s=com+1 )
+		{
+			*com = '\0';
+			add_one_arg( s, &il );
+		}
+		add_one_arg( s, &il );
+	}
+
+	//add_one( -1, &il );
+
+	#if 0
+	if( debug )
+	{
+		printf( "PIA: final list is " );
+		print_int_array( 80, il.nel, il.list, ',', stdout );
+		putchar( '\n' );
+	}
+	#endif
+
+	*nel = il.nel;
+	return il.list;
+}
diff --git a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/parseints.h b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/parseints.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..da5e145a86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/parseints.h
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+extern int * parse_int_args( int argc, char ** argv, int argno, int * nel );
diff --git a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/printarray.c b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/printarray.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ddee597df3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/printarray.c
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+
+// print_int_array( maxw, nelements, results[], sep, outfile );
+//	format results[0..nelements-1] as a <sep> separated
+//      list onto outfile with lines <= maxw chars long.
+//	produces a whole number of lines of output - without the trailing '\n'
+void print_int_array( int maxw, int nel, int *results, char sep, FILE *out )
+{
+	int linelen = 0;
+	for( int i=0; i<nel; i++ )
+	{
+		char buf[100];
+		sprintf( buf, "%d", results[i] );
+		int len = strlen(buf);
+		if( linelen + len + 2 > maxw )
+		{
+			fputc( '\n', out );
+			linelen = 0;
+		} else if( i>0 )
+		{
+			fputc( ' ', out );
+			linelen++;
+		}
+
+		linelen += len;
+		fprintf( out, "%s", buf );
+		if( i<nel-1 )
+		{
+			fputc( sep, out );
+			linelen++;
+		}
+	}
+	//if( linelen>0 )
+	//{
+	//	fputc( '\n', out );
+	//}
+}
diff --git a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/printarray.h b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/printarray.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..40efb83277
--- /dev/null
+++ b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/C/printarray.h
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+extern void print_int_array( int maxw, int nel, int * results, char sep, FILE * out );
diff --git a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/README b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/README
index a7d82c8b31..6013657b55 100644
--- a/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/README
+++ b/challenge-210/duncan-c-white/README
@@ -1,71 +1,90 @@
-Task 1: Special Bit Characters
+Task 1: Task 1: Kill and Win
 
-You are given an array of binary bits that ends with 0.
-
-Valid sequences in the bit string are:
-
-[0] -decodes-to-> "a"
-[1, 0] -> "b"
-[1, 1] -> "c"
-
-Write a script to print 1 if the last character is an 'a' otherwise
-print 0.
+You are given a list of integers.  Write a script to get the maximum points.
+You are allowed to take out (kill) any integer and remove from the list.
+However if you do that then all integers exactly one-less or one-more would
+also be removed. Find out the total of integers removed.
 
 Example 1
 
-  Input: @bits = (1, 0, 0)
-  Output: 1
+  Input: @int = (2, 3, 1)
+  Output: 6
 
-  The given array bits can be decoded as 2-bits character (10) followed
-  by 1-bit character (0).
+  First we delete 2 and that would also delete 1 and 3. So the maximum
+  points we get is 6.
 
 Example 2
 
-  Input: @bits = (1, 1, 1, 0)
-  Output: 0
-
-  Possible decode can be 2-bits character (11) followed by 2-bits
-  character (10) i.e. the last character is not 1-bit character.
-
-MY NOTES: very easy.  decode string then check last letter of decoded version.
-I wonder if there's a way of decoding-and-checking together, though.
+  Input: @int = (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3)
+  Output: 11
+
+  First we delete 2 and that would also delete both the 1's and the
+  3. Now we have (2, 2).
+  Then we delete another 2 and followed by the third deletion of 2. So
+  the maximum points we get is 11.
+
+MY NOTES: very easy recursive "all paths" solution with accumulating points
+so far, tracking the best (max) complete path found as we go.
+
+PS: Thinking about this AFTER writing the code, all paths necessarily lead
+to the same total sum, as whenever we delete some elements we add them to
+the sum, so once we've deleted all elements the total sum is necessarily
+the sum of the original elements.  So the "find all paths and pick the max
+sum" logic is completely unnecessary.  Finding any single path and it's score
+would do.  Hence, I don't understand the emphasis in the question above on the
+"write a script to get the maximum points" wording, and why the examples above
+show a particular path if any path would do..  It's possible that the question
+meant "pick a path that leads to a solution in the shortest number of kaw
+rounds" - that's compatible with example 1.  But dammit if that's what was
+meant, the question should have been clearer.  So I'm leaving my code
+alone as it answers the question well enough.
 
 GUEST LANGUAGE: As a bonus, I also had a go at translating ch-1.pl into C
 (look in the C directory for that).
 
 
-Task 2: Merge Ac