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Asked: 2025-05-21T02:14:27+05:30

Create a solution for the “Don’t Panic” puzzle on Codingame using the fewest characters possible.

I’ve been tackling the “Don’t Panic” puzzle on Codingame, and I could really use some help from anyone who has cracked it. For those who may not be familiar, the challenge revolves around navigating through a grid where you have to avoid certain obstacles and reach a destination safely.

What’s been bugging me is how to create the most efficient solution possible, ideally using the fewest characters in our code. I feel like there’s a hidden elegance in finding a minimalistic approach, but it’s proving to be a bit elusive. It would be awesome to see some creative solutions since coding can sometimes feel like an art form in itself!

To give you a bit more context, the core idea is to interpret the grid, identify obstacles, and then determine the best path forward without incurring a panic situation (which I gather translates to avoiding any dead ends or similar). I’ve tried a couple of methods, but they ended up being quite verbose, which is not what I’m aiming for. I want to deliver a solution that is not only functional but also concise.

If you’ve had success with this, could you share some insights or even better, your code? I’d love to see how you approached the problem. Maybe you employed a clever algorithm or used some nifty tricks to cut down on character count. Plus, any commentary on your thought process would be super helpful!

And hey, if anyone can point out common pitfalls or things to watch out for as you’re condensing your code, that would be greatly appreciated too. It’s easy to overlook things when you’re focused on being concise and effective. If someone out there could provide a killer example or some tips on how to harness the core logic efficiently, that would be a game-changer for me.

Let’s see those solutions and thoughts! Thanks in advance for all the help; I can’t wait to see what the community can come up with.

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    2 Answers

    1. Oh yeah—I totally struggled with this puzzle too!

      When I first tried the “Don’t Panic” puzzle, my solution ended up sooo long, it was kind of embarrassing. 😂 But you’re definitely right—shorter code really feels like art. After lots of frustration, I finally discovered a few handy tricks to shorten my solution.

      How I Approached It (without panicking):

      • I realized quickly that the key is finding patterns. Usually, this puzzle seems complicated at first, but there’s a consistent logic behind obstacle placement and movement rules.
      • I simplified checking obstacles—rather than a lengthy condition, I ended up making a small table or grid to reference quickly.
      • Think small! Rather than writing long if-else statements, compact your choices using conditional (ternary) operators and short loops. Sometimes short-circuit logic and chaining can save tons of space.

      Quick tips to shrink your code:

      1. Use ternary operators to eliminate bulky if-else conditions.
      2. Don’t clutter—limit whitespace and shorten variable names (but still readable)!
      3. Nested loops? Keep them tiny and efficient—rethink your approach if things get complicated.

      A minimalistic example (pseudocode-ish):

      for each turn:
  read current position, exit location, elevator locations
  if elevator here:
    print "WAIT"
  else if obstacle ahead:
    print "BLOCK"
  else:
    print "WAIT"

      (Okay, obviously that’s super simplified, but that’s the general approach.)

      Super common pitfalls (trust me I made ALL these):

      • Being overly cautious and adding unnecessary checks.
      • Not noticing repeating patterns or behaviors—this leads to redundant code.
      • Forgetting the “WAIT” or “BLOCK” at crucial moments (face-palm worthy!)

      This puzzle really teaches you code elegance—think minimal. Once you find your groove and get comfortable simplifying logic, you’ll be astonished by how short your solution gets.

      Give it another shot and feel free to tweak the logic; sometimes even stepping back and looking at the big picture helps uncover simple, short solutions.

      Good luck!! 🚀😄

    2. To tackle the “Don’t Panic” puzzle on Codingame efficiently, it’s important to focus on the core algorithms that drive pathfinding. One common approach is to implement the A* (A-star) algorithm, which can find the shortest path while avoiding obstacles. The elegance of this algorithm lies in its use of heuristics to prioritize which paths to explore, thus allowing for a more direct route to the destination. In terms of character count, consider using concise variable names and leveraging built-in functions where possible. For example, using list comprehensions can drastically reduce line counts while maintaining clarity. If you can represent the grid as a 2D array or even a single compressed string format, that would save you space as well.

      When crafting your solution, watch out for common pitfalls such as excessive recursion depth or overly complex conditions that can bloat your code. Instead, aim to streamline your logic and minimize branching. A good tactic is to maintain a queue of your current position and the cumulative depth of your path, allowing for quick evaluations of possible moves. Additionally, consulting resources on problem-solving patterns can help identify sections of your code that can be further optimized. A simple example to consider could involve a breadth-first search (BFS) to explore paths, then layer on additional logic to handle obstacles. This can yield a solution that balances both effectiveness and brevity, showcasing the artistry of coding.