I just got invited to perform Google’s FooBar challenge. In this article, I want to share with you how I solved the problems in real-time. The purpose of this article is to educate you—and to have some fun. So, are you ready?

Level 1: Prime Numbers

The first goal was to find an identifier for a new employee at the “minions” company.

The identifier is selected base on a random number i. How do we come from the random integer i to the identifier of the new minion employee?

• Create a sequence of prime numbers '23571113...'.
• The identifier is the subsequence starting from index i and ending in index i+4 (included).
• The value i is an integer between 0 and 10000.

Here’s the solution I implemented in the video:

def solution(i): # Determine prime sequence primes = getPrimeNumbers() return primes[i:i+5] def getPrimeNumbers(): '''Returns the string of prime numbers up to 10k+5 positions.''' s = '' prime = 2 while len(s) < 10005: # Add new prime to s s += str(prime) # Calculate next prime prime += 1 while not is_prime(prime): prime += 1 return s def is_prime(n): '''Tests if a number is prime. ''' for i in range(2,n): if n % i == 0: return False return True print(solution(0))

# 23571 print(solution(3))

# 71113

Level 2 | Part 1: Sequence Sum

Here’s the problem posed by Google:

Numbers Station Coded Messages

When you went undercover in Commander Lambda's organization, you set up a coded messaging system with Bunny Headquarters to allow them to send you important mission updates. Now that you're here and promoted to Henchman, you need to make sure you can receive those messages - but since you need to sneak them past Commander Lambda's spies, it won't be easy! Bunny HQ has secretly taken control of two of the galaxy's more obscure numbers stations, and will use them to broadcast lists of numbers. They've given you a numerical key, and their messages will be encrypted within the first sequence of numbers that adds up to that key within any given list of numbers. Given a non-empty list of positive integers l and a 

target positive integer t, write a function solution(l,

 t) which verifies if there is at least one consecutive

 sequence of positive integers within the list l (i.e. 

a contiguous sub-list) that can be summed up to the 

given target positive integer t (the key) and returns 

the lexicographically smallest list containing the 

smallest start and end indexes where this sequence can 

be found, or returns the array [-1, -1] in the case 

that there is no such sequence (to throw off Lambda's spies, not all number broadcasts will contain a coded message). For example, given the broadcast list l as [4, 3, 5, 7, 8] and the key t as 12, the function solution(l, t) would return the list [0, 2] because the list l contains the sub-list [4, 3, 5] starting at index 0 and ending at index 2, for which 4 + 3 + 5 = 12, even though there is a shorter sequence that happens later in the list (5 + 7). On the other hand, given the list l as [1, 2, 3, 4] and the key t as 15, the function solution(l, t) would return [-1, -1] because there is no sub-list of list l that can be summed up to the given target value t = 15. To help you identify the coded broadcasts, Bunny HQ has agreed to the following standards: - Each list l will contain at least 1 element but never more than 100.

- Each element of l will be between 1 and 100.

- t will be a positive integer, not exceeding 250.

- The first element of the list l has index 0.

- For the list returned by solution(l, t), the start index must be equal or smaller than the end index. Remember, to throw off Lambda's spies, Bunny HQ might include more than one contiguous sublist of a number broadcast that can be summed up to the key. You know that the message will always be hidden in the first sublist that sums up to the key, so solution(l, t) should only return that sublist. Languages

To provide a Python solution, edit solution.py

To provide a Java solution, edit Solution.java Test cases

Your code should pass the following test cases.

Note that it may also be run against hidden test cases not shown here. -- Python cases --

Input:

solution.solution([1, 2, 3, 4], 15)

Output:

-1,-1

Input:

solution.solution([4, 3, 10, 2, 8], 12)

Output:

2,3 -- Java cases --

Input:

Solution.solution({1, 2, 3, 4}, 15)

Output:

-1,-1

Input:

Solution.solution({4, 3, 10, 2, 8}, 12)

Output:

2,3 Use verify [file] to test your solution and see how it does. When you are finished editing your code, use submit [file] to submit your answer. If your solution passes the test cases, it will be removed from your home folder.

Here’s the first code that I tried:

def solution(l, t): start = 0 while start < len(l): for stop in range(start, len(l)): s = sum(l[start:stop+1]) if s == t: return [start, stop] elif s > t: break start += 1 return [-1, -1] 

The code solves the problem but it takes quadratic runtime so I though—can we do better? Yes, we can! There’s a linear runtime solution:

def solution(l, t): start = stop = 0 while start <= stop and stop < len(l): s = sum(l[start:stop+1]) if s == t: return [start, stop] elif s < t: stop += 1 else: start += 1 stop = max(start, stop) return [-1, -1]

Both solutions work—but the latter is much faster. Here’s the output and the test cases:

print(solution([250,0,0], 250))

print(solution([1,2,3,4], 15))

print(solution([4, 3, 10, 2, 8], 12))

print(solution([4, 3, 5, 7, 8], 12))

print(solution([260], 260)) '''

[0, 0]

[-1, -1]

[2, 3]

[0, 2]

[0, 0] '''

After submitting the solution in my browser shell, Google tells me that there is one more challenge to go to reach the next level:

Apple Senior Vice President of Operations Sabih Khan has outlined how the company plans to ensure health and safety across its global supply chain amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

PQube and VEWO Interactive Inc. have today announced that Nexomon: Extinction will be launching on Switch and other major platforms this summer.

Just like Temtem, Kindred Fates, and Monster Crown before it, Nexomon: Extinction is another new title hoping to win over fans of the Pokémon series. It’s a monster-catching game packed with creatures that can evolve and do battle, joining a genre of games that Pokémon has essentially ruled ever since Red and Blue experienced mainstream success in the ’90s.

It’s a winning formula, for sure, but it takes something pretty special to tempt Pokémon players away for long. This new release hopes to do just that with its “brand new story, eccentric characters and over 300 unique Nexomon”. Here’s a feature list:

Classic Monster Catching
Trust yourself to step into the tall grass as you discover, tame and evolve over 300 unique Nexomon! Enjoy catchy chiptunes while travelling the charming 2D world of Nexomon!

Exciting Battles
Face wild Nexomon or the ones of other tamers in exciting battles! The game’s dynamic difficulty makes it easy to get into, but will require you to learn about its eleven elemental types to succeed!

Explore a fantastic world
From arid deserts to sprawling forests and freezing tundras: there are many different regions in Nexomon: Extinction, each with special effects on monsters and secrets to uncover!

A new story begins
With its exciting story, quirky characters and a lighthearted companion who doesn’t take himself too seriously, Nexomon: Extinction is a delight for fans of classic monster catching!

What do you think? Will Pokémon forever be your favourite monster-catching game? Or do you like trying out similar experiences? Share your thoughts with us below.

From the set of the sequels: @ZoeSaldana, Sam Worthington, Kate Winslet, and Cliff Curtis taking a break from underwater performance capture for a quick photo!
Fun fact: Much of the performance capture took place in this 900,000 gallon tank, built specifically for the sequels. pic.twitter.com/NSfqoZ6jXJ

— Avatar (@officialavatar) May 13, 2020

Are you an advancement hunter?  Have you completed all there was to Minecraft?  Never fear, Nether Advancements are here!  Happy hunting all!

• Added new Game Mode Switcher debug menu
• Added new Nether Advancements

GAME MODE SWITCHER

New F3 debug feature which allows you to switch game modes with traditional “tabbing” functionality.

• Hold F3 and tap F4 to open the menu
• Tapping F4 will cycle the game mode, or you can use the mouse
• Release F3 to apply
• Your last game mode is remembered and will be the first selected option, so you can quickly toggle between two game modes with a single press of F3 + F4!

F3 + N (TOGGLE SPECTATOR)

A small change has been made to this debug combination.

• By default, using this key would return to Creative after toggling from Spectator. It now will toggle back to the previous game mode you had
• As an example, if you were in Survival, then toggled to Spectator and back, you would be set back to Survival

NEW ADVANCEMENTS

• Hidden in the Depths unlocks when obtaining Ancient Debris
• Cover Me in Debris unlocks when obtaining full Netherite armor
• Country Lode, Take Me Home unlocks when using a Compass on a Lodestone
• Who Is Cutting Onions? unlocks when obtaining Crying Obsidian
• Not Quite “Nine” Lives unlocks when setting a Respawn Anchor to the maximum
• This Boat Has Legs unlocks when riding a Strider with a Fungus on a Stick
• Hot Tourist Destinations unlocks when visiting all Biomes in the Nether
• Those Were the Days unlocks when entering a Bastion Remnant
• War Pigs unlocks when looting a chest in a Bastion Remnant
• Oh Shiny unlocks when distracting an angry Piglin with gold

• The Bullseye advancement now unlocks when hitting the bullseye of a target block from at least 30 meters away
• The Serious Dedication advancement is now awarded for obtaining a Netherite Hoe
• Obtaining Blackstone now also counts for the Stone Age advancement
• Breeding Striders now counts for `The Parrots and the Bats` and is now required for Two by Two

• Shulkers with NoAI can now be summoned with rotation.
• Added thrown_item_picked_up_by_entity advancement trigger
• Added player_generates_container_loot advancement trigger
• Added item_used_on_block advancement trigger
• Removed safely_harvest_honey advancement trigger

ADVANCEMENTS

ITEM_USED_ON_BLOCK TRIGGER TYPE

Properties:

• item matches the thrown item which was picked up
• entity matches the entity which picked up the item

PLAYER_GENERATES_CONTAINER_LOOT TRIGGER TYPE

Properties:

loot_table matches the resource location of the generated loot table

ITEM_USED_ON_BLOCK TRIGGER TYPE

Properties:

• location matches the location at the center of the block the item was used on
• item matches the item used on the block

MISCELLANEOUS TRIGGER CHANGES

• location got a new propertysmokey which checks if the location is closely above a campfire
• entity_properties got new properties vehicle and targetedEntity which match the vehicle or the entity targeted by a mob

• MC-118234 – Advancement ‘Not Today, Thank You’ can be triggered by non-arrow projectiles
• MC-173207 – Bullseye advancement can be made when using a non-arrow projectile, even though the description explicitly mentions arrows
• MC-173756 – Ice Bucket Challenge advancement can be obtained by collecting obsidian from bartering
• MC-175992 – Striders are not part of the “Two by Two” advancement challenge
• MC-179481 – Structure block offset can’t be bigger than 32
• MC-182967 – Throwing ender pearl whilst mounted doesn’t teleport you

The Gamasutra Job Board is the most diverse, active and established board of its kind for the video game industry!

Here is just one of the many, many positions being advertised right now.

Location: Remote

Moon Studios – award-winning creators of Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps – are looking for Senior Character TD’s. After redefining the Metroidvania genre with the Ori series, our next goal is to revolutionize the ARPG genre.

Join our family, help us create some of the best games the industry has ever seen and work with some of the most talented individuals in the world!

Please note that Moon Studios is a distributed development studio: Everyone at Moon works remotely and we accept job applications from participants all over the world!

We’re looking for:

Reach out to us if you…

• Are a top notch Character TD who has production experience in creating character rigs and developing tools, pipelines, etc.

• Are extremely experienced with rigging in Maya and developing tools with Python.
• Have a solid understanding of animation principles and processes, know what animators need and can help create friendly and intuitive rigs and tools.
• Have at least a basic knowledge of game production, game engines and real-time limitations.
• Are knowledgeable in more than just rigging. We want as many multi-talented creative geniuses as possible in our studio!

Interested? Apply now.

Whether you’re just starting out, looking for something new, or just seeing what’s out there, the Gamasutra Job Board is the place where game developers move ahead in their careers.

Gamasutra’s Job Board is the most diverse, most active, and most established board of its kind in the video game industry, serving companies of all sizes, from indie to triple-A.

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