Started with the obvious thing: if the bird is below the center of the next gap, flap.
Start by clarifying the problem: the function must decide whether to flap on a given frame to navigate through upcoming pipe gaps. Then, design a greedy strategy that simulates the bird's trajectory and flaps when necessary to avoid the next gap, while considering velocity and gravity constraints. Finally, discuss how you would validate and refine the solution against the 20 test cases, including edge cases and performance.
Pro tip: Demonstrate a deep understanding of the physics by explaining how you would compute the exact frame to flap to reach the desired height, rather than relying on heuristics. This shows you can derive a precise solution and handle increasing difficulty systematically.
Ask questions to understand the game mechanics: how position, velocity, and gravity are updated per frame, the size of the bird and pipes, and the exact goal (e.g., maximize survival or pass all pipes). Confirm the input format and expected output.
Derive the equations of motion: position and velocity updates per frame, and the effect of flapping. Identify the critical decision: whether flapping now will allow the bird to reach the next gap without overshooting or undershooting.
Propose a strategy that looks ahead to the next pipe gap and decides to flap if the bird's current trajectory would miss the gap. Consider simulating a few frames ahead to account for velocity changes.
Discuss how the algorithm adapts to tighter gaps, higher speeds, or multiple pipes. Mention potential failure modes (e.g., when the bird is too close to a pipe) and how to mitigate them.
Explain how you would test the solution against the 20 test cases, starting with simple scenarios and gradually increasing complexity. Use debugging and logging to refine the decision logic.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.