Agent skill
dp-pattern-library
Maintain and match against a library of classic dynamic programming patterns. Provides pattern matching, template code generation, variant detection, and problem-to-pattern mapping for DP problems.
Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/a5c-ai/babysitter/tree/main/library/specializations/algorithms-optimization/skills/dp-pattern-library
Metadata
Additional technical details for this skill
- author
- babysitter-sdk
- version
- 1.0
- category
- algorithms-optimization
- priority
- high
- skill id
- SK-ALGO-012
SKILL.md
dp-pattern-library
A specialized skill for dynamic programming pattern recognition, matching problems to known DP patterns, generating template code, and providing optimization guidance for DP solutions.
Purpose
Assist with dynamic programming by:
- Matching problems to 50+ classic DP patterns
- Generating template code for matched patterns
- Detecting problem variants (knapsack variants, LCS variants, etc.)
- Providing state design recommendations
- Suggesting optimization techniques
Capabilities
Core Features
-
Pattern Recognition
- Analyze problem statement for DP indicators
- Match to known pattern categories
- Identify problem variants and transformations
- Suggest state representation
-
Pattern Categories
- Linear DP (1D array)
- Grid/Matrix DP (2D paths)
- String DP (LCS, edit distance)
- Interval DP (ranges, parenthesization)
- Tree DP (subtree problems)
- Bitmask DP (subset enumeration)
- Digit DP (number counting)
- Knapsack variants
- DP with state machine
-
Code Generation
- Template code for recognized patterns
- Multiple language support (Python, C++, Java)
- Comments explaining state and transitions
- Space-optimized variants
-
Optimization Guidance
- Rolling array technique
- Convex hull trick
- Divide and conquer optimization
- Monotonic queue/stack optimization
- Knuth optimization
Pattern Library
Linear DP Patterns
| Pattern | State | Transition | Example Problems |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibonacci | dp[i] = answer for position i | dp[i] = dp[i-1] + dp[i-2] | Climbing Stairs, House Robber |
| Min/Max Path | dp[i] = best answer ending at i | dp[i] = opt(dp[j]) + cost(j,i) | Minimum Path Sum |
| Counting | dp[i] = ways to reach state i | dp[i] = sum(dp[j]) | Unique Paths, Decode Ways |
| LIS | dp[i] = LIS ending at i | dp[i] = max(dp[j]) + 1 where j < i, a[j] < a[i] | Longest Increasing Subsequence |
String DP Patterns
| Pattern | State | Example Problems |
|---|---|---|
| Edit Distance | dp[i][j] = distance for s1[0..i], s2[0..j] | Edit Distance, One Edit Distance |
| LCS | dp[i][j] = LCS of s1[0..i], s2[0..j] | Longest Common Subsequence |
| Palindrome | dp[i][j] = is s[i..j] palindrome | Longest Palindromic Substring |
| Regex Match | dp[i][j] = s[0..i] matches p[0..j] | Regular Expression Matching |
Knapsack Patterns
| Variant | State | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| 0/1 Knapsack | dp[i][w] = max value with items 0..i, capacity w | dp[i][w] = max(dp[i-1][w], dp[i-1][w-wt[i]] + val[i]) |
| Unbounded | dp[w] = max value with capacity w | dp[w] = max(dp[w], dp[w-wt[i]] + val[i]) |
| Bounded | dp[i][w] = max value with limited items | Use binary representation or deque |
| Subset Sum | dp[i][s] = can reach sum s with items 0..i | dp[i][s] = dp[i-1][s] or dp[i-1][s-a[i]] |
Grid DP Patterns
| Pattern | State | Example Problems |
|---|---|---|
| Path Count | dp[i][j] = ways to reach (i,j) | Unique Paths, Unique Paths II |
| Path Min/Max | dp[i][j] = best path to (i,j) | Minimum Path Sum |
| Multi-path | dp[i][j][k][l] = two paths simultaneously | Cherry Pickup |
Interval DP Patterns
| Pattern | State | Example Problems |
|---|---|---|
| MCM | dp[i][j] = cost for range [i,j] | Matrix Chain Multiplication |
| Burst | dp[i][j] = max coins from balloons[i..j] | Burst Balloons |
| Merge | dp[i][j] = cost to merge range [i,j] | Minimum Cost to Merge Stones |
Tree DP Patterns
| Pattern | State | Example Problems |
|---|---|---|
| Subtree | dp[v] = answer for subtree rooted at v | Binary Tree Maximum Path Sum |
| Rerooting | dp[v] = answer when v is root | Sum of Distances in Tree |
| Parent-Child | dp[v][0/1] = answer with constraint | House Robber III |
Bitmask DP Patterns
| Pattern | State | Example Problems |
|---|---|---|
| TSP | dp[mask][last] = min cost visiting mask cities ending at last | Traveling Salesman Problem |
| Assignment | dp[mask] = min cost assigning tasks to subset | Task Assignment |
| SOS | dp[mask] = sum over subsets | Subset Sum over Subsets |
Usage
Pattern Matching
# Match problem to DP pattern
dp-pattern-library match --problem "Given an array of integers, find the longest increasing subsequence"
# Output:
# Pattern: Linear DP - Longest Increasing Subsequence (LIS)
# State: dp[i] = length of LIS ending at index i
# Transition: dp[i] = max(dp[j] + 1) for all j < i where arr[j] < arr[i]
# Time: O(n^2) naive, O(n log n) with binary search
# Space: O(n)
Template Generation
# Generate template code
dp-pattern-library template --pattern "lis" --language python
# Output:
def lengthOfLIS(nums):
if not nums:
return 0
n = len(nums)
# dp[i] = length of LIS ending at index i
dp = [1] * n
for i in range(1, n):
for j in range(i):
if nums[j] < nums[i]:
dp[i] = max(dp[i], dp[j] + 1)
return max(dp)
Optimization Suggestions
# Get optimization recommendations
dp-pattern-library optimize --pattern "lis"
# Output:
# Current: O(n^2) time, O(n) space
# Optimizations:
# 1. Binary Search: O(n log n) time
# - Maintain sorted list of smallest tail elements
# - Binary search for insertion point
# 2. Segment Tree: O(n log n) time
# - For coordinate compression + range max query
Output Schema
{
"match": {
"pattern": "Linear DP - LIS",
"confidence": 0.95,
"category": "linear",
"variants": ["LIS", "LDS", "LNDS"]
},
"state": {
"description": "dp[i] = length of LIS ending at index i",
"dimensions": 1,
"meaning": "LIS length ending at position i"
},
"transition": {
"formula": "dp[i] = max(dp[j] + 1) for j < i, arr[j] < arr[i]",
"baseCase": "dp[i] = 1 for all i",
"order": "left to right"
},
"complexity": {
"time": "O(n^2)",
"space": "O(n)",
"optimized": {
"time": "O(n log n)",
"technique": "binary search on patience sort"
}
},
"template": {
"python": "...",
"cpp": "...",
"java": "..."
},
"similarProblems": [
"Longest Increasing Subsequence",
"Number of Longest Increasing Subsequence",
"Russian Doll Envelopes",
"Maximum Length of Pair Chain"
]
}
Integration with Processes
This skill enhances:
dp-pattern-matching- Core pattern matching workflowdp-state-optimization- State space optimizationdp-transition-derivation- Deriving transitionsleetcode-problem-solving- DP problem identificationclassic-dp-library- Building a personal DP library
Pattern Recognition Indicators
| Indicator | Likely Pattern |
|---|---|
| "maximum/minimum" + "subarray/subsequence" | Linear DP |
| "number of ways" | Counting DP |
| "can reach/achieve" | Boolean DP |
| "edit/transform string" | String DP |
| "merge/combine intervals" | Interval DP |
| "tree/subtree" | Tree DP |
| "select subset" + small n | Bitmask DP |
| "count numbers with property" | Digit DP |
| "items + capacity" | Knapsack |
References
- Dynamic Programming Patterns
- DP Visualization Tools
- LeetCode DP Patterns
- CP Algorithms - DP
- CSES DP Section
Error Handling
| Error | Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
NO_PATTERN_MATCH |
Problem doesn't fit known patterns | Consider greedy or other approaches |
AMBIGUOUS_MATCH |
Multiple patterns could apply | Provide more problem details |
COMPLEX_STATE |
State too complex for templates | Manual state design needed |
Best Practices
- Start with brute force - Understand recurrence before optimizing
- Draw state diagram - Visualize transitions
- Verify base cases - Most DP bugs are in base cases
- Check state uniqueness - Each state should be uniquely defined
- Consider space optimization - Often can reduce dimension
- Test with small inputs - Trace through by hand
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