The Weekly Challenge: 395

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. HEADLINES

  2. SPONSOR

  3. RECAP

  4. PERL REVIEW

  5. RAKU REVIEW

  6. CHART

  7. NEW MEMBERS

  8. GUESTS

  9. TASK #1: Complex Number

10. TASK #2: Word Squares

HEADLINES

Welcome to the Week #395 of The Weekly Challenge.

We are already in the second week of October and Hacktoberfest 2026 is happening everywhere. Just curious, if any fellow Team PWC members taking part in the annual fest. I noticed the change in the format this year. It is no longer, submit pull request and get your goodies.

I have been staying away from the fun project for sometime because of lack of time. Having said, the new format is not my cup of tea. Please do share what you think of it.

I am looking forward to Advent Calendar 2026. It is so much fun, looking back past contributions. I find it hard to pick only 24 from so many beautiful contributions.

Below is my contributions to the Task #1 of Week #394.

Perl: source code

sub min_swaps($str) {
    my @chars = split //, $str;
    my $calc  = sub {
        my ($start_lower) = @_; # 1 for lower-first, 0 for upper-first
        my ($swaps, $target) = (0, 0);
        for my $i (0 .. $#chars) {
            my $is_lower = ($chars[$i] ge 'a' && $chars[$i] le 'z') ? 1 : 0;
            if ($is_lower == $start_lower) {
                $swaps  += abs($i - $target);
                $target += 2;
            }
        }
        return $swaps;
    };

    return min($calc->(1), $calc->(0));
}

Raku: source code

sub min-swaps($str) {
    my @chars = $str.comb;
    my $calc  = sub ($start_lower) {
        my ($swaps, $target) = (0, 0);
        for 0 .. @chars.end -> $i {
            my $is_lower = @chars[$i] ~~ /<:Ll>/ ?? 1 !! 0;
            if $is_lower == $start_lower {
                $swaps  += abs($i - $target);
                $target += 2;
            }
        }
        return $swaps;
    };

    return min($calc(1), $calc(0));
}

Python: source code

def min_swaps(string):
    chars = list(string)

    def calc(start_lower):
        swaps = 0
        target = 0
        for i, char in enumerate(chars):
            is_lower = 1 if 'a' <= char <= 'z' else 0
            if is_lower == start_lower:
                swaps += abs(i - target)
                target += 2
        return swaps

    return min(calc(1), calc(0))

Thank you Team PWC, once again.

Happy Hacking!!

Last 5 weeks mainstream contribution stats. Thank you Team PWC for your support and encouragements.

Last 5 weeks guest contribution stats. Thank you each and every guest contributors for your time and efforts.

TOP 10 Guest Languages

Do you see your favourite language in the Top #10? If not then why not contribute regularly and make it to the top.

 1. Python     (4661)
 2. Rust       (1243)
 3. C          (1075)
 4. Haskell    (967)
 5. Ruby       (949)
 6. Lua        (933)
 7. C++        (758)
 8. Go         (732)
 9. JavaScript (658)
10. Java       (532)

Blogs with Creative Title

1. A Case of Vowels by Arne Sommer.

2. Regular Alternations by Jorg Sommrey.

3. Alternate Tune, Alternate View by Packy Anderson.

4. Alternation week by Peter Campbell Smith.

5. Alternating Everything by Roger Bell_West.

6. The one about alternating by Simon Green.

GitHub Repository Stats

1. Commits: 51,654 (+87)

2. Pull Requests: 14,812 (+27)

3. Contributors: 281

4. Fork: 353

5. Stars: 221 (+1)

SPONSOR

With start of Week #355, we have a new sponsor Marc Perry until the end of year 2026. Having said we are looking for more sponsors so that we can go back to weekly winner. If anyone interested please get in touch with us at perlweeklychallenge@yahoo.com. Thanks for your support in advance. You can find more informations here.

RECAP

Quick recap of The Weekly Challenge - 394 by Mohammad Sajid Anwar.

PERL REVIEW

If you missed any past reviews then please check out the collection.

RAKU REVIEW

If you missed any past reviews then please check out the collection.

CHART

Please take a look at the charts showing interesting data.

I would like to THANK every member of the team for their valuable suggestions. Please do share your experience with us.

NEW MEMBERS

Please find out How to contribute?, if you have any doubts.

Please try the excellent tool EZPWC created by respected member Saif Ahmed of Team PWC.

GUESTS

Please check out the guest contributions for the Week #394.

Please find past solutions by respected guests. Please share your creative solutions in other languages.

Task 1: Complex Number

Submitted by: Mohammad Sajid Anwar

You are given two complex numbers as string.

Write a script to return the multiplication of the given complex numbers.

Using the formula: (a + bi) x (c + di) = (ac - bd) + (ad + bc)i

Example 1

Input: $num1 = "1+1i", $num2 = "1+1i"
Output: "0+2i"

Example 2

Input: $num1 = "1+(-1)i", $num2 = "1+(-1)i"
Output: "0+(-2)i"

Example 3

Input: $num1 = "0+3i", $num2 = "0+4i"
Output: "-12+0i"

Example 4

Input: $num1 = "3+4i", $num2 = "3+(-4)i"
Output: "25+0i"

Example 5

Input: $num1 = "50+(-20)i", $num2 = "-10+30i"
Output: "100+1700i"

Task 2: Word Squares

Submitted by: Mohammad Sajid Anwar

You are given a list of equal lengths words.

Write a script to arrange a set of words into a grid that reading across any row gives the exact same word as reading down its corresponding column.

Example 1

Input: @words = ("MA", "AM", "MY", "ME")
Output: ("MA", "AM")

    M A
    A M

Example 2

Input: @words = ("SUN", "USE", "NET", "SEE", "TEN")
Output: ("SUN", "USE", "NET")

    S U N
    U S E
    N E T

Example 3

Input: @words = ("BOAT", "TEAL", "AREA", "TSAR", "OGRE")
Output: ("BOAT", "OGRE", "AREA", "TEAL")

    B O A T
    O G R E
    A R E A
    T E A L

Example 4

Input: @words = ("CARD", "AREA", "REAR", "DART")
Output: ("CARD", "AREA", "REAR", "DART")

    C A R D
    A R E A
    R E A R
    D A R T

Example 5

Input: @words = ("HEART", "TREND", "EMBER", "RESIN", "ABUSE")
Output: ("HEART", "EMBER", "ABUSE", "RESIN", "TREND")

    H E A R T
    E M B E R
    A B U S E
    R E S I N
    T R E N D

By submitting a response to the challenge you agree that your name or pseudonym, any photograph you supply and any other personal information contained in your submission may be published on this website and the associated mobile app. Last date to submit the solution 23:59 (UK Time) Sunday 18th October 2026.