Excellent walkthrough of one of the most instructive algorithm problems in computer science. The progression from the basic isSafe loop to boolean array tracking and finally to bitmask operations mirrors how optimization actually works in practice: you start with clarity, then trade memory for speed where it matters. The bitmask version using available & -available to isolate the lowest set bit is particularly elegant. One thing worth noting is that for very large N values, even the bitmask approach can struggle not from speed but from stack depth during recursion. Converting to an iterative approach with anexplicit stack becomes necessary at scale, though it sacrifices the clean recursive structure you show here.
Thanks for reading and for taking the time to write that. You brought up a good point about stack depth on very large boards, and I added a short note in the bitmask section to cover that side of the problem. I’m really glad you shared that with me, you clearly know your stuff!
Excellent walkthrough of one of the most instructive algorithm problems in computer science. The progression from the basic isSafe loop to boolean array tracking and finally to bitmask operations mirrors how optimization actually works in practice: you start with clarity, then trade memory for speed where it matters. The bitmask version using available & -available to isolate the lowest set bit is particularly elegant. One thing worth noting is that for very large N values, even the bitmask approach can struggle not from speed but from stack depth during recursion. Converting to an iterative approach with anexplicit stack becomes necessary at scale, though it sacrifices the clean recursive structure you show here.
Thanks for reading and for taking the time to write that. You brought up a good point about stack depth on very large boards, and I added a short note in the bitmask section to cover that side of the problem. I’m really glad you shared that with me, you clearly know your stuff!