Approach

  Blog    |     February 05, 2026

To solve this problem, we need to create a "Copycat Order" system that generates a new order based on an original order. The new order should mimic the structure of the original order but with specific modifications: each item's quantity should be multiplied by a given factor, and a new order ID should be assigned.

  1. Problem Analysis: The task involves processing an original order (a dictionary containing an order ID and a list of items) to create a new order. Each item in the original order is a dictionary with at least a 'name' and 'quantity'. The new order should have:

    • A new order ID (generated if not provided).
    • Items with quantities multiplied by a specified factor (default is 2).
    • All other keys from the original order preserved.
  2. Key Insights:

    • Order ID Generation: If a new order ID is not provided, generate one using the original order ID and a timestamp to ensure uniqueness.
    • Item Processing: For each item in the original order, create a shallow copy and update its quantity by multiplying it with the given factor.
    • Preserving Original Structure: The new order should retain all keys from the original order except for 'order_id' and 'items', which are updated.
  3. Algorithm Selection:

    • Shallow Copy: Use shallow copy for the entire order and individual items to avoid unnecessary deep copying, assuming the items are flat dictionaries.
    • Timestamp for ID: Use the current timestamp in milliseconds to generate a unique order ID when not provided.
  4. Complexity Analysis:

    • Time Complexity: O(n), where n is the number of items in the original order. Each item is processed once.
    • Space Complexity: O(n), as a new list of items is created.

Solution Code

import time
def create_copycat_order(original_order, multiplier=2, new_order

Request an On-site Audit / Inquiry

SSL Secured Inquiry