Building a Greedy Algorithm in Python: Finding Optimal Solutions at Each Step

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you need to make a decision based on incomplete information? Maybe you need to find the shortest route between two points or schedule tasks in the most efficient way possible. This is where a greedy algorithm can come in handy.

A greedy algorithm is an algorithmic paradigm that follows the problem-solving heuristic of making the locally optimal choice at each stage of the algorithm. In simpler terms, a greedy algorithm selects the best option available at each step without considering the overall optimal solution.

In this tutorial, we will build a complete greedy algorithm in Python from scratch using object-oriented programming. We will start by exploring the basics of greedy algorithms and then move on to implementing our own algorithm. We will use Python’s built-in data structures, such as lists and dictionaries, to store and retrieve data. We will also be using the Matplotlib library to visualize our data and results.

Photo by Tai Bui on Unsplash

Let’s begin by understanding the basics of greedy algorithms and how they work.

Understanding Greedy Algorithms

As mentioned earlier, a greedy algorithm follows the heuristic of making the locally optimal choice at each stage…