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What’s the difference between a Binary Tree and Binary Search Tree (BST)? Let’s understand this by solving the most asked BST problem.

Today we will cover:

• Validate Binary Search Tree

• ACID vs BASE Consistency

Read time: under 4 minutes

CODING CHALLENGE

Validate Binary Search Tree

Given the root of a binary tree, determine if it is a valid binary search tree (BST).

A valid BST is defined as follows:

• The left subtree of a node contains only nodes with keys less than the node's key.

• The right subtree of a node contains only nodes with keys greater than the node's key.

• Both the left and right subtrees must also be binary search trees.

Example 1:

Input: root = [2,1,3]
Output: true

Example 2:

Input: root = [5,1,4,null,null,3,6]
Output: false
Explanation: The root node's value is 5 but its right child's value is 4.

Solve the problem here before reading the solution.

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SOLUTION

To validate a Binary Search Tree, we can use a recursive approach. Each node must be within a valid range based on its position in the tree.

For the left subtree, the values must be less than the parent node's value, and for the right subtree, the values must be greater than the parent node's value.

We'll pass minimum and maximum allowed values for each node during recursion. If at any point a node's value falls outside its valid range, we return False. If we successfully traverse the entire tree, we return True.

The time complexity of this solution is O(n), where n is the number of nodes in the tree.

SYSTEM DESIGN

ACID vs BASE Consistency

When building distributed systems, one of the key decisions is choosing between ACID and BASE consistency models. This choice can significantly impact how your system handles data and responds to failures.

ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) is the traditional approach used by most relational databases. It ensures that data remains accurate and consistent at all times. If a transaction fails, all changes are rolled back, leaving the database in its original state. Think of a bank transfer - either both accounts are updated, or neither is.

BASE (Basically Available, Soft state, Eventually consistent) takes a different approach. Instead of guaranteeing immediate consistency, it prioritizes availability. Changes might take some time to propagate through the system, but eventually, all parts will have the same data. Think of social media likes - you might not see the exact count immediately, but it will become accurate over time.

ACID is better when accuracy is crucial, like in financial systems or inventory management. Bu it can be slower and less available during network issues because it needs all parts of the system to communicate to maintain consistency.

BASE works well for systems that can tolerate temporary inconsistencies, like social media or content delivery networks. It offers better performance and availability because operations can continue even when parts of the system are disconnected.

Here's a comparison of ACID and BASE:

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NEWS

This Week in the Tech World

xAI Releases Grok 3: Elon Musk's xAI unveiled Grok 3, claiming it outperforms rivals in math, science, and coding tests. The model will be available to X premium subscribers and through a separate subscription, featuring a new "Deep Search" function.

US Targets DeepSeek: Several lawmakers introduced a bill to ban DeepSeek's AI chatbot on government devices, citing national security risks. Several agencies, including the Pentagon and NASA, have already restricted access.

Google Backs Robotics Firm: Google joined a $350 million funding round for humanoid robotics company Apptronik. The Texas-based firm aims to develop AI-powered robots for industrial work, competing with Tesla's Optimus.

Apple Launches Health Study: Apple announced a new five-year health research project to study how its devices can predict health changes. The study will be available through Apple's Research app, partnering with Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Amazon's Italian Expansion: Amazon opened a "parapharmacy" store in Milan, selling beauty products and over-the-counter medications. The store features digital skin analysis services and on-site pharmacists.

Cognizant Sues Infosys: Cognizant accused Infosys of stealing trade secrets from its healthcare software TriZetto in a US court filing. The company claims Infosys misappropriated data under non-disclosure agreements and refused an audit request.

France's AI Investment Push: France announced a €109 billion AI investment plan combining public and private funding. The UAE pledged up to €50 billion for data centers, while Brookfield committed €20 billion for AI infrastructure.

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