package util

func MergeStringLists(ss ...[]string) []string {
	switch len(ss) {
	case 0:
		return nil
	case 1:
		return ss[0]
	case 2:
		return MergeStringPair(ss[0], ss[1])
	default:
		n := len(ss) / 2
		return MergeStringPair(MergeStringLists(ss[:n]...), MergeStringLists(ss[n:]...))
	}
}

func MergeStringPair(s1, s2 []string) []string {
	i, j := 0, 0
	result := make([]string, 0, len(s1)+len(s2))
	for i < len(s1) && j < len(s2) {
		if s1[i] < s2[j] {
			result = append(result, s1[i])
			i++
		} else if s1[i] > s2[j] {
			result = append(result, s2[j])
			j++
		} else {
			result = append(result, s1[i])
			i++
			j++
		}
	}
	for ; i < len(s1); i++ {
		result = append(result, s1[i])
	}
	for ; j < len(s2); j++ {
		result = append(result, s2[j])
	}
	return result
}