Fastest algorithm for circle shift N sized array for M position

Question

What is the fastest algorithm for circle shifting array for M positions?
For example, [3 4 5 2 3 1 4] shift M = 2 positions should be [1 4 3 4 5 2 3

Answer 1

circleArray has some errors and is not working in all cases!

The loop must continue while i1 < i2 NOT i1 < last - 1.

void Shift(int* _array, int _size, int _moves)
{
    _moves = _size - _moves;
    int i2 = _moves;
         int i1 = -1;
         while(++i1 < i2)
    {
        int tmp = _array[i2];
        _array[i2] = _array[i1];
        _array[i1] = tmp;
        if(++i2 == _size) i2 = _moves;
    }
}

Answer 2

Set it up with pointers, and it takes almost no time. Each element points to the next, and the "last" (there is no last; after all, you said it was circular) points to the first. One pointer to the "start" (first element), and maybe a length, and you have your array. Now, to do your shift, you just walk your start pointer along the circle.

Ask for a good algorithm, and you get sensible ideas. Ask for fastest, and you get weird ideas!

Answer 3

This should work to shift an arry circularly: Input : { 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 }; Output value present in array after the forloops : {8,7,1,2,3,5,6,8,7}

 class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            int[] array = { 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 };
            int index = 2;
            int[] tempArray = new int[array.Length];
            array.CopyTo(tempArray, 0);

            for (int i = 0; i < array.Length - index; i++)
            {
                array[index + i] = tempArray[i];
            }

            for (int i = 0; i < index; i++)
            {
                array[i] = tempArray[array.Length -1 - i];
            }            
        }
    }

Answer 4

Ruby example:

def move_cyclic2 array, move_cnt
  move_cnt = array.length - move_cnt % array.length 
  if !(move_cnt == 0 || move_cnt == array.length)            
    array.replace( array[move_cnt..-1] + array[0...move_cnt] )  
  end   
end

Answer 5

def shift(nelements, k):       
    result = []
    length = len(nelements)
    start = (length - k) % length
    for i in range(length):
        result.append(nelements[(start + i) % length])
    return result

This code works well even on negative shift k

Answer 6

See this if you are interested in a Java implementation:

Programming Pearls: Circular Left/Right Shift Operation