This question assesses the learning outcomes:

Understand the common general$-$purpose data structures, algorithmic techniques and complexity classes.

Develop and apply algorithms and data structures to solve computational problems.

Analyse the complexity of algorithms to support software design choices.

Explain how an algorithm or data structure works in order to communicate with relevant stakeholders.

Write readable, tested, documented and efficient Python code.

This question models a simplified restaurant booking system. The software manages table reservations and accommodates walk$-$in parties without a prior booking. Parties can have a maximum of four people.

Each booking has a unique reservation ID which is associated with a single table and one name from the party of patrons.

The system does not allow bookings for specific times. Advance bookings choose a specific table number, but walk$-$in bookings do not. The tables are allocated on a first$-$come, first$-$serve basis within the restrictions above, with advance bookings taking priority.