Three Jugs Problem

ThreeJugs.py

# Input
alternativesList = [[]]
alternativesList[0] = list(map(int, input("Initial state: ").split()))
goal = list(map(int, input("Goal: ").split()))

# A flag to check if we could make a new alternative
# so that we can decide whether to append it to the alternativesList
newAlternative = False
# Try to reach the goal
def threeJugs():
    if alternativesList[0][0] == alternativesList[0][1] == 4:
        return 0
    for alternative in alternativesList:
        # Trying to swaping 8 place with 5 place
        temp = alternative.copy()
        temp = swap(0, 1, 5, temp)
        if temp == goal:
            return alternativesList.index(temp)

        # Trying to swaping 8 place with 3 place
        temp = alternative.copy()
        temp = swap(0, 2, 3, temp)
        if temp == goal:
            return alternativesList.index(temp)

        # Trying to swaping 5 place with 8 place
        temp = alternative.copy()
        temp = swap(1, 0, 8, temp)
        if temp == goal:
            return alternativesList.index(temp)

        # Trying to swaping 5 place with 3 place
        temp = alternative.copy()
        temp = swap(1, 2, 3, temp)
        if temp == goal:
            return alternativesList.index(temp)

        # Trying to swaping 3 place with 8 place
        temp = alternative.copy()
        temp = swap(2, 0, 8, temp)
        if temp == goal:
            return alternativesList.index(temp)

        # Trying to swaping 3 place with 5 place
        temp = alternative.copy()
        temp = swap(2, 1, 5, temp)
        if temp == goal:
            return alternativesList.index(temp)

    return -1

# Helper method
def swap(a, b, capacity, temp):
        newAlternative = False
        while temp[a] > 0 and temp[b] < capacity:
            temp[a] -= 1
            temp[b] += 1
            newAlternative = True
        if newAlternative and temp not in alternativesList:
            alternativesList.append(temp)
        if newAlternative:
            return temp
        else:
            return []

index = threeJugs()
if index != 1:
    print("Goal is found at index:", index)
else:
    print("Not found")
print("List of alternatives (no duplicates):")
for alternative in alternativesList:
    print(alternative)