gistfile1.txt

def isMatchHelper(text, pattern, textIndex, patternIndex):
    if textIndex >= len(text):
        if patternIndex >= len(pattern):
            return True
        elif (patternIndex+1 < len(pattern)) and (pattern[patternIndex+1] == '*'):
            return isMatchHelper(text, pattern, textIndex, patternIndex + 2)
        else:
            return False
    elif (patternIndex >= len(pattern)) and (textIndex < len(text)):
        return False
    
    elif (patternIndex+1 < len(pattern)) and (pattern[patternIndex+1] == '*'):
        if (pattern[patternIndex] == '.') or (text[textIndex] == pattern[patternIndex]):
            return isMatchHelper(text, pattern, textIndex, patternIndex + 2) or isMatchHelper(text, pattern, textIndex + 1, patternIndex)
        else:
            return isMatchHelper(text, pattern, textIndex, patternIndex + 2)
    
    elif (pattern[patternIndex] == '.') or (pattern[patternIndex] == text[textIndex]):
        return isMatchHelper(text, pattern, textIndex + 1, patternIndex + 1)
    else:
        return False

isMatch = lambda t,p: isMatchHelper(t,p,0,0)

print(isMatch("",""))
print(isMatch("aa","a"))
print(isMatch("bb","bb"))
print(isMatch("","a*"))
print(isMatch("abbdbb","ab*d"))
print(isMatch("aba","a.a"))
print(isMatch("acd","ab*c."))
print(isMatch("abaa","a.*a*"))