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    public static boolean samePattern(String s1, String s2){
          //base-case: s1 has reach the end
        if(s1.length() == 0){
            if(s2.length() == 0 
                || (s2.charAt(0) == '*' && s2.length() == 1)) //check if s2 has also reached the end OR edge-case: joker in the end of s2
                return true;
               //else
            return false;
        }
          //else: s1 had not reach the end
        if(s2.length() == 0)
            return false; //s2 has reached the end

           //encounters a joker
        if(s2.charAt(0) == '*' ){
            if(samePattern(s1,s2.substring(1)))  //backtrack
                return true;
            return samePattern(s1.substring(1), s2); //you have just activated the ability to GO BACK IN TIME. the wonders of recursion
        }
        if(s1.charAt(0) == s2.charAt(0))
            return samePattern(s1.substring(1), s2.substring(1));
        return false;
    }