diff --git a/2024-python/output/__init__.py b/2024-python/output/__init__.py
index be90eb8..ba3186c 100644
--- a/2024-python/output/__init__.py
+++ b/2024-python/output/__init__.py
@@ -23,6 +23,13 @@ DD = {
     "L": (0, -1),
 }
 
+DDa = {
+    "^": (-1, 0),
+    ">": (0, 1),
+    "v": (1, 0),
+    "<": (0, -1),
+}
+
 # Adjacent relative positions including diagonals for 2D matrices, in the order NW, N, NE, W, E, SW, S, SE
 ADJ = [
     (-1, -1),
diff --git a/2024-python/output/day_21.py b/2024-python/output/day_21.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5fa1a51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/2024-python/output/day_21.py
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+import re
+from collections import deque, Counter, defaultdict
+from heapq import heappop, heappush
+from itertools import compress, combinations, chain, permutations
+from functools import cache
+
+from output import matrix, D, DD, DDa, ADJ, ints, mhd, mdbg, vdbg, cw, ccw
+
+DKP = {
+    "^": (0, 1),
+    "A": (0, 2),
+    "<": (1, 0),
+    "v": (1, 1),
+    ">": (1, 2),
+}
+
+NKP = {
+    "7": (0, 0),
+    "8": (0, 1),
+    "9": (0, 2),
+    "4": (1, 0),
+    "5": (1, 1),
+    "6": (1, 2),
+    "1": (2, 0),
+    "2": (2, 1),
+    "3": (2, 2),
+    "0": (3, 1),
+    "A": (3, 2),
+}
+
+
+def solve(data):
+    codes = data.split()
+    p1 = 0
+    for code in codes:
+        seqlen = unwrap(code)
+        num = int(code[:-1])
+        p1 += num * seqlen
+    p2 = None
+    return p1, p2
+
+
+def unwrap(dests):
+    seqlen = float("inf")
+    for num_path in press(dests, NKP):
+        for d0_path in press(num_path, DKP):
+            for d1_path in press(d0_path, DKP):
+                seqlen = min(seqlen, len(d1_path))
+    return seqlen
+
+
+def press(dests, pad):
+    s = "A"
+    P = [""]
+    for d in dests:
+        paths = bfs(tuple(pad.values()), pad[s], pad[d])
+        ml = len(sorted(paths, key=lambda x: len(x))[0])
+        sp = [p for p in paths if len(p) == ml]
+        nP = []
+        for a in P:
+            for b in sp:
+                nP.append(a + b)
+        P = nP
+        s = d
+    P = sorted(P, key=lambda x: len(x))
+    psl = len(P[0])
+    return [p for p in P if len(p) == psl]
+
+
+@cache
+def bfs(grid, S, E):
+    seen = set()
+    Q = deque([(S, "<", "")])
+    paths = []
+    while Q:
+        pos, dn, path = Q.popleft()
+        if (pos, dn) in seen:
+            continue
+        if pos == E:
+            paths.append(path + "A")
+            continue
+        seen.add((pos, dn))
+        y, x = pos
+        for dn, delta in DDa.items():
+            dy, dx = delta
+            if (y + dy, x + dx) in grid:
+                Q.append(((y + dy, x + dx), dn, path + dn))
+    return paths
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    import os
+
+    # use dummy data
+    inp = """
+    029A
+    980A
+    179A
+    456A
+    379A
+    """.strip()
+
+    """
+    68 * 29
+    60 * 980
+    68 * 179
+    64 * 456
+    64 * 379
+    """
+
+    # uncomment to instead use stdin
+    # import sys; inp = sys.stdin.read().strip()
+
+    # uncomment to use AoC provided puzzle input
+    with open("./input/21.txt", "r") as f:
+        inp = f.read().strip()
+
+    # uncomment to do initial data processing shared by part 1-2
+    p1, p2 = solve(inp)
+
+    print(p1)
+    os.system(f"echo {p1} | wl-copy")
+    # print(p2)
+    # os.system(f"echo {p2} | wl-copy")
+
+    # uncomment and replace 0 with actual output to refactor code
+    # and ensure nonbreaking changes
+    # assert p1 == 0
+    # assert p2 == 0