Optimize Identifiers

Problem Overview

• Given a string identifier, remove the first or last character to maximize operations while keeping its type equal to the initial type.
• Input: string s (lowercase). Output: integer max operations. Type is defined by first and last letters; empty string type "", single character type "aa".
• Constraints: 2 ≤ |s| ≤ 2*10^5.
• Real-world context: Amazon inventory identifiers; Amazon interviews coding interview problem and interview question.