Imports System
Module Module1
Public Function MergeOnOverlap(a As String, b As String) As String
Dim lenA As Integer = a.Length
Dim lenB As Integer = b.Length
Dim maxPossibleverlapLen As Integer = Math.Min(lenA, lenB)
Dim overlap As Integer = 0
' Try longest overlap first
For length As Integer = maxPossibleverlapLen To 1 Step -1
If String.Compare(a, lenA - length, b, 0, length) = 0 Then
overlap = length
Exit For
End If
Next
Return a & b.Substring(overlap)
End Function
Sub Main()
Dim a = "fantasy time travel technology"
Dim b = "technology extraterrestrial life"
Dim merged = MergeOnOverlap(a, b)
Console.WriteLine(merged)
End Sub
End Module
' run:
'
' fantasy time travel technology extraterrestrial life
'
