func generateMatrix(_ n: Int) -> [[Int]] {
    var maxRow = n
    var maxCol = n

    var startRow = 0
    var startCol = 0

    let currRow = 0
    let currCol = 0
    var direction = "R"
    var valueCounter = 1
    var result = [[Int]](repeating: [Int](repeating: 0, count: n), count: n)

    while currRow < n && currCol < n && valueCounter < n * n + 1 {
        if direction == "R" {
            for currCol in startCol..<maxCol {
                if result[currRow][currCol] == 0 {
                    result[currRow][currCol] = valueCounter
                    valueCounter += 1
                }
            }

            startRow += 1
            direction = "D"
        }

        if direction == "D" {
            for row in startRow..<maxRow {
                if result[row][currCol] == 0 {
                    result[row][currCol] = valueCounter
                    valueCounter += 1
                }
            }

            maxCol -= 1
            direction = "L"
        }

        if direction == "U" {
            for row in stride(from: maxRow, through: startRow, by: -1) {
                if result[row][currCol] == 0 {
                    result[row][currCol] = valueCounter
                    valueCounter += 1
                }
            }

            startCol += 1
            direction = "R"
        }

        if direction == "L" {
            for col in stride(from: maxCol, through: startCol, by: -1) {
                if result[currRow][col] == 0 {
                    result[currRow][col] = valueCounter
                    valueCounter += 1
                }
            }

            maxRow -= 1
            direction = "U"
        }
    }

    return result
}