This is a CLI tool, written in Rust, designed to help construct and validate NYT-style crossword puzzles based on the guidelines
here and a dictionary saved in the repo.
The tool works with text files saved to the crosswords directory in the repo. It can create new, random puzzle grids, display puzzle files and
validate the layout and word contents of puzzles.
Run ./target/debug/crossword-builder -h for the usage message.
$./crossword-builder puzzle-17 new 16
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$ ./crossword-builder puzzle-16 check-base
Puzzle base is valid
$ ./target/debug/crossword-builder puzzle-5 display
▩ H A T ▩
P A L E R
A L I N E
L O B O S
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$ ./crossword-builder puzzle-5 check-words
Loading dictionary from ./english3.txt
Puzzle words are valid
$ ./crossword-builder puzzle-6 display
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$ ./crossword-builder puzzle-6 suggest 0 down
There is no down word at index 0
$ ./crossword-builder puzzle-6 suggest 1 down
Loading dictionary from ./english3.txt
["shrdlu", "churns", "chasse", "shores", "theism"]
$ ./crossword-builder puzzle-6 suggest 3 down 10
Loading dictionary from ./english3.txt
["erinys", "frenzy", "artist", "pruned", "procne", "wroken", "craver", "crimes", "cranny", "croons"]
- Grid generation - currently, the randomly generated grids aren't always valid (especially for odd-sized grids).
- Saving clues - add a way to associate clues with words and display them alongside the puzzle