Jim right here, sitting in for Jeff Chen, who continues to be telling his often-repeated golf story.
I do know, I do know, you are disenchanted Jeff’s not out there, and also you’re afraid I would convey up the dreaded RegEx. Fear not! Today, we speak Python. If you realize slightly bit about programming, I’ve a recipe for the way you’ll find phrases that match as we speak’s theme your self on the finish of this publish. If not, we are able to nonetheless focus on know-how in crosswords.
Everyone suspects that computer systems are someway concerned in development. That may really feel like dishonest. There have been undoubtedly some grasp craftsmen and ladies who created spectacular grids earlier than private computer systems have been out there, however belief me, the general high quality of fill now’s manner higher than it was 20 years in the past. Still, we do not need our puzzles to really feel computer-generated.
They do not as a result of computer systems, a minimum of as we speak, can solely take development thus far. Machines can rapidly discover many options on your fill or, simply as necessary, rapidly decide if a nook is probably going unfillable, however many iterations knowledgeable by a human’s creative sense are wanted to create a puzzle worthy of publication. It’s frequent for constructors to spend months engaged on an concept which may by no means work out.
Computers assist in different methods too. If you are the thousandth particular person to incorporate EMU or OREO in a grid, you’ll be able to search the net for an fascinating tidbit to incorporate in a clue. If your theme is phrases that embody some peculiar property, possibly all of the letters are in reverse alphabetical order, you’ll find lists of such phrases. And if you wish to discover phrases with no vowels aside from E or E is the one vowel, you’ll be able to have your neighbor’s child write a Python script or a RegEx question after he mows your garden.
Someday there might be a profitable Crossword Turing Test the place it is going to be unimaginable to inform if a brand new puzzle had any human intervention. Computers can already resolve puzzles as rapidly as all however the quickest people. I hope they really feel the identical pleasure I do once I full a grid.
Here are the promised programming steps:
- Crank up your Python surroundings. (Here’s free one.)
- Copy and paste script #3 from our Python Samples web page.
- Download the newest XWord Info glossary (requires an Angel account) and replica it into the identical folder as your Python program.
Running that program returns many outcomes, together with all of as we speak’s themers, however most are boring: ONLY TIME WILL TELL and CAST YOUR MIND BACK are simply phrases. LETT HERE CORD SHOW is best, however “present” is a full phrase. TWOD RINK MINI MUMS is best. There is not loads, and Mr. Seigel discovered a powerful set.
