rb_cwg

Ruby crossword generator.

Why

I cannot find a good crossword generator on github, so I do it.

Run

ruby main.rb > ./crossword.txt
ruby main.rb -i <Input Word List> -o <Output Json> -s <Max Xmap Size> -p <Tuning Parameter> 

Parameter	Default	Description
-i	./word_list.txt	Input word list, each word takes one line.
-o	./crossword.json	Output json file.
-s	256	Maximum size of crossword map.
-p	0.1	Tuning parameter.
-h		Help Message.

Method

1. Sort the word list by their length and chars variety (with ratio p).
2. Take each word in order, try to put it into Xmap.
3. If a word cannot be put into Xmap, try another way to put the last word.

Script finished with faliure means there's no solution for the word list.

• Retry with a larger size of Xmap.
• Retry with another p
• Retry with less words

Example

The crossword.txt in project folder is generate by ruby main.rb -s 19 > ./crossword.txt.

Performance

Using ruby main.rb -s 18 to obtain a 18x18 crossword map.

v1.0

1500 iters/s

Run 7472859 iterations in 4933.88 sec.
Xmap Shape: 18 x 18
..b....sperm......
norman...x..stiffs
..i....h.c...h...p
c.duck.o.a.d.i.c.a
o.g....v.l.e.r.a.n
creosote.i.n.d.p.k
o...p..r.b.n...r.i
n.b.a..crucifixion
u.l.m..r.r.s...c.g
t.e....a..f....o..
..s..k.f.wobbler.d
castanets.r.a..n.e
a.e..i....k.p.h..i
m.d..g...l..t.i..r
e....g...l.finland
l.boxer..a..s.t..r
o.o..t...m..t.e..e
t.b..socrates.reg.

v1.2

5900 iters/s

Load 30 words.
Run 7472859 iterations in 1265.03 sec.
Xmap Shape: 18 x 18
..b....sperm......
norman...x..stiffs
..i....h.c...h...p
c.duck.o.a.d.i.c.a
o.g....v.l.e.r.a.n
creosote.i.n.d.p.k
o...p..r.b.n...r.i
n.b.a..crucifixion
u.l.m..r.r.s...c.g
t.e....a..f....o..
..s..k.f.wobbler.d
castanets.r.a..n.e
a.e..i....k.p.h..i
m.d..g...l..t.i..r
e....g...l.finland
l.boxer..a..s.t..r
o.o..t...m..t.e..e
t.b..socrates.reg.