CODEWITHSUNDEEP
iphonealgorithmpuzzle
user767985
user767985

Reputation:

Generating a Hashi puzzle

I would like to create an iPhone app that can generate Hashi puzzles (if you don't know the puzzle, here's the Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashiwokakero). I think it wouldn't be too hard for me to develop a solving algorithm, however I'm not sure how to generate it.

Here's how I'd do it (idk if that even works); I generate several islands (or segments), but only if they allow a possible solution. Then, after each generated island, I run the solving algorithm through and see if it's possible to solve. If it is, done. Else, I either remove the segment and generate a different one OR add another one.

What do you think? Would this work, and are there more efficient ways of doing it?

Upvotes: 6

Views: 2784

Answers (1)

Karoly Horvath
Karoly Horvath

Reputation: 96286

I would build a solution step by step, each time:

  • add a node
  • add one or more bridges to it (if this is not possible pick a new node)
  • increment the counters.
  • mark the places used by bridges as not available.

This makes sure there's a solution, but I guess a real puzzle has only one solution so later you have to verify this with a solver and maybe add/remove nodes till it satisfies this rule.

Upvotes: 4

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