August 28th, 2024

Regex Crossword

A regex crossword puzzle challenges participants to fill a grid using simplified regex syntax. The author encourages learning regex basics and promotes their book on enhancing Python skills.

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Regex Crossword

A regex crossword puzzle has been introduced, where participants must fill a hexagonal grid with letters that match given regular expressions. The puzzle utilizes a simplified subset of regex syntax, including literal character matches, wildcards, alternatives, quantifiers, character sets, and groups. The author encourages those unfamiliar with regex to research its basics and suggests using regex101 for assistance. While the author has not shared their completed grid, they emphasize that the goal is to extract an English word or phrase from the filled grid without additional information. They invite readers to reach out for help if needed. The post also promotes the author's book, "Pydon'ts," aimed at improving Python coding skills.

- A regex crossword puzzle requires filling a grid based on specific regular expressions.

- The puzzle uses a simplified regex syntax for easier understanding.

- Participants are encouraged to research regex basics and use tools like regex101 for assistance.

- The author has not shared their solution but invites readers to seek help if needed.

- The post promotes the author's book on improving Python coding skills.

AI: What people are saying
The comments on the regex crossword puzzle reveal a mix of opinions and experiences from participants.
  • Several users express enjoyment in solving the puzzle, with one mentioning it took hours to complete.
  • There are critiques regarding the follow-up mystery hunt, with some finding it confusing and lacking meaningful connections.
  • Users share links to related resources, including a regex crossword game site and a personal puzzle project.
  • Some comments reflect nostalgia for past experiences with similar puzzles.
  • Overall, the community appreciates the challenge but has mixed feelings about the complexity of the associated mystery hunt.
Link Icon 10 comments
By @matthberg - 5 months
I'm surprised nobody's mentioned the Regex Crossword game site [0], it's shown up on HN several times [1][2] and has a fantastic user-submitted puzzle section (that includes the MIT Mystery Hunt puzzle [3]) and a puzzle builder.

0: https://regexcrossword.com/

1: https://news.ycombinator.com/from?site=regexcrossword.com

2: Most discussed posting: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8674039

3: https://regexcrossword.com/playerpuzzles/8cbea27f-c4c5-4d11-...

By @frob - 5 months
This is a Mystery Hunt puzzle, so solving the obvious puzzle is only the first step of solving the puzzle. You will need to do something with the puzzle solution to somehow get a word or short phrase.

I remember doing this one by hand over a decade ago. Fond memories.

https://puzzles.mit.edu/

By @padolsey - 5 months
I really love this kind of thing. I made one called 'redoku' a long long time ago. It generates random challenges. Try it here: https://padolsey.github.io/redoku/
By @teo_zero - 5 months
I loved this puzzle, spent hours to solve it.

What I don't like is the mystery hunt that follows. You don't know where to start, you don't know if the solution you found is correct, etc.

Even a after looking up the solution, it doesn't make me go "wow! That's brilliant". The final phrase is too short to be meaningful, it's not related to the game (at least, I can't get the connection), one of the words I didn't even know it existed in English (is it an abbreviation, perhaps? Is it American English?)...

By @fsckboy - 5 months
A good puzzle poses a problem for you to solve. A regex puzzle? now you have two problems to solve.
By @jiveturkey - 5 months
Date is 2024 but this puzzle (slash form of puzzle) is quite old, I want to say a decade or so.
By @clircle - 5 months
Wow. This is evil and lovely.
By @oxonia - 5 months
Edited - never mind, this is obviously random strings of characters.
By @ThomasWink1981 - 5 months
I'm going to have to print this one out lol. Very creative.