DGDean Gilleyingwnwords.hashnode.dev·Apr 23 · 4 min readShrinking a 250K-word dictionary to 500KB: from tries to DAWGs to succinct bit-packed treesShrinking a 250K-word dictionary to 500KB: from tries to DAWGs to succinct bit-packed trees If you are building a word game for the browser, you are fighting a constant battle against the "bundle size tax." When you need to validate moves against a s...00
DGDean Gilleyingwnwords.hashnode.dev·Apr 23 · 4 min readReal-time multiplayer word games: WebSocket state sync without the footgunsReal-time multiplayer word games: WebSocket state sync without the footguns You’ve built a word game. It works perfectly in single-player: the dictionary check is fast, the UI is snappy, and the state management is contained within a single browser...00
DGDean Gilleyingwnwords.hashnode.dev·Apr 23 · 4 min readBuilding word games that don't break in Spanish, German, or TurkishBuilding word games that don't break in Spanish, German, or Turkish If you’ve built a word game, you’ve likely spent hours perfecting your dictionary lookups and tile-scoring logic. But when you decide to expand beyond English, you’ll quickly d...00
DGDean Gilleyingwnwords.hashnode.dev·Apr 23 · 3 min readCrossword puzzles as constraint satisfaction: a beginner's tour of backtrackingCrossword Puzzles as Constraint Satisfaction: A Beginner’s Tour of Backtracking If you’ve ever spent a Sunday morning hunched over a newspaper, you know the specific frustration of a crossword puzzle. You have a grid, a set of clues, and a naggin...00
DGDean Gilleyingwnwords.hashnode.dev·Apr 23 · 5 min readWordle heuristics: information theory vs positional frequency vs learned modelsWordle Heuristics: Information Theory vs. Positional Frequency vs. Learned Models When Wordle exploded in popularity in early 2022, it wasn't just a daily ritual for millions; it became a playground f00
