letterboxed-cheat

letterboxed.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
import argparse


def main(args):
    lookup = {}

    for i, group in enumerate(args.groups):
        for c in group:
            lookup[c] = i + 1

    words = find_candidate_words(args.dict, lookup)
    print(f"info: examining {len(words)} candidate words")

    doubles = find_candidate_doubles(words)
    if not doubles:
        print("\nno answers found :(")
        return

    print(f"info: examining {len(doubles)} pairs to find the best")
    print("\nbest answers:")

    find_best_doubles(doubles, args.number)


def find_candidate_words(dict_file, lookup):
    with open(dict_file) as f:
        return [word.rstrip() for word in f if check_word(lookup, word)]


def find_candidate_doubles(words):
    doubles = []

    for first in words:
        for second in words:
            if first == second or first[-1] != second[0]:
                continue

            if len(set(first + second)) == 12:
                doubles.append((first, second))

    return doubles


def find_best_doubles(doubles, num_to_output):
    def letters_in_common(pair):
        return len(set(pair[0]).intersection(set(pair[1])))

    def total_len(pair):
        return len(pair[0]) + len(pair[1])

    doubles.sort(key=letters_in_common)
    doubles.sort(key=total_len)
    for i, d in enumerate(doubles):
        if i >= num_to_output:
            break

        print(d[0], d[1])


def check_word(lookup, word):
    word = word.rstrip()
    if len(word) <= 3:
        return False

    sides = [lookup.get(c) for c in word]
    if not all(sides):
        return False

    for i in range(1, len(sides)):
        if sides[i] == sides[i-1]:
            return False

    return True


if __name__ == "__main__":
    ap = argparse.ArgumentParser(
        prog="letterboxed",
        description="cheat at the times puzzles",
    )

    ap.add_argument("--dict", "-d", help="use this dictionary",
                    default="/usr/share/dict/words")

    ap.add_argument("--number", "-n", help="print top N answers", type=int, default=10)

    ap.add_argument("groups", nargs=4, help="the sides of the square",
                    metavar="side")

    args = ap.parse_args()
    main(args)