Design 1: Open Source Basics

Theme

Open Source Basics is the first puzzle I published! I wanted it to be approachable and contain clues recognizable to anyone with programming experience. However, I didn't want clues to feel generic or uninspired. Open source fit this idea since most people interested in computer science have, in some way, interacted with open source tools.

Since the code for this site is open source, the theme felt like the right choice for the first puzzle.

Grid

This was my first time seriously constructing a crossword, so the process was a bit time-consuming. I wanted the grid to feel approachable since I didn't want someone to look at it and instantly feel overwhelmed. People often feel anxious about technical topics before even starting, so I didn't want the grid itself to become another barrier.

As a result, a lot of time was spent figuring out how to intersect clues. PostgreSQL and MIT License formed the main structure of the grid. Afterwards it became an iterative process of figuring out where to place the other clues.

Clues

I write clues first before constructing the grid, rather than starting with the grid and tailoring clues around it. I believe the quality of the clues matters most, so I need a cohesive list first; the puzzle structure can then grow naturally from it. In general, I want puzzles to be intellectually honest and a valid representation of a topic.

Since the puzzle format is closer to a word fill-in than a traditional crossword, where nearly every cell has both an across and a down clue, the clarity of the clues carries more weight.

Tradeoffs

I went through multiple rounds of revision so that clues contained enough technical detail to be accurate and interesting, but not so much that they became difficult to scan.

Notes

Overall, I'm pretty happy with how the first puzzle turned out. I think it achieves the goal of being approachable in both its grid design and clues.