SPT0: Sudoku Puzzle Tool for Linux and DOS

Introduction SPT0 V0.1 is a text mode program to help manually solve the 9x9 sudoku puzzles that appear in the daily newspapers. The Linux version works on a Linux console and on a KDE konsole or xterm under Linux/X, and the DOS version also works under Windows in a DOS window. Both versions have these main features:

  1. An Edit Mode for manual entry of puzzles via the keyboard
  2. Solve Mode with Undo/Redo capability for manual solution
  3. Audomatic calculation and display of candidate data in solve mode
  4. Two levels of "hints"
  5. Solution verification facility
  6. Full automatic solution option
  7. Facilities to load/store files from/to disk

Release Notes, DOS version: SPT0_1.EXE was actually developed on the author's Linux system under dosemu/DGJPP and has not been tested on a real DOS system; but it works fine under Linux/dosemu and our Windows XP system and I have every reason to expect that it will also work with Windows 9x or with any real DOS installation that includes a DPMI.

Release Notes, Linux version: The code for the Linux version combines the algorithms from the DOS version with a nasty concoction of bits and pieces that I had accumulated over the years, but the resultant program seems to be reasonably solid. The most glaring deficienty is the input file logic: I didn't have a reasonable text mode file picker widget (like the DOS one) on hand, so the program just prompts for a filename and goes from there.

The Linux version does not use any special libraries, but instead attempts to accomodate its main targets (Linux Console, KDE konsole, and xterm) using just its own code. If something doesn't work on your system (most probably cursor visibility), try starting new xterm, or try an 'rxvt' using the command "rxvt -cr WHITE" to start it with a white cursor.

Design Rational: Version 0.1 of Sudoku Puzzle Tool takes the point of view that the careful consideration of the candidate digits for open puzzle positions is necessary in all but the easiest puzzles, and so the program automatically computes and displays candidate data for all open positions at each stage of the solution. This approach admittedly results in a very "busy" display, but the complexity of multiple modes involving hiding and showing candidate data seemed just too much for this initial effort.

Screen Shots

HERE is a screen shot of SPT 0.1 in solve mode, with the built in sample puzzle loaded, but the solution not yet started.

HERE is a screen shot of SPT 0.1 part way through the manual solution of the sample puzzle, after the operator requested a "blatant hint". Note the use of color and the placement of the cursor in the candidates display.

HERE is a screen shot of SPT 0.1 in edit mode with the sample puzzle loaded. Edit mode is designed to allow the user to quickly input a puzzle using the keyboard/keypad.

HERE is the online help file for SPT 0.1, which gives a brief description of how the program operates.

Downloading

Here is the Linux source, spt0_1-linux-22May06.tgz (30.Kb).

Here is the SPT0_1.EXE, the DOS executable. (68.4Kb). Click here if you use DOS and you need a DPMI.

Installation: For Linux, unpack the tarball and just type "make"; the executable is called 'spt0_1'.

For DOS, just put the executable somewhere in your PATH and run it. But for Windows, because the program's file picker is limited to DOS 8.3 filenames, I recommend something like this:

  1. Create a new directory, for example, "c:\sudoku".
  2. Copy spt0_1.exe to the new directory.
  3. Create a new desktop shortcut to "c:\sudoku\spt0_1.exe".
  4. Set the working directory in the shortcut properties to "c:\sudoku".
  5. Start the program using the new shortcut
  6. Keep puzzle file in the new directory.

Source: If you would like a copy of the DOS/DJGPP 'C' source code, please send me an email.

License

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

Author

Sudoku Puzzle Tool version 0.1 was designed by Jeff Edwards, je@ecsi-dev.com. Your your comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome and encouraged.