Building a Crossword Helper with GitHub Copilot
As a crossword enthusiast, I often found myself searching for the perfect word or phrase to fit a tricky grid. While there are many tools out there, I wanted something tailored to the needs of cryptic crossword setters—especially for finding phrases that fit specific patterns, not just single words.
That's when I decided to build Crossword Setters Hub. My goal was to create a free, user-friendly tool that could suggest both words and phrases, handle complex patterns, and offer a smooth experience for anyone setting or solving crosswords.
How GitHub Copilot Helped
I built this site with a lot of help from GitHub Copilot. Copilot assisted me in writing and debugging code, cleaning up large word lists, and implementing features like pattern-based phrase search and dynamic input fields. Whenever I hit a roadblock—whether it was a tricky JavaScript bug or a need to optimize the word database—Copilot provided suggestions, code snippets, and even full scripts to automate tedious tasks.
- Write Python scripts to clean and sort massive word lists, removing non-alphabetic entries and optimizing for fast search.
- Implement dynamic UI logic in JavaScript, so users can enter patterns like "4,2,3" and get the right input fields instantly.
- Debug and improve the phrase search so it works even when no specific pattern is entered.
- Polish the user experience, from keyboard navigation to instant word definitions.
Why I Made It Free
I believe that tools for creativity and learning should be accessible to everyone. That's why Crossword Setters Hub is free to use, with no sign-up required. Whether you're a seasoned setter or just getting started, I hope this site helps you create, solve, and enjoy crosswords even more.