Keith Smith
c788393514
- Linux x86_64 executable (23MB single file) - Release README with build instructions for other platforms - First stable release of Word Search Generator & Player Features: - Interactive word search puzzle generation - Drag-to-select gameplay - PDF export functionality - 8-directional word placement - Auto-resizing window 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Word Search Generator & Player
A Python GUI application for generating and playing interactive word search puzzles with PDF export capability.
Features
- Interactive Puzzle Generation: Create custom word search puzzles with configurable grid dimensions (5-25 x 5-25)
- Drag-to-Select Gameplay: Click and drag across letters to find words
- Visual Feedback:
- Blue highlighting for selected letters
- Green highlighting for found words
- Strikethrough on found words in the word list
- PDF Export: Export puzzles to PDF format for printing
- Smart Word Placement:
- 8-directional word placement (horizontal, vertical, and diagonal in all directions)
- Words can appear forwards or backwards
- Duplicate word prevention
- Auto-Resizing Window: Automatically adjusts to fit the generated puzzle
- Clean PDF Output: Grid lines removed for a professional appearance
Requirements
- Python 3.x
- tkinter (usually included with Python)
- reportlab
Installation
Option 1: Download Pre-built Application (Recommended)
Download the pre-built application for your platform from the releases page:
- Windows:
WordSearch.exe - macOS:
WordSearch.app - Linux:
WordSearch(executable)
No installation required - just download and run!
Option 2: Run from Source
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://git.firebugit.com/ksmith/WordSearch.git
cd WordSearch
- Install required dependencies:
pip install -r requirements.txt
Usage
Running the Application
From pre-built executable:
- Windows: Double-click
WordSearch.exe - macOS: Double-click
WordSearch.appor runopen WordSearch.app - Linux: Run
./WordSearchfrom terminal
From source:
python word_search_generator.py
Creating a Puzzle
- Enter the desired grid dimensions (Width and Height)
- Enter words to include in the puzzle (one per line)
- Click "Generate & Play" to create the puzzle
Playing the Game
- Click and drag across letters to select a word
- Release to check if the selection matches a word
- Found words turn green and are crossed off the list
- Use "Clear Selection" to reset your current selection
Exporting to PDF
- Generate a puzzle
- Click "Export to PDF"
- Choose a location to save the file
How Words Are Placed
- Words can appear in 8 directions:
- Horizontal (left-to-right or right-to-left)
- Vertical (top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top)
- Diagonal (all 4 diagonal directions)
- Words are placed randomly without duplicates
- Empty cells are filled with random letters
Default Settings
- Default grid size: 12x12
- Default words: PYTHON, GUI, WORDSEARCH, GAME, PUZZLE, FUN
- Cell size: 30 pixels
- Grid dimensions: 5-25 (minimum-maximum)
Technical Details
- Built with Python tkinter for the GUI
- Canvas-based interactive grid for responsive drag selection
- ReportLab for PDF generation
- Event-driven architecture for mouse interactions
Building from Source
To create standalone executables for distribution:
Prerequisites
Install build dependencies:
pip install -r requirements.txt
Building
Linux/macOS:
./build.sh
Windows:
build.bat
The built application will be in the dist/ directory:
- Linux:
dist/WordSearch - macOS:
dist/WordSearch.app - Windows:
dist/WordSearch.exe
Manual Build
You can also build manually using PyInstaller:
pyinstaller word_search.spec
Cross-Platform Notes
- PyInstaller creates platform-specific executables
- Build on the target platform (Windows build requires Windows, etc.)
- macOS builds create an
.appbundle - Linux/Windows builds create a single executable file
License
Created by Keith Smith
Contributing
This is a personal project. For issues or suggestions, please contact the repository owner.