[cxS]

Objective: Write an implementation that solves a Hidato puzzle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidato

Include:
- Method to read puzzle from file (whatever input format you choose)
- Method(s) to solve the puzzle
- Method to output the result to the console (or file)

*Efficiency is key of course. The solution submitted must be 100% your own code. To make things more specific, the implementation must be held/encapsulated within a class.

[Llebacc]

I'll be getting to work on this here soon.

I have a question though. Are we going to be working on irregularly shaped puzzles, or just square/rectangular ones?

[cxS]

I'll be getting to work on this here soon.

I have a question though. Are we going to be working on irregularly shaped puzzles, or just square/rectangular ones?

Although irregularly shaped puzzles are standard and add a level of complexity to this challenge, it really doesn't make things a whole lot more difficult if you know how to think about this in layers. For instance, you could be naive, and have a value of some arbitrary, and unusable number to indicate a block doesn't take up that space for a representation of all squares that are missing in an irregular shape (and make the junk value a special case in your logic), or you could use a dictionary-like container that the STL provides to encapsulate a row, and have an integer paired up with that row that tells you how far over (index-wise) the starting number is from the row with the left-most row's first block's index.

[Llebacc]

Neat, I didn't know that the STL provided dictionary-like functionality.

[cxS]

No submissions yet from anyone? lol This was why I originally asked if anyone was interested in a challenge.

[Oni]

No submissions yet from anyone? lol This was why I originally asked if anyone was interested in a challenge.

Told Aristotle about the challenge. He seemed interested.

[cxS]

That's what the other person said too.

[Dong]

Yeah, Oni told me about this a while ago, but I haven't been on for ages. I don't even know what the hell Hidato is, but I'll look into it. I wouldn't expect a solution soon though, if I even go through with it. I've got to first learn what it is, then attempt to solve it on my own, and if that fails I'll study solutions and/or methods for solving similar problems.

I reckon it wouldn't take too long unless this is some kind of hardcore puzzle... I'm working on something currently so I'll look into it whenever I find some time.