Paint by Numbers

This is a basic solver for "paint by numbers" type puzzles (also known as Griddlers, Picross, etc.).

Puzzles are entered into YAML formatted file (see one of the examples here).

You'll need PyYaml installed:

$ easy_install pyyaml

This program is limited in that it sovles by considering row contraints and column constraints independently. There are some class of puzzles that require logic that considers row and column constraints together in order to solve.

When a puzzle cannot be completely solved, a partial solution will be displayed.

Usage

Usage: paint.py [-h | -t | -f ]

Options

-h : help -f : Solve Paint by Numbers in file -t : Run Unit tests -d : Print debug information during solve

Example

A complete solution:

$ ./paint.py -f 024.yaml

Row  1: ...XXXX.............
Row  2: ..XXXXXX............
Row  3: ..X..X.X..XX...XX...
Row  4: .XX.X.XX.XXXX.XXXX..
Row  5: XX...XXX.X.XX.XXXX..
Row  6: X..XXXXXXX.XXXX.XXX.
Row  7: .XXX.XXXX...XX..XXXX
Row  8: ....XXXX....XX...XXX
Row  9: ...XXXXX.....X...XXX
Row 10: ...XXXX...........XX
Row 11: ..XXXXX...........XX
Row 12: ..XXXX........X..XXX
Row 13: ..XXX.....X..XX..X.X
Row 14: ..XXXX....X.XX...X.X
Row 15: ..XXXX...XXXXX..XX.X
Row 16: ...X.XX.XXXXXXX.XX..
Row 17: ...X.XXXXXX..XXXXX..
Row 18: ......XXXXX..X.XX...
Row 19: ......X.XX...X.XX...
Row 20: ......X.XX...X.XX...

A partial solution:

$ ./paint.py -f 006.yaml

Row  1: .....XXXXXX....
Row  2: .XXXXX....X....
Row  3: XX....___XXX___
Row  4: X.___.___..X.__
Row  5: X.....___XXX___
Row  6: XX.__.___...___
Row  7: .XXXX._________
Row  8: _X________X____
Row  9: _._____________
Row 10: _______________
Row 11: _________X_____
Row 12: _______________
Row 13: _______________
Row 14: _______________
Row 15: _______________