Diagnil 1.2

Diagnil is a nice tool designed to help the solvers of diagramless crossword puzzles. It supports the process of solving puzzles using externally provided clues, such as those distributed in print form.

The diagramless puzzle is a crossword variant where only word clues are provided; word locations are not disclosed. (If a grid is supplied, it is completely blank.) Solving a diagramless puzzle requires determining not only the words but also their correct placement on the grid.

Despite the ubiquity of standard crosswords, the diagramless variety remains much less popular. Why this is so can be debated. One plausible reason is that diagramless puzzles are viewed as overly difficult.

Though not suitable for beginners, they are easier to solve than is often presumed.

A second, more justifiable reason is that the solving mechanics can be tedious, especially when working on paper.

Although the intellectual challenge of diagramless puzzles is appealing, the awkwardness of frequently redrawing to converge on the correct word layout can sap the enjoyment from what should be recreation. While brilliant solvers are undaunted, mere mortals wear out their erasers.