Thread: "When are puzzles solved? Opinions?"

From: Roice Nelson <roice3@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 10:07:44 -0500
Subject: When are puzzles solved? Opinions?



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Hi all,

I'm thinking about making a subtle change to the MagicTile code that checks
when puzzles are solved, and am looking for opinions. This question could
apply to any of our puzzle programs.

Here's how MT checks if a puzzle is solved right now. For each face, it
makes sure all the color *indexes *of each sticker are the same. What I'm
thinking would be better is to have it check if all the color *values* of
each sticker are the same. An example to help clarify: Say color4 is set
to red and color8 is also set to red. Right now, puzzles could look
pristine but not be considered solved, because MT considers stickers with
color4 to be different from stickers with color8. Instead, I'm thinking to
make MT compare "color red" to "color red". Puzzles that look pristine
would be considered solved. This would allow users to configure new,
interesting puzzles (even trivial ones, since if a user set all colors to
be the same, the puzzle would always be solved).

My main worry is that I know people use colors to help with solutions.
Would this cause issues for those techniques? Any other feedback?

Let me know if you have opinions either way. I'm thinking to make the
change this weekend.

Thanks,
Roice

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Hi all,
=A0
I'm thinking about making a subtle=
change to the MagicTile code that checks when puzzles are solved, and am l=
ooking for opinions.=A0 This question could apply to any of our puzzle prog=
rams.

=A0
Here's how MT checks if a puzzle is solved right now=
.=A0 For each face, it makes sure all the color indexes of each st=
icker are the same.=A0 What I'm thinking would be better is to have it =
check if all the color values of each sticker are the same.=A0 An =
example to help clarify:=A0 Say color4 is set to red and color8 is also set=
to red.=A0 Right now, puzzles could look pristine but not be considered so=
lved, because MT considers stickers with color4 to be different from sticke=
rs with color8.=A0 Instead, I'm thinking to make MT compare=A0"col=
or red" to "color red".=A0 Puzzles that look pristine would =
be considered solved.=A0 This would allow users to configure new, interesti=
ng puzzles (even trivial ones, since if a user set all colors to be the sam=
e, the puzzle would always be solved).

=A0
My main worry is that I know people use colors to help w=
ith solutions.=A0 Would this cause issues for those techniques?=A0 Any othe=
r feedback?=A0
=A0
Let me know if you have opinions ei=
ther way.=A0 I'm thinking to make the change this weekend.

=A0
Thanks,
Roice


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From: Brandon Wong <brandonc.wong55@ymail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 08:29:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: [MC4D] When are puzzles solved? Opinions?



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Sounds good. =C2=A0I don't think people will be concerned about using color=
s to help with solutions.

Brandon


________________________________
From: Roice Nelson
To: 4D_Cubing@yahoogroups.com=20
Sent: Friday, June 1, 2012 9:07 AM
Subject: [MC4D] When are puzzles solved? Opinions?
=20

=C2=A0=20
Hi all,
=C2=A0
I'm thinking about making a subtle change to the MagicTile code that checks=
when puzzles are solved, and am looking for opinions.=C2=A0 This question =
could apply to any of our puzzle programs.
=C2=A0
Here's how MT checks if a puzzle is solved right now.=C2=A0 For each face, =
it makes sure all the color indexes of each sticker are the same.=C2=A0 Wha=
t I'm thinking would be better is to have it check if all the color values =
of each sticker are the same.=C2=A0 An example to help clarify:=C2=A0 Say c=
olor4 is set to red and color8 is also set to red.=C2=A0 Right now, puzzles=
could look pristine but not be considered solved, because MT considers sti=
ckers with color4 to be different from stickers with color8.=C2=A0 Instead,=
I'm thinking to make MT compare=C2=A0"color red" to "color red".=C2=A0 Puz=
zles that look pristine would be considered solved.=C2=A0 This would allow =
users to configure new, interesting puzzles (even trivial ones, since if a =
user set all colors to be the same, the puzzle would always be solved).
=C2=A0
My main worry is that I know people use colors to help with solutions.=C2=
=A0 Would this cause issues for those techniques?=C2=A0 Any other feedback?=
=C2=A0=20
=C2=A0
Let me know if you have opinions either way.=C2=A0 I'm thinking to make the=
change this weekend.
=C2=A0
Thanks,
Roice
=20
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mes new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt">
Sounds goo=
d.  I don't think people will be concerned about using colors to help =
with solutions.

Brandon<=
/span>

imes new roman', 'new york', times, serif; ">
; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; ">
ltr">
ont-weight:bold;">From: Roice Nelson <roice3@gmail.com>> To: 4D_Cubing@yahoogroup=
s.com
Sent: Friday, J=
une 1, 2012 9:07 AM
Subject:n> [MC4D] When are puzzles solved? Opinions?


88070179">














 




=20=20=20=20=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20
Hi all,
 
I'm thinking about=
making a subtle change to the MagicTile code that checks when puzzles are =
solved, and am looking for opinions.  This question could apply to any=
of our puzzle programs.

 
Here's how MT checks if a puzzle is solved right now.=
  For each face, it makes sure all the color indexes of each st=
icker are the same.  What I'm thinking would be better is to have it c=
heck if all the color values of each sticker are the same.  An =
example to help clarify:  Say color4 is set to red and color8 is also =
set to red.  Right now, puzzles could look pristine but not be conside=
red solved, because MT considers stickers with color4 to be different from =
stickers with color8.  Instead, I'm thinking to make MT compare "=
color red" to "color red".  Puzzles that look pristine would be consid=
ered solved.  This would allow users to configure new, interesting puz=
zles (even trivial ones, since if a user set all colors to be the same, the=
puzzle would always be solved).

 
My main worry is that I know people use colors to hel=
p with solutions.  Would this cause issues for those techniques? =
Any other feedback? 
 
Let me know if you h=
ave opinions either way.  I'm thinking to make the change this weekend=
.

 
Thanks,
Roice




=20=20=20=20=20











<=
/div>

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From: "Eduard Baumann" <baumann@mcnet.ch>
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 20:10:01 +0200
Subject: Re: When are puzzles solved? Opinions?



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Will color changes be noted in the log file?
How recognize non trivial log files?

Regards
Ed
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>




Will color changes be noted in the lo=
g=20
file?

How recognize non trivial log files?>

 

Regards

Ed


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From: Roice Nelson <roice3@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 14:03:31 -0500
Subject: Re: [MC4D] Re: When are puzzles solved? Opinions?



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Saving color settings to the log files is a good thought, because the
nature of puzzles will change with different color settings. So I could
plan to do that if we decide we want this change.

aside: Even if we didn't save colors to the log file, the "internal" state
of the puzzle will be the same in the log file (it will record color
indexes, not color values). So given a solution log from a trivial puzzle
(made when all colors were set to be the same), you would see that it
wasn't pristine with colors set to the defaults. What I was planning only
affects when the user hears the "beep" that a puzzle is solved.

Roice

On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 1:10 PM, Eduard Baumann wrote:

> **
>
>
> Will color changes be noted in the log file?
> How recognize non trivial log files?
>
> Regards
> Ed
>
>

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Saving color settings to the log files is a good thought, because the =
nature of puzzles will change with different color settings.=A0 So I could =
plan to do that if we decide we want this change.
=A0
a=
side: Even if we didn't save colors to the log file, the "internal=
" state of the puzzle will be the same in the log file (it will record=
color indexes, not color values).=A0 So given a solution log from a trivia=
l puzzle (made when all colors were set to be=A0the same), you would see th=
at it wasn't pristine with colors set to the defaults.=A0 What I was pl=
anning only affects when the user hears the "beep" that a puzzle =
is solved.


=A0
Roice

On Fri, Ju=
n 1, 2012 at 1:10 PM, Eduard Baumann <o:baumann@mcnet.ch" target=3D"_blank">baumann@mcnet.ch> wrote=
:

color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid" class=
=3D"gmail_quote">







=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20



















Will=A0color changes be noted in the log=20
file?

How recognize non trivial log files?

=A0

Regards

Ed









=20=20=20=20
=20=20=20=20


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