Python Wordsearch - A Request Fulfilled

A short article but with a fun angle that you can share in 😄. Sometimes when I have time on my hands I try the coding kata approach- thinking of a challenge and coding that up. Here I came across a request on the PythonLearning subreddit by the user Mysterious_Lab5934 asking for a WordSearch generator in Python for print output. I decided to create one - code here. This took maybe an hour with LLM acceleration, most of that yak-shaving for an ‘optimum’ result.

Example Generated Wordsearch (PDF)

The Brief

Mysterious_Lab5934 requested:

I’m trying to create a random word search generator so I can print them off and make a lil book to travel with. I’ve used chat gpt and managed to get a super basic one but the formatting just isn’t right and everytime I edit the script to change the formatting the script just doesn’t do anything.

Is anyone able to do one for me? I’m an ADHD girlie with two kids so have minimal time and patience and have already sunk a few hours into doing it! I’m also a total noob at coding hence roping in chat gpt! The picture is what I’m after, just a themed title, advanced difficulty and a list of hidden words to cross off as I find them. Ideally to fit on an A5 page. Appreciate any help or advice!!! 🤍🫶🏻

And also provided an image of the desired result.

The Result

As per above, the finished code is here, along with instructions for the semi-technical user and example output. The Readme already covers the technical decisions and options so I shan’t repeat those here. If Wordsearches are your thing, head on over and create some of your own!