Using Django to Build a Simple Word Puzzle Game (Looking for Suggestions)

Using Django Getting Started
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Hi everyone,

I’ve been working on a small side project using Django, mainly to improve my backend skills and experiment with something a bit more interactive.

Recently, I got inspired by word puzzle games like Letter Boxed (from NYT), where players connect letters from different sides to form words. I thought it would be a fun challenge to try building a similar concept using Django for the backend and a simple frontend interface.

So far, I’ve managed to:

  • Set up the basic Django project structure

  • Create models to store letters and valid word combinations

  • Implement a basic validation system for checking user input

  • Handle sessions to track user progress

However, I’m running into a few challenges:

  • What would be the best way to efficiently validate words (API vs local dictionary)?

  • Any recommended approach for handling real-time feedback without making the app feel slow?

  • Should I move toward something like Django Channels for a smoother experience, or is that overkill for this type of project?

I’d really appreciate any advice, especially from those who have built interactive or game-like applications with Django.

Also, if anyone has tried building puzzle or word based apps before, I’d love to hear about your experience and any pitfalls to avoid.

Thanks in advance!

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For your application as I believe it would be a small puzle game I dont think you will be requiring Api given that you won’t deploy it,local dictionary would be fine as It would be easire for you

for real time feedback I dont think you would be requiring web socket as the traffic wont be that much you could use fetch api for feedback,

channels are mostly usefull for multiplayer games or for living discussion on games,your game is single player I dont think it would be require in your project. I wish you luck in journey of learning django.

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One of the first things you should be clear on to yourself is to identify what your key objectives are for doing this. What specific technologies or techniques are you trying to become more familiar with? (Is it a case of wanting to learn how do build a word puzzle game? Or do you want to have some practice with either APIs or websockets?)

I point this out, because as mentioned in the previous response, the answers to your questions will depend upon your real objectives.

Do you want something that is most performant? Do it all in the browser with JavaScript - last time I looked, that’s how the NYT games work.

Do you want to learn how to use APIs or Websockets? Great - use them. But recognize that this is a learning project, more suited for a more complex project.

If you’re looking for ways to validate words in the browser, you might want to check out these three posts by John Resig (creator of jQuery).

1 Like
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I agree with above response ,but if your goal is to learn django and its features you could start with small projects which are more backend oriented which would require django core features like ORM,admin panel,form handaling,security handling like csrf,XSS etc. I suggest you could start with a blog website.