Getting Started with Dev Puzzle
Getting Started with Dev Puzzle
Dev Puzzle is a daily coding-themed word game inspired by Wordle—but made specifically for developers. After finishing my portfolio website, I wanted to build something more interactive that would not only help me grow as a web developer but also offer value to other people interested in tech.
Why I Built It
I started working on Dev Puzzle in early May 2025. My goal was to provide a fun and educational experience tailored to the software development community. Within about a week, I had a minimum viable product (MVP) up and running with hosting and core functionality. Since then, I have been refining the experience and preparing for a more polished launch.
Tech Stack
The project is built with:
- React – for the frontend UI
- Tailwind CSS – for fast, utility-first styling
- Firebase – for backend functions and hosting
I chose these tools because of their accessibility and because I had prior experience with each. That familiarity allowed me to work efficiently without a steep learning curve.
One of the more challenging aspects was setting up the Firebase function that generates a new puzzle word each day. Another tricky part was making the puzzle grid dynamically adjust based on the word length for each difficulty level.
How It Works
Every 24 hours, a Firebase function selects a new word for each difficulty level from a curated list of terms related to software and game development. This ensures that the game stays relevant and educational.
The visual design is inspired by terminal interfaces—reflecting my recent transition to using Neovim as my primary IDE. I have grown really fond of that minimal, terminal-style aesthetic.
What's Next
Planned features include:
- User accounts with tracked statistics like streaks and solved puzzles
- A leaderboard system
- Google Ads for non-intrusive monetization (while keeping the game completely free)
- Community features to foster engagement among developers
Who It's For
Dev Puzzle is designed for other engineers and developers. It is meant to be a quick, daily brain teaser that helps reinforce tech terminology and stimulate curiosity. I hope it grows into a daily ritual for developers looking to sharpen their minds.
Thanks for following along!