Literate Software @litsoft

Creators of Across Lite, the most popular and widely used software and format for online crosswords. litsoft.com USA Joined August 2010

Tweets

126
Followers

122
Following

12
Likes

3

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

Recent problem with iPad Across Lite app closing on downloading a WaPo Sunday puzzle was due to the "special" non-puzzle on Oct 31 with just a message that there was no puz file that day. It was constructed with no down clues which didn't agree with the app solving in list mode.

0 0 0 0 0

View Details

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

Interesting legal question being posed by some subscribers of NY Times: When the subscriptions were sold with a representation of having a downloadable Archive as part of web subscription, what happens if they make that unavailable for previous subscribers?

0 0 1 0 0

View Details

Rachel Maddow @maddow

5 years ago

first day back from vacation! 😀 last day of the NYT crossword on across lite 😱

627 299 6K 0 7

View Details

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

MacOS platform support changes: New feature updates for Mojave (10.14) or later only Features frozen but updates for bug-fixes and cosmetic changes for High Sierra (10.13) to Mavericks (10.9) Version for Mountain Lion (10.8) and older sunset. Downloads available by request

0 0 1 0 0

View Details

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

Publishers can shade grid with full 24-bit color including transparency. Emojis can be placed on grid. The shading and emojis will adjust to ensure solution entry is never obscured. Printing preferences can disable grid marks and print shading in an unobtrusive light color/gray.

1 0 1 0 0

View Details

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

Across Lite v2.5 for MacOS is now available for download litsoft.com/across/alite/d… Some highlights of this version follows in the thread...

1 0 1 0 0

View Details

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

bbc.com/news/technolog…

0 0 1 0 0

View Details

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

Wall Street Journal: fleetingimage.com/wij/xyzzy/21-w… 6 days a week Mon-Sat Washington Post Sunday Crosswords: fleetingimage.com/wij/xyzzy/21-w…

1 1 2 0 0

View Details

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

For people looking for sources of Across Lite puzzles, a few suggestions: LA Times: cruciverb.com (one-time free registration required; link will appear on right column when logged in) Daily crosswords with archive.

1 0 1 0 0

View Details

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

@adamhiker And text styling is flexible too. Note that we have had to design this with backward compatibility, implementation feasibility on multiple platforms as well as ability to layout and reproduce in printing with multiple formats and sizes. x.com/litsoft/status…

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

@evanbirnholz @joonpahk @actual_anna Yes, we had switched to using UTF-8 encoded TEXT format a while ago so anything encodable in that could be displayed. But we extended the TEXT format itself in v3 (not publicly available yet) that allows for stylized unicode text, forced line breaks in clues, etc.

0 0 0 0 0

View Details

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

@adamhiker Some examples of types of shading possible x.com/litsoft/status…

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

@evanbirnholz @joonpahk @actual_anna Here are a couple of sample screenshots of shading art that is possible. Basically each cell can be shaded with a number of different shapes (in any color) or emojis. It can be local or part of a larger theme for the whole grid. So, it is very flexible.

1 0 1 0 0

1 0 0 0 0

View Details

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

@adamhiker This is behind the success of Across Lite in spread and longevity. When we see claims of "advanced formats" from people with no experience in real world production when you have no control over who is producing it (outside the tiny crossword echo chambers), we do roll eyes. 🙂

0 0 0 0 0

View Details

Literate Software @litsoft

5 years ago

@adamhiker A mandatory pre-validation or a two-phase "compile" like Across Lite is a necessary requirement in uncontrolled production for keeping clients simple and able to do fast processing for new features. Else you have clients that fail from format errors or have security issues.