The Connections Game is a web application inspired by the NY Times game, offering players a challenging and engaging way to test their ability to identify connections between words. Built with Flask and React, this game challenges players to select sets of words that share a common theme from a grid. Success reveals interesting connections and further enriches the gameplay experience.

• Dynamic Word Grids: Every game generates a unique set of words and connections, ensuring a fresh challenge for players every time.
• Game State Management: Players have a limited number of guesses to find all connections, with the game tracking and displaying mistakes left.
• Responsive Design: A user-friendly interface that adjusts to various screen sizes for an optimal playing experience.

• Python 3.6+
• Node.js and npm
• Flask
• React

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/chrooks/Connections.git
cd Connections

2. Set up the Python virtual environment

python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows use `venv\Scripts\activate`
pip install -r backend/requirements.txt

3. Start the Flask backend

cd backend
export FLASK_APP=app.py  # On Windows use `set FLASK_APP=app.py`
export FLASK_ENV=development  # On Windows use `set FLASK_ENV=development`
flask run

4. Install and run the React frontend

cd ../frontend
npm install
npm start

Your application should now be running on localhost:3000 (frontend) and the Flask backend on localhost:5000.

• Navigate to http://localhost:3000 in your web browser to start playing.
• Press the "Play" button to generate a new grid of words.
• Select four words that you believe are connected and submit your guess.
• If correct, the words will be removed and their connection revealed. If incorrect, try again until you find all connections or run out of guesses.

• Frontend:

  • Vite: Used for bootstrapping the frontend, offering a fast and efficient development experience with React.
  • React: Powers the dynamic user interface, making the game interactive and responsive.
  • TypeScript: Provides strong typing for React components and utilities, enhancing code quality and maintainability.

• Backend:

  • Flask: A lightweight Python framework used for backend logic and API endpoints, facilitating the game's core functionalities.
  • Python: The primary programming language for backend development, chosen for its simplicity and effectiveness.

• Word and Connection Generation:

  • LLM: Utilized to dynamically generate the words that compose the game's grid and their connections, ensuring a unique and challenging experience every game.

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a pull request or open an issue for any improvements or bug fixes.

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.