Quackers & Clues Games & learning
Teaching the clue, not just revealing the answer.
A native cryptic-crossword tutor, with a ChatGPT support site and an editorial challenge at its centre.
Project statusProvisional TestFlight beta; editorial review continues
How it came about
Quackers & Clues is a native iPhone and iPad cryptic-crossword tutor. I wanted the learning experience to explain how a clue works, with graded practice, progressive hints and character guides, rather than simply reveal the answer.
The project includes an offline app, a handbook and supporting help pages. These give me different ways to explain the same ideas: a short hint while solving, a fuller explanation afterwards and somewhere to return to a technique. Getting that balance right is part of making the app approachable.
The difficult part
The hardest part is editorial quality. A clue can have the expected answer and still be awkward, ambiguous or a poor example of the technique it is supposed to teach. Checking crossings and letter operations catches some mistakes, but it cannot establish that the writing is good.
The development process therefore separates mechanical validation from individual clue review. Reviewed content is tied to its exact wording; changing the clue or explanation means the earlier review may no longer apply. The current project is a provisional beta, with the full editorial review still in progress.
What I learnt
I have learnt not to let a large content count stand in for teaching quality. A smaller set of clear, fair examples is more useful than a much bigger set that confuses the learner.
It has made me pay more attention to the explanation after an answer. Revealing the word gets someone through one clue; explaining how the wordplay works can help with the next one. That is where I want the teaching to earn its place. The app remains a beta while the editorial review continues.