AI Summary
This historical retrospective traces Sudoku from its mathematical roots (Leonhard Euler) to its print popularity (Dell Magazines, Nikoli) and its digital explosion. It highlights how computer generation changed the game—allowing for "perfect" grading of difficulty that human setters couldn't achieve consistently. It also touches on variants like "Killer Sudoku" and "Hyper Sudoku" that have evolved to challenge veteran players.
AI Highlights
- 1783: Euler invents "Latin Squares," the grandfather of Sudoku.
- 1979: Howard Garns creates "Number Place" for Dell Magazines.
- 1984: Nikoli popularizes it in Japan as "Su-doku" (Single Number).
- 2004: Wayne Gould creates a computer program to generate them, sparking the global craze.
- 2026: AI now generates adaptive puzzles that learn your skill level.
Introduction
It feels like Sudoku has always been here. But did you know it didn't have a name until the 80s? The journey from a Swiss mathematician's notebook to your smartphone is a fascinating tale of globalization.
The Analog Era
For decades, puzzles were hand-crafted. This made them rare and inconsistent. You might get a "Hard" puzzle that was actually easy.
The Digital Revolution
Computers changed everything. They could verify "uniqueness" (that a puzzle has only one solution) instantly. They allowed for the creation of "Evil" puzzles that required logic chains no human setter would spot.
Summary
We are living in the Golden Age of Sudoku. The puzzles are better, fairer, and more accessible than ever before.