Project Description
Sudoku Solution Validator
• Game rules
◦ A Sudoku puzzle uses a 9x9 grid in which each column and row, as well as each of the nine 3x3 sub-grids, must contain contain all of the digits 1…9. The figure below presents an example of a valid puzzle. This project consists of designing a multi-threaded application that determines whether the solution is valid, and if not, must recommend how to fix it.
Sub-grid
Operating System Concepts – 9th Edition Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne ©2013
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Project Requirements
• The Sudoku Validator Program (SVP) shall validate a 9x9 completed puzzle for correctness
◦ Correctness means: each column and row must contain all of the digits 1-9 once
◦ Each of the nine 3x3 sub-grids must contain all of the digits 1-9 once
• The SVP shall accept as input an ASCII .txt file with the elements separated by commas and structured as a 9x9 table
◦ Sample valid test case provided for testing
◦ Failed test cases will be provided and need to be demonstrated as part of the project
• The SVP shall specify via output to the user where the error occurred (e.g. row 3 column 5 – preference would be 1-based answers)
• Once the SVP detects an error, it must also specify what is the correct solution for that cell
• The SVP shall provide user feedback to the GUI or CLI to help explain what is going on and the final answer
◦ Printouts of steps as they progress may be helpful
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Project Implementation
• The SVP must contain at least 3 threads not-including the main thread (max thread limit shall not exceed 10 including main)
◦ Final answer must be provided by main thread after the helper threads complete their job
▪ Helper threads can provide intermediate feedback if a failure is detected
• Programming language and O/S are optional (language limited to C/C++/JAVA)
◦ Preference would be to use POSIX threads on Linux, but others are okay if necessary
◦ Explicit threads MUST be used – not implicit
▪ Must demonstrate creation of threads, exit of threads and joining of helper threads with main one
Operating System Concepts – 9th Edition Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne ©2013
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Project Artifacts
• Students must turn in the following:
◦ Source code
◦ Executable
◦ Output of the program (screen capture or pipe results to an output file) for each test case provided
◦ A brief design description that includes how many threads were used and why. A block diagram would help too. Limit to 1 page max
• Project will be presented to professor and TA at a designated appointment time
Operating System Concepts – 9th Edition Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne ©2013
