I think a software jigsaw solver would be quite easy (at least conceptually) without any combinatorial explosion.

Given a scan of all the pieces and a scan at the same resolution of the finished image, all it takes is "moving" each piece over the finished picture and see if it matches the underlying picture at that spot. To avoid moving on a pixel-by-pixel basis, you can probably "jump" the piece around as most jigsaws seem to have some matrix-like structure of the pieces, so you will not have to check every single pixel-position.

Of course you will have to check for every orientation (but as most pieces are more or less four-sided, that is only four checks for every useful position).

The only problem I see is with pieces of a single color (those d****ed "all sky" pieces) as they might fit more than one location. You will have to leave these for the last and try to fit them in given all pieces already in place. Here you might have to try all combinations.

CountZero

"If you have four groups working on a compiler, you'll get a 4-pass compiler." - Conway's Law

In reply to Re^2: Do you suffer "Jigsaw rage"? by CountZero
in thread Do you suffer "Jigsaw rage"? by BrowserUk

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