Software
Software that aids in creating crossword puzzles has been written since at least 1976;[73] one popular example was Crossword Magic for the Apple II in the 1980s.[74] The earliest software relied on people to input a list of filler words and clues and automatically maps the answers onto a suitable grid. This is a search problem in computer science because there are many possible arrangements to be checked against the rules of construction. Any given set of answers might have zero, one, or multiple legal arrangements. Modern open-source
In the late 1990s, the transition began from mostly hand-created arrangements to computer-assisted, which creators generally say has allowed authors to produce more interesting and creative puzzles, reducing crosswordese.
Modern software includes large databases of clues and answers, allowing the computer to randomly select words for the puzzle, potentially with guidance from the user as to the theme or a specific set of words to pick with greater probability. Many serious users add words to the database as an expression of personal creativity or for use in the desired theme. The software can also be used to assist the user in finding words for a specific spot in an arrangement by quickly searching through the dictionary for all words that fit.
Wikipedia ~ Crossword
Four Very Good Tools to Create Crossword Puzzle Games
1- Crossword Puzzle Tool from ReadWriteThink.
2- Crossword Labs.
3- Puzzlemaker.
4- Instant Online Crossword Puzzle Maker.
The fast, easy, free way to create crosswords in minutes.
You come up with the words and clues, and in seconds, EclipseCrossword will turn them into a custom crossword puzzle. Then, print it out, or share it online. The app’s been downloaded more than six million times by people just like you.
Source EclipseCrossword