Pair Programming with GPT-4: CrosswordGPT

An experiment using GPT-4 to build a React-based crossword puzzle found that the model could rapidly generate clues, answers, initial UI code, and many interactive features, but struggled with growing application complexity and bug correction. The author generated authentication-themed crossword entries with GPT-4, arranged them through a Python script into a 13×13 JSON puzzle, and then made three development attempts. The first produced an attractive interface but became difficult to maintain as features such as cell selection, across/down input, and clue highlighting were added to a single component; the second used a more detailed prompt and component structure but failed to function reliably; and the third succeeded by building the application incrementally with testing and guidance at each stage. GPT-4 was useful for adding keyboard controls, clue lists, styling, and debugging from error messages, yet it often followed incorrect assumptions and was especially hard to redirect when changes affected multiple components. The experience suggests that GPT-4 works best as a pair-programming collaborator rather than an autonomous developer: it can save substantial time and turn ideas into working software, but still requires human oversight, testing, direct code fixes, and careful management of requirements.

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