To test the solver, open the main.py file and edit the filename to match the puzzle you want to test then run 'python main.py' in the terminal. To run the tests run python tests.py.

I used the template method to simplify the solving of different sized puzzles. The base puzzle class has the solve method and some other methods used in the solve method and an abstract method called create cell which creates a cell class specific to the size of the puzzle. The create cell method is implemented in the puzzle4x4, puzzle9x9, etc subclasses of puzzle. The algorithm is encapsulated in the solve method and it works the same for all puzzle sizes because it follows the same methods to solve for each size puzzle. I used the strategy pattern for the file handler. I may have used some other patterns that I learned in class as well.