generate_crossed_words.rb

def crossed_words size = 20
  words = %w[jonatas aline lorenzo lucas
             joao juca pedro mariana
             pedroca joana bartolomeu
             maria louise ana carol luiza salete rafael leandro]
  matrix = (0..size).map{|_|['.']*size}
  n = 0
  while words.any?
    word = words.sort_by(&:size).last
    orientation = ['vertical', 'horizontal'].sample
    if orientation == 'horizontal'
       x, y= rand(size), rand(size - word.size+1)
      if Regexp.new(matrix[x][y,word.size].join).match?(word)
        matrix[x][y, word.size] = word.split ''
        words.delete word
      end
    else
      x, y= rand(size-word.size+1), rand(size)
      if Regexp.new(matrix[x,word.size].map{|e|e[y]}.join).match?(word)
        word.split('').each_with_index do |w,i|
          matrix[x+i][y] = w
        end
        words.delete word
      end
    end
    n += 1
    break if n > 5000
  end

  puts "#{size}x#{size} finished in #{n} cycles", matrix.map{|e|e.join(" ")}
end

crossed_words(12)