gistfile1.clj

(defn char-diff
  "the diff between char1 and (char21,char22)"
  [char1 char21 char22]
  (cond
   (= char1 char21) 1
   (= char1 char22) 2
    :else 0))

(defn word-chain?
  [w1 w2]
  (let [len-diff (- (count w1) (count w2))]
    (if (or (= -1 len-diff) (= 0 len-diff))
    (loop [x1  w1
           x2 w2
           diff 0]
     (if (> 2 diff)
          (let [the-char-diff (char-diff (first x1) (first x2) (second x2))]
            (println "p:" x1 x2 the-char-diff diff )
                (recur (next x1) (drop the-char-diff x2) (if (= 1 the-char-diff) diff (inc diff))))
              false)))
      (if (= 1 len-diff) (recur w2 w1) false)))