Symbol Abstraction
The GeoWords engine is built on a fundamental principle: it does not assume letters.
Tiles carry a payload — a symbol drawn from the active Symbol Set. In word mode, that payload is a letter. But the engine operates on payloads generically; only the Pattern Validator knows what constitutes a valid play. This architecture enables multiple game modes without rewriting the core engine.
Symbol Sets
A Symbol Set defines the universe of payloads for a game session:
| Symbol Set | Payload | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| English letters (A–Z) | Letter characters | Standard word mode |
| French letters (A–Z + accented) | Letter characters with diacriticals | French word mode |
| Shapes and colors | Geometric icons with color attributes | Symbol mode |
| Puzzle pieces | Connectors with edge profiles | Connection-match mode |
Symbols in a set can have multiple independent attributes — shape, color, decorators — that the pattern engine reasons about separately. This is richer than letters, where the only attribute is identity.
Game Modes
| Mode | Symbols | Validation | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word mode | Letters (language-dependent) | Dictionary lookup | Word game enthusiasts |
| Symbol mode | Shapes, colors, composable icons | Pattern rule engine | International, kids, puzzle fans |
| Hybrid | Mixed letters and icons | Pattern rules | Experimental |
Pattern Validators
A Pattern Validator determines whether a selection constitutes a valid play. It is the component that differs most between modes:
- Word mode: dictionary trie lookup — the ordered letter sequence must match a dictionary entry
- Symbol mode: pattern rule engine — the ordered payload sequence plus attributes must satisfy registered rules
- Puzzle mode: connection-match checker — adjacent pieces must have compatible edge profiles
The validator is a trait — the engine calls it identically regardless of mode.
Pattern Properties
The scoring concept of "Word Properties" (rare digraphs, triple vowels, etc.) generalizes to Pattern Properties — detectable characteristics of any payload sequence that carry scoring significance.
| Word Mode Property | Symbol Mode Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Triple vowel (VVV) | One tile of each of six colors |
| Rare digraph ("aa") | Four stars followed by two circles |
| Long word (10+ letters) | Long chain (10+ symbols) |
The property detection engine, bezel coloring, and repeat-multiplier systems all operate on Pattern Properties generically — the same code handles word-mode scoring and symbol-mode scoring.
Why This Matters
Symbol abstraction means:
- International play without language dependency
- Younger players can engage with pattern matching before they have vocabulary
- New game modes can be added by defining a Symbol Set and a Pattern Validator, without touching the core engine
- Cross-language features like etymology premiums (words valid in multiple languages) become scoring properties rather than special cases