Mini Beta · Free daily crossword

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Mini Crossword

A small grid. A fresh perspective.

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One fresh puzzle, every day. Reset at midnight UTC.
Made for developer brains. Enjoyed one square at a time.
YOUR DAILY RITUAL

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How to play the SWE Mini Crossword

Today’s the Mini Crossword is #309, for Nov 5, 2026. It is a 5×5 grid with 10 clues, starting with “Encrypted remote-login protocol (abbr.)”.

A free daily programming crossword for software engineers. Every answer is technical, and the clues mix software engineering with programming wordplay. Weekdays use a 5×5 grid. Saturday and Sunday use a 7×7 grid.

  1. Select a white square or an Across or Down clue, then type your answer.
  2. Select the same square again or press Space to switch direction. Arrow keys move between squares; Tab moves to the next clue.
  3. Fill every square correctly to finish. A full grid with an error stays open for editing.

Can I use hints?

Check Letter and Check Word mark entered letters without changing them. Reveal Letter and Reveal Word fill and lock the correct letters. Hints are unlimited and free, with no time penalties or scoring differences.

How does the timer work?

The timer runs while you play. Pause hides the grid and clues, and switching away from the page pauses your game automatically. Your saved time resumes when you return to play.

Do I need an account?

Not for the daily games, which are open to everyone. The puzzle archive needs a BetterSWE account with Pro. Daily progress, streaks, and statistics are saved in this browser, so they do not automatically transfer to another device.

Can I play past puzzles?

Yes, with BetterSWE Pro. Browse the archive by date to revisit earlier challenges. Archive play is separate from your scored daily attempt and does not advance your daily streak.