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Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats
Creator of Wordle - Josh Wardle
Feb 9, 2022
In this engaging discussion, Josh Wardle, the mastermind behind the viral word game Wordle, shares insights from his journey as a part-time artist turned software engineer. He reveals the simplicity of Wordle's tech stack, built with web components, that keeps the game lightweight and ad-free. Josh discusses the unique challenges of navigating fame, the impact of clones, and the nuances of selling a successful product. His reflections on authenticity in innovation and the emotional weight of popularity make for a captivating conversation.
01:04:11
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Quick takeaways
- Wordle gained massive popularity due to its unique feature of players sharing their results in an emoji grid format, contributing to its viral spread.
- Josh Wardle built Wordle using web components, which allowed for minimal dependencies and a small bundle size, but acknowledges that wrapper libraries like Lit provide a more streamlined development process.
Deep dives
The Unexpected Phenomenon of Wordle Going Viral
Wordle, a word game created by Josh Wardle, unexpectedly gained massive popularity with millions of players worldwide. The game, originally made for Wardle's partner, went viral after getting a shout-out from a technologist and being shared in a New York Times newsletter. The game's unique feature of players sharing their results in an emoji grid format contributed to its rapid spread. The popularity of Wordle led to numerous clones and spin-offs, with some developers even monetizing their versions. Due to the overwhelming response and potential challenges of managing clones, Josh decided to sell Wordle.
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