Knowing the rule did not help me spot it
A guide can explain an X-Wing in a few lines. On a full board, its four useful cells are mixed in with dozens of other candidates. I needed examples inside real solves.
Sudoku Pilot scans the board and lists the moves it can prove. Each result names the technique and marks the cells that make it work.
A hint should start small
Most of the time, I do not want the next digit. I want a small push in the right direction.
The first hint names the technique. If that is not enough, the next screen marks the relevant cells and explains the deduction. The board changes only when you press Apply.
Waiting for one technique is poor practice
I could finish several puzzles without seeing the technique I was trying to learn. Even when it appeared, I might miss it and solve around it.
Practice mode lets me choose a technique and finds a board where it is available. I can look for the pattern, open the explanation, and try another example.
I also got tired of the routine steps
Entering every candidate is useful when I want to check my notes. It is tedious when I only want to study an advanced pattern. The same is true for deductions I already know well.
Sudoku Pilot can fill the legal candidates or run the techniques I select. I use those controls to reach the part of the puzzle I actually want to work on.
The puzzle may be in another app
Some of my puzzles start as screenshots. Retyping 25 or 30 given digits is slow and easy to get wrong.
The importer drafts the visible digits and pencil notes in an editable grid. I still check every cell before starting because OCR makes mistakes. When I start online recognition, the selected image is sent to Sudoku OCR through RapidAPI.
How I decide what to add
A feature has to help with one of three things: seeing the board clearly, practicing a technique, or getting through work I already know how to do.
Hints therefore show their evidence and wait for permission before changing the puzzle. Practice tools either find an example or clear work I chose to skip.
I want to know that guessing is unnecessary
Before a generated puzzle appears in the app, a solver checks that it has one solution. It then solves the full grid with the same techniques available in the coach.
If I get stuck on one of these puzzles, I know there is a logical move to find. I can keep looking or ask the coach to show me the technique.