In fact, solving Sudoku puzzles was a programming assignment given in my first year of undergraduate study. We were given input/output specifications, and told

In fact, solving Sudoku puzzles was a programming assignment given in my first year of undergraduate study. We were given input/output specifications, and told to write in C++. That was it. Seeing as how most of the class passes, I assume almost any joker can write a half-decent sudoku solver if sufficiently motivated.