[j_baker]

I think you're both right. Some people do like the grandparent suggests and map their strategies out in advance. I personally do better with Brooks's "build one to throw away" approach. I like this better because I can't work with a plan like others do. I need to have implemented something before I can understand it. Others work better with a different approach. To each their own.

[euccastro]

They're not mutually exclusive approaches anyway. Alternating between them quickly can be a good way to nibble away at hard problems. And it's not a big deal if you throw away some work in either mode. Think on what takes you there faster, not necessarily with less (wasted) work.