What tools do you use in the solution process?

Question

Algorithms

I apologize if the question seems abstract to you. Let me ask a question with an example: Sherlock Homes used the deductive method to find the criminal. Those. He developed an algorithm for solving this problem.
I want to apply this situation to software development: do you have an algorithm (similar to Sherlock) that you use when solving problems in programming (for example, finding sentences that are similar in meaning).
And what tools do you use in the decision process? Perhaps mind maps, a notepad, etc.

Answer 1

Use the brain tool to solve. On the issue of acquiring a brain, turn to God with prayers (spoiler - will not help).

Answer 2

Analysis. You write down the task with the details that are obvious to you, then you start to disassemble it into pieces that are minimally dependent on each other, and work through their details, looking back at the general plan so that they do not contradict it.
Writing down helps both to make sure that the task is fully covered, and to remember what you brainstormed there, after a few days.
The general principles of the solution are the same as those of the ideal code - to disassemble the task in such a way as to reduce its coherence and not try to keep everything in mind at once, isolating the current tasks from those details of the project that do not concern it.

Answer 3

Rubber duck!

Answer 4

the first thing that comes to mind: decomposition to problems that already have a solution.