I spent many years solving difficult code problems as part of a research group. One of my standard techniques for solving the toughest problems was to gather a

I spent many years solving difficult code problems as part of a research group. One of my standard techniques for solving the toughest problems was to gather as many facts as I could and then sleep on it. I'd find myself not reviewing the code, but reviewing the facts in my sleep, and when I'd wake up I'd have figured out the problem or at least have figured out how to get more information to solve the problem. I'd often wake in the middle of the night to write down these insights or write them down first thing on waking.