The generalisation I would make is: if you think, not just of a specific solution, but of the space of possible solutions, it makes it easier to find a point in

The generalisation I would make is: if you think, not just of a specific solution, but of the space of possible solutions, it makes it easier to find a point in that space which best "fits" (space, time, architecture) the program you're working on. Rather than trying paths in the dark, first look at a map, then try a few paths.