Puzzles: One clear solution Algorithms: "Better" solutions. "Best" solution may exist but hard to definitively prove. Often, things like cost and time are real

Puzzles: One clear solution Algorithms: "Better" solutions. "Best" solution may exist but hard to definitively prove. Often, things like cost and time are real constraints in the solution to the problem. Real world "problems"/"design": solutions are optimized for a certain set of outcomes. I don't like puzzles either, but I think it's due to their restrictive nature and generally non-creative solution finding process. I prefer making puzzles over solving them.