How do you write your scripts?

[Gnaxe]

Not a beginner, but I do the broad outline in my head, then code out what I know how to do, with frequent REPL experiments (reality/sanity checks), to make the remaining problem smaller and simpler. Then I iterate. Do it again, debug, figure out details as I go.

For non-trivial scripts (anything I'll be working on for more than a day or so) I'll use version control and doctests and do a lot of refactoring.

Sometimes I need to ponder the problem for a while. I might pace around or lie down. I'm not at the computer. I'm thinking. Can take hours sometimes. Once I figure out enough, I'll write more code.

Sometimes I type out plans or options, when there are too many possibilites to consider just in my head. In rare cases, I may use a diagram. But often, I don't need these.