Moral of the story is that it is invaluable to explain your thinking out loud when you're stuck. And you solve a lot more code by walking away than you think.

It is in fact, that easy. I solve part 2 in under 5 minutes - correct answer on the first try.

While showing him what I think was a cool way to solve part 1, and then explaining how part 2 is different it hits me. The solution to part 2 staring me in the face. It can't be that easy, can it?

I'm dreading doing part 2 all day - I know it will require a massive rewrite, I'm thinking I'll need a sliding window ... I'm just not happy about it.

I decide to complain to my fiance - that always makes me feel better. He does not know how to code, but he always intently listens while I explain

Only problem with this solution is that now nothing I have written can be used for part 2 (x-mas). Frustrated, I shut off my computer and go do something else for the rest of the day.

Whereas originally I thought I would need a sliding window, I instead looked for bigger patterns and pushed my limits on how I could figure out how to manipulate an array.

I am actually really pleased with my answer to day 4 pt 1 - I end up making a 2d array and doing some weird rotating, and shape changing to be able to use regex to search for "xmas" and "samx". I think it's unique in that it's looking at patterns and big picture -

And yes, I know that stats.fm exists ... but I really feel that spotify is missing an opportunity here

Honestly, if spotify did this cute little story unveiling situation, and then at the end told me that I could see ALL my stats on a well designed (who am I kidding even a poorly designed) webpage for like $10-20, I would ABSOLUTELY do that

It's probably going to require a sliding window ... and I am probably over complicating it and will see a 2 line solution on reddit later.

Well, I know how to start for the horizontal - that's easy. Vertical isn't too bad. But DIAGONAL???

My solutions can be found here: github.com/jordan-bott/...

Crossclimb #218 | 1:03
Fill order: 1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣ 4️⃣ 5️⃣ 🔼 🔽 🪜
lnkd.in/crossclimb.

Tango #58 | 1:10 and flawless
First 5 placements:
🟨🟨4️⃣5️⃣🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟨🟨2️⃣1️⃣🟨🟨
🟨🟨3️⃣🟨🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨
lnkd.in/tango.

Pinpoint #218 | 3 guesses
1️⃣ | 79% match
2️⃣ | 64% match
3️⃣ | 100% match 📌
lnkd.in/pinpoint

Queens #218 | 6:44
First 👑s: 🟥 🟪 🟧
lnkd.in/queens.

I'm working in python this year, my day 2 solutions can be found here (warning, they're not pretty): github.com/jordan-bott/...

#AdventOfCode