ADSP: Algorithms + Data Structures = Programs Episode 268: Advent of Code 2025 (Day 6)
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Jan 9, 2026 Conor and Ben dive into the challenges of Advent of Code 2025 Day 6, sparking excitement for its intriguing design. They discuss the importance of transposing data as a key technique, highlighting its use in streamlining solutions. Conor shares a unique BQN approach, while Ben outlines his Python strategy to tackle the problems effectively. The twist in Part B adds complexity by requiring column-wise reading, making block detection a fun challenge. Tune in for their insights and holiday wishes!
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Mentally Solved Part A Before Coding
- Conor admits he mentally solved Part A without coding it while cherry-picking the puzzle.
- He envisioned a BQN pipeline using transpose, rotate, and evaluate to build the reductions from strings.
Transpose Then Reduce For Compact Solutions
- Try solving AoC Day 6 by transposing the input to turn columns into rows for easy processing.
- After transpose, rotate or adjust so per-column operators become usable reductions and evaluate them programmatically.
Transpose Is Language-Portable Concept
- Transpose semantics across languages often map to different named primitives like zip(*) in Python or flip in Q.
- Recognizing equivalent primitives speeds cross-language puzzle solutions.