Whenever I have a new idea, I start sketching (yes, on paper, with pencils/pens). I quickly notice the things that I don't know or understand. So then I research the domain and write up my understanding and how it relates to the original idea.
Once I have the essence and its implementation formulated. I use one of the programming languages that I already now and the hardware which I think is most suitable and start hacking.
I rarely get it right first time. That is part of the learning experience. So v1, v2, etc often follow. At other times, I realize that the idea is unrealistic or I simply lose interest, etc. Have lots of abandoned projects.
By corollary, painters will make sketches and studies before embarking upon a key work. Sculptors will sketch, make models, smaller works before hacking away at some huge slab of marble, or casting tons of metal.