Code Golf Christmas Edition: How to print out a Christmas tree of height N

Question

Given a number N, how can I print out a Christmas tree of height N using the least number of code characters? N is assumed constrained to a min val of 3, and a max val of 30 (bounds and error checking are not necessary). N is given as the one and only command line argument to your program or script.

All languages appreciated, if you see a language already implemented and you can make it shorter, edit if possible - comment otherwise and hope someone cleans up the mess. Include newlines and whitespace for clarity, but don't include them in the character count.

A Christmas tree is generated as such, with its "trunk" consisting of only a centered "*"

N = 3:

   *
  ***
 *****
   *

N = 4:

    *
   ***
  *****
 *******
    *

N = 5:

     *
    ***
   *****
  *******
 *********
     *

N defines the height of the branches not including the one line trunk.

Merry Christmas SO!

Answer 1

Language: C#, Char count: 120

static void Main(string[] a)
{
    int h = int.Parse(a[0]);

    for (int n = 1; n < h + 2; n++)
        Console.WriteLine(n <= h ?
            new String('*', n * 2 - 1).PadLeft(h + n) :
            "*".PadLeft(h + 1));
    }
}

Just the code, without formatting (120 characters):

int h=int.Parse(a[0]);for(int n=1;n<h+2;n++)Console.WriteLine(n<=h?new String('*',n*2-1).PadLeft(h+n):"*".PadLeft(h+1));

Version with 109 characters (just the code):

for(int i=1,n=int.Parse(a[0]);i<n+2;i++)Console.WriteLine(new String('*',(i*2-1)%(n*2)).PadLeft((n+(i-1)%n)));

Result for height = 10:

          *
         ***
        *****
       *******
      *********
     ***********
    *************
   ***************
  *****************
 *******************
          *

Answer 2

Language: Python, Significant char count: 90

It's ugly but it works:

import sys
n=int(sys.argv[1])
print"\n".join(" "*(n-r-1)+"*"*(r*2+1)for r in range(n)+[0])

...

$ python tree.py 13
            *
           ***
          *****
         *******
        *********
       ***********
      *************
     ***************
    *****************
   *******************
  *********************
 ***********************
*************************
            *

Answer 3

Language: Erlang, Char count: 183 (2 relevant spaces)

Here is an Erlang version, ~181chars:

-module (x).
-export ([t/1]).

t(N) ->
 t(N,0).
t(0,N) ->
 io:format("~s~s~n",[string:copies(" ",N),"*"]);
t(H,S) ->
 io:format("~s~s~n",[string:copies(" ",H),string:copies("*",(S*2)+1)]),
 t(H-1,S+1).

(btw, happy Christmas to everyone!)

Answer 4

Language: C, Char count: 433 (1 relevant space)

C version. Not short, not pretty, but it works.

#include <stdio.h>

void printLevel(int level, int width)
{
    int i;
    int count = level + (level - 1);
    int spaces = width - count;
    int lowerBound = spaces / 2;
    int upperBound = width - lowerBound;
    for (i = 0; i < width; i++) {
        if (i >= lowerBound && i < upperBound) {
            printf("*");
        } else {
            printf(" ");
        }
    }
    printf("\n");
}

void makeTree(int level)
{
    int i;
    int width = level * 2 - 1;
    for (i = 1; i <= level; i++) {
        printLevel(i, width);
    }
    printLevel(1, width);
}

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
    int level = atoi(argv[1]);
    makeTree(level);
}

Answer 5

Language: Java, Char count: 219

class T{ /* 219 characters */
  public static void main(String[] v){
    int n=new Integer(v[0]);
    String o="";
    for(int r=1;r<=n;++r){
      for(int s=n-r;s-->0;)o+=' ';
      for(int s=1;s<2*r;++s)o+='*';
      o+="%n";}
    while(n-->1)o+=' ';
    System.out.printf(o+"*%n");}}

For reference, I was able to shave the previous Java solution, using recursion, down to 231 chars, from the previous minimum of 269. Though a little longer, I do like this solution because T is truly object-oriented. You could create a little forest of randomly-sized T instances. Here is the latest evolution on that tack:

class T{ /* 231 characters */
  public static void main(String[] v){new T(new Integer(v[0]));}}
  String o="";
  T(int n){
    for(int r=1;r<=n;++r){
      x(' ',n-r);x('*',2*r-1);o+="%n";}
    x(' ',n-1);
    System.out.printf(o+"*%n");
  }
  void x(char c,int x){if(x>0){o+=c;x(c,x-1);}
 }

Answer 6

Language: Python, Char count: 104

Another take at python. Note that the question requested for a script, not a function.

import sys
n= int(sys.argv[1])
c= lambda s: s.center(2*n)
print "\n".join(c("*"*(2*i+1)) for i in range(n)); print c("*")

$ py ax 11
          *
         ***
        *****
       *******
      *********
     ***********
    *************
   ***************
  *****************
 *******************
*********************
          *

Answer 7

Language: Nemerle+Nextem, Char count: 129 (1 relevant space)

Nemerle with Nextem:

type s=string;
module t {
    public Main(a : array[s]) : void {
     def t = int.Parse(a[0]);
     def x(i) { print s(' ',t-i) + s('*',i*2+1) }
     $[0..t].Iter(x);
     x(0)
    }
}

Char count: 128

Edit: Made it take an arg Edit2: Imperative now

Answer 8

Language: C, Char count: 133

Improvement of the C-version.

char s[61];

l(a,b){printf("% *.*s\n",a,b,s);}

main(int i,char**a){
  int n=atoi(a[1]);memset(s,42,61);
  for(i=0;i<n;i++)l(i+n,i*2+1);l(n,1);
}

Works and even takes the tree height as an argument. Needs a compiler that tolerates K&R-style code.

I feel so dirty now.. This is code is ugly.

Answer 9

Language: Perl, Char count: 50 (1 relevant spaces)

perl: one line version:

print$"x($a-$_),'*'x($_*2+1),$/for 0..($a=pop)-1,0

and now with more whitesapce:

print $"  x ( $a - $_ ),             #"# Syntax Highlight Hacking Comment
      '*' x ( $_ * 2  + 1),
      $/
for 0 .. ( $a = pop ) - 1, 0;

$ perl tree.pl 3
   *
  ***
 *****
   *
$ perl tree.pl 11
           *
          ***
         *****
        *******
       *********
      ***********
     *************
    ***************
   *****************
  *******************
 *********************
           *
$

Expanded Explanation for Non-Perl Users.

# print $Default_List_Seperator ( a space )  
#     repeated ( $a - $currentloopiterationvalue ) times,
print $" x ( $a - $_ ), 
#"# print '*' repeated( $currentloopiteration * 2 + 1 ) times. 
  '*' x ( $_ * 2  + 1),
# print $Default_input_record_seperator ( a newline )
  $/
# repeat the above code, in a loop, 
#   iterating values 0 to ( n - 1) , and then doing 0 again
for 0 .. ( $a = pop ) - 1, 0;
# prior to loop iteration, set n to the first item popped off the default list, 
#   which in this context is the parameters passed on the command line.

Answer 10

Language: Scala, Char count: 128 (1 relevant space)

My Scala version. I'm glad I have found the * operator for strings (String implicitly promoted to RichString).

  def tree(n:Int) {
    def vals(n:Int,k:Int) = ((1 to n) map { i => (k - i, (i * 2) - 1) }).toList
    for(j <- vals(n,n) ::: vals(1,n)) 
      println(" " * j._1 + "*" * j._2)
  }

Answer 11

Here's how I would do it in Python, very straightforward, only 103 characters:

import sys
n=int(sys.argv[1])
for i in range(n): print ('*'*(2*i+1)).center(2*n)
print '*'.center(2*n)

Answer 12

First try in LUA

f=string.rep p=print function t(N) for i=0,N do s=f(" ",N-i) p(s..f("+",2*i-1)..s) end p(f(" ",N-1).."+"..f(" ",N-1)) end t(arg[1])

After selecting all of it scite tells me these are 131 chars

For clarities sake without optimizing away the \n etc:

f=string.rep 
p=print 
function t(N) 
 for i=0,N do 
   s=f(" ",N-i)
   p(s..f("+",2*i-1)..s)
 end 
  p(f(" ",N-1).."+"..f(" ",N-1)) 
end 
t(arg[1])

For the python version by ΤΖΩΤΖΙΟΥ I get shown 115 chars... Hrm, some more things to optimize

Answer 13

Groovy 62B

n=args[0]as Long;[*n..1,n].any{println' '*it+'*'*(n-~n-it*2)}

_

n = args[0] as Long
[*n..1, n].any{ println ' '*it + '*'*(n - ~n - it*2) }

Answer 14

Language: C, Char count: 176 (2 relevant spaces)

#include <stdio.h>
#define P(x,y,z) for(x=0;x++<y-1;)printf(z);
main(int c,char **v){int i,j,n=atoi(v[1]);for(i=0;i<n;i++){P(j,n-i," ")P(j,2*i+2,"*")printf("\n");}P(i,n," ")printf("*\n");}

Answer 15

Scala, 97 chars

This one gets n from command line.

Thanks to ΤΖΩΤΖΙΟΥ for the * operator

val n=args(0).toInt*2
(1.until(n,2))foreach{i=>println(" "*(n-i)+"* "*i)}
println (" "*(n-1) + "*")

Answer 16

Ridiculously long C++ one:

#include <iostream>
#include <conio.h>

using namespace std;

class CTree
{
// Members
private:
    unsigned short m_Lvl;
    unsigned short m_Spc;

// Construction
public:
    CTree(unsigned short lvl)
        : m_Lvl(lvl), m_Spc(0) {}
private:
    CTree(unsigned short lvl, unsigned short spc)
        : m_Lvl(lvl), m_Spc(spc) {}

// Operations
public:
    void Print()
    {
        // Print the leaves.
        if (m_Lvl)
        {
            CTree(m_Lvl-1 , m_Spc+1).Print();
            Line();
        }

        // Print the trunk.
        if (!m_Spc)
            CTree(1 , m_Lvl ? (m_Lvl - 1) : 0).Line();
    }
private:
    void Line()
    {
        // Indent the current line.
        for (unsigned short s = m_Spc; s--; )
            cout << ' ';

        // Print the leaves.
        for (unsigned short l = m_Lvl; --l; )
            cout << '*' << '*';
        cout << '*' << endl;
    }
};

int main(int argc, char** argv)
{
    // Validate the command line.
    if ((argc != 2) || !isdigit(argv[1][0]))
    {
        cout << "Command line: tree.exe number_of_lines";
        _getch();
        exit(1);
    }

    // Validate the number of lines.
    short lvl = (short)atoi(argv[1]);
    if (lvl < 0)
    {
        cout << "Do you really think " << lvl << " lines can be printed?";
        _getch();
        exit(1);
    }
    if (lvl > 40)
    {
        cout << "Sorry, but a " << lvl << "-line tree is too big to be printed.";
        _getch();
        exit(1);
    }

    // Print the tree.
    CTree((unsigned short)lvl).Print();

    // The user must press a key before the program finishes.
    _getch();
    return 0;
}

---

EDIT: I must add that this program doesn't follow the specifications exactly. When the input argument is N, it prints a (N+1)-line tree.

Merry X-Mas to the SO community

---

EDIT: Debugged the program and corrected some nasty errors.

Answer 17

Better C++, around 210 chars:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
ostream& ChristmasTree(ostream& os, int height) {
    for (int i = 1; i <= height; ++i) {
        os << string(height-i, ' ') << string(2*i-1, '*') << endl;
    }
    os << string(height-1, ' ') << '*' << endl;
    return os;
}

Minimized to 179:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;ostream& xmas(ostream&o,int h){for(int i=1;i<=h;++i){o<<string(h-i,' ')<<string(2*i-1,'*')<<endl;}o<<string(h-1,' ')<<'*'<<endl;return o;}

Answer 18

Language: JavaScript, Char count: 110 (2 relevant spaces)

function p(l)
{
    o=''
    for(c=0; c<=n+l; c++)
      o += c < n - l ? ' ' : '*'
    print(o)
}

n = parseInt(arguments[0])

for(l = 0; l < n; l++)
  p(l)
p(0)

Ran using spidermonkey. $ smjs christmas_tree.js 4

Answer 19

PHP (133 relevant characters):

function xmastree($h) {
    for($i=0;$i<$h;++$i)
        echo str_repeat(' ',$h-$i-1).str_repeat('*',2*$i+1)."\n";
    echo str_repeat(' ',$h-1)."*\n";
}

Answer 20

Language: Python (through shell), Char count: 64 (2 significant spaces)

python -c "
n=w=$1
s=1
while w:
    print' '*w+'*'*s
    s+=2
    w-=1
print' '*n+'*'"

$ sh ax6 11
           *
          ***
         *****
        *******
       *********
      ***********
     *************
    ***************
   *****************
  *******************
 *********************
           *

Answer 21

Language: Pike

101 Relevant characters

int main (int c, array a) {
    int n=(int)a[1], i,l;
    for(;i<=n; l = ++i < n ? i : 0)
        write(" " *(n-l) + "*" * (l*2+1) +"\n");
}

Answer 22

Here's a reasonably space-efficient Haskell version, at 107 characters:

main=interact$(\g->unlines$map(\a->replicate(g-a)' '++replicate(a*2-1)'*')$[1..g]++[1]).(read::[Char]->Int)

running it:

$ echo 6 | runhaskell tree.hs
     *
    ***
   *****
  *******
 *********
***********
     *

Merry Christmas, all :)

Answer 23

Language: dc (through shell), Char count: 119 (1 significant space)

Just for the obscurity of it :)

dc -e "$1dsnsm"'
[[ ]n]ss
[[*]n]st
[[
]n]sl
[s2s1[l2xl11-ds10<T]dsTx]sR
[lndlslRxlcdltlRxllx2+sc1-dsn0<M]sM
1sclMxlmlslRxltxllx
'

$ sh ax3 10
          *
         ***
        *****
       *******
      *********
     ***********
    *************
   ***************
  *****************
 *******************
          *

Answer 24

Language: C, Char count: 116

I realized I could improve on my original design:

main(int c,char**v){char l[99],i=0;for(c=atoi(1[v]);i<c;printf("%*s%.*s\n",c,l,i++,l))l[i]=42;printf("%*c\n",c,42);}

Different approach (119 characters):

s[99],w,i=0;p(n){printf("%*.*s\n",w+n,n*2+1,s);}main(int c,char**v){w=atoi(v[1]);for(memset(s,42,99);i<w;p(i++));p(0);}

Old version (123 characters):

main(int c,char**v){char*l=calloc(c=atoi(v[1]),2),i=0;for(;i<c;printf("%*s%.*s\n",c,l,i++,l))l[i]=42;printf("%*c\n",c,42);}

(One byte can be saved by putting char *l=... in the for loop. That makes it non-standard, however (though gcc still accepts it).)

Answer 25

Language: Brainfuck, Char count: 240

Not yet done. It works, but only with single-digit numbers.

EDIT: Done! Works for interpreters using 0 as EOF. See NOTEs in commented source for those with -1.

EDIT again: I should note that because Brainfuck lacks a standard method for reading command line arguments, I used stdin (standard input) instead. ASCII, of course.

EDIT a third time: Oh dear, it seems I stripped . (output) characters when condensing the code. Fixed...

Here's the basic memory management of the main loop. I'm sure it can be heavily optimized to reduce the character count by 30 or so.

1. Temporary
2. Copy of counter
3. Counter (counts to 0)
4. Space character (decimal 32)
5. Asterisk character (decimal 42)
6. Number of asterisks on current line (1 + 2*counter)
7. Temporary
8. New line character
9. Temporary?
10. Total number of lines (i.e. input value; stored until the very end, when printing the trunk)

Condensed version:

,>++++++++[-<------>],[>++++++++[-<------>]<<[->++++++++++<]>>]<[->+>+>>>>>>>+<<<<<<<<<]>>>>++++++++[-<++++>]>++++++[-<+++++++>]+>>>++[-<+++++>]<<<<<<[-[>.<-]<[-<+>>+<]<[->+<]>>>>>[-<.>>+<]>[-<+>]>.<<++<<<-<->]>>>>>>>-[-<<<<<<.>>>>>>]<<<<<.

And the pretty version:

ASCII to number
,>
++++++++[-<------>]  = 48 ('0')

Second digit (may be NULL)
,
NOTE:   Add plus sign here if your interpreter uses negative one for EOF
[ NOTE: Then add minus sign here
 >++++++++[-<------>]
 <<[->++++++++++<]>>  Add first digit by tens
]

Duplicate number
<[->+>+>>>>>>>+<<<<<<<<<]>>

Space char
>>++++++++[-<++++>]

Asterisk char
>++++++[-<+++++++>]

Star count
+

New line char
>>>++[-<+++++>]<<<

<<<

Main loop
[
Print leading spaces
-[>.<-]

Undo delete
<[-<+>>+<]
<[->+<]
>>

Print stars
>>>[-<.>>+<]

Add stars and print new line
>[-<+>]
>.<
<++

<<<

-<->
End main loop
]

Print the trunk
>>>>>>>
-[-<<<<<<.>>>>>>]
<<<<<.

Merry Christmas =)

Answer 26

PHP, 111 chars

(The very last char should be a newline.)

<?php $n=$argv[1];for($r='str_repeat';$i<$n;$i++)echo $r(' ',$n-$i).$r('*',$i*2+1)."\n";echo $r(' ',$n).'*' ?>

Readable version:

<?php

$n = $argv[1];

for ($r = 'str_repeat'; $i < $n; $i++)
    echo $r(' ', $n - $i) . $r('*' , $i * 2 + 1) . "\n";

echo $r(' ', $n) . '*'

?>

Answer 27

Improving ΤΖΩΤΖΙΟΥ's answer. I can't comment, so here is a new post. 72 characters.

import sys
n=int(sys.argv[1])
for i in range(n)+[0]:
   print ("*"*(2*i+1)).center(2*n)

Using the "python -c" trick, 61 characters.

python -c "
for i in range($1)+[0]:
   print ('*'*(2*i+1)).center(2*$1)
"

I learned the center function and that "python -c" can accept more than one line code. Thanks, ΤΖΩΤΖΙΟΥ.

Answer 28

Common Lisp, 117 essential characters:

(defun x (n)
  (dotimes (v n)
    (format t "~v:@<~v{*~}~>~%"
            (1- (* 2 n))
            (1+ (* 2 v))
            '(())))
  (format t "~v:@<*~>~%" (1-(* 2 n)))

Are there any format gurus out there who know a better way to get repeating arbitrary characters?

Answer 29

Shell version, 134 characters:

#!/bin/sh
declare -i n=$1
s="*"
for (( i=0; i<$n; i++ )); do
    printf "%$(($n+$i))s\n" "$s"
    s+="**"
done
printf "%$(($n))s\n" "*"

Answer 30

Language: Windows Batch Script (shocking!)

@echo off
echo Enable delayed environment variable expansion with CMD.EXE /V

rem Branches
for /l %%k in (1,1,%1) do (
set /a A=%1 - %%k
set /a B=2 * %%k - 1
set AA=
for /l %%i in (1,1,!A!) do set "AA=!AA! "
set BB=
for /l %%i in (1,1,!B!) do set BB=*!BB!
echo !AA!!BB!
)

rem Trunk
set /a A=%1 - 1
set AA=
for /l %%i in (1,1,!A!) do set "AA=!AA! "
echo !AA!*

Answer 31

Java version. 189 character

class P
{
 static String p(int n, String s) 
 {
  return --n < 1 ? s : p(n, s) + s;
 }

 public static void main(String[] a) 
 {
  for (int N = new Integer(a[0]), i = -1; i++ < N;) 
   System.out.println(p(N - i % N, " ") + p(i % N * 2 + 1, "*"));
 }
}

Answer 32

Language: dc (through shell) Char count: 83

A little bit shorter dc version:

dc -e '?d1rdsv[d32r[[rdPr1-d0<a]dsaxszsz]dsbx1-rd42rlbx2+r10Plv1-dsv0<c]dscxszsz32rlbx[*]p' <<<$1

EDIT: changed constant 10 into $1

Answer 33

Language: Erlang, Char count: 151

A little bit shorter Erlang version:

-module(x).
-export([t/1]).
t(N)->[H|_]=T=t(N,1),io:format([T,H]).
t(0,_)->[];t(N,M)->[[d(N,32),d(M,42),10]|t(N-1,M+2)].
d(N,C)->lists:duplicate(N,C).

When should run with command line argument

-module(x).
-export([t/1]).
t([N])->[H|_]=T=t(list_to_integer(N),1),io:format([T,H]),init:stop().
t(0,_)->[];t(N,M)->[[d(N,32),d(M,42),10]|t(N-1,M+2)].
d(N,C)->lists:duplicate(N,C).

Invocation:

$ erl -noshell -noinput -run x t 11
           *
          ***
         *****
        *******
       *********
      ***********
     *************
    ***************
   *****************
  *******************
 *********************
           *

Answer 34

C# using Linq:

    using System;
    using System.Linq;
    class Program
        {
            static void Main(string[] args)
            {
                int n = int.Parse(args[0]);
                int i=0;
                Console.Write("{0}\n{1}", string.Join("\n", 
                   new int[n].Select(r => new string('*',i * 2 + 1)
                   .PadLeft(n+i++)).ToArray()),"*".PadLeft(n));
            }
       }

170 charcters.

int n=int.Parse(a[0]);int i=0;Console.Write("{0}\n{1}",string.Join("\n",Enumerable.Repeat(0,n).Select(r=>new string('*',i*2+1).PadLeft(n+i++)).ToArray()),"*".PadLeft(n));

Answer 35

Language: python, no tricks, 78 chars

import sys
n=int(sys.argv[1])
for i in range(n)+[0]:print' '*(n-i)+'*'*(2*i+1)

Answer 36

Rhino Javascript shell: 117 chars minified

t=['*'];
for(i=1;i<arguments[0];++i)
{
  s='*'+t[i-1]+'*';
  for(j in t) 
    t[j]=' '+t[j];
  t[i]=s;
}
t[i]=t[0];print(t.join('\n'));

minified:

t=['*'];for(i=1;i<arguments[0];++i){s='*'+t[i-1]+'*';for(j in t) t[j]=' '+t[j];t[i]=s;}t[i]=t[0];print(t.join('\n'));

results:

c:\>java -jar C:\appl\Java\rhino1_7R1\js.jar c:/tmp/Xtree.js 10
         *
        ***
       *****
      *******
     *********
    ***********
   *************
  ***************
 *****************
*******************
         *

Answer 37

python, "-c" trick... @61 chars (and one line)

python -c"for i in range($1)+[0]:print' '*($1-i)+'*'*(2*i+1)"

Answer 38

Language: Php, Char count: 110 (3 relevant spaces)

<? function x($n,$a,$t){return $n?str_repeat(' ',$n).$a.x($n-1,"*$a"," $t"):$t;}echo x($argv[1],"\n","*\n");

A bit of php recursion to reduce the count of chars to 110.

Answer 39

AWK, 86 characters on one line.

awk '{s="#";for(i=0;i<$1;i++){printf"%"$1-i"s%s\n","",s;s=s"##"}printf"%"$1"s#\n",""}'

echo "8" | awk '{s="#";for(i=0;i<$1;i++){printf"%"$1-i"s%s\n","",s;s=s"##"}printf"%"$1"s#\n",""}'
        #
       ###
      #####
     #######
    #########
   ###########
  #############
 ###############
        #

cat tree.txt
3
5

awk '{s="#";for(i=0;i<$1;i++){printf"%"$1-i"s%s\n","",s;s=s"##"}printf"%"$1"s#\n",""}' tree.txt
   #
  ###
 #####
   #
     #
    ###
   #####
  #######
 #########
     #

Answer 40

FreePascal:

program xmastree;

{$mode objfpc}{$H+}

uses
  {$IFDEF UNIX}{$IFDEF UseCThreads}
  cthreads,
  {$ENDIF}{$ENDIF}
  Classes
  { you can add units after this };

var x,y,h:integer;

{$IFDEF WINDOWS}{$R xmastree.rc}{$ENDIF}

procedure printRow(sp,st:integer);
var i:integer;
begin
    for i := 1 to sp do begin
    write(' ');
  end;
    for x := 1 to st do begin
    write('*');
  end;
    for x := 1 to sp do begin
    write(' ');
  end;
    writeln();
end;

begin
    val(ParamStr(1),h);
  for y := 1 to h do begin
    printRow(h-y,(y-1)*2+1);
  end;
  printRow(h-1,1);
end.

Output for xmastree.exe 9

        *
       ***
      *****
     *******
    *********
   ***********
  *************
 ***************
*****************
        *

Answer 41

Language: FoxPro 2.x for DOS (should work with Clipper too), Char count: 62

para n
for h=1 to n
?spac(n-h)+repl('*',2*h-1)
endf
?spac(n-1)+'*'

Answer 42

Language: Euphoria 147 chars (9 relevant spaces):

include get.e
object
    a = command_line(), 
    t = 42
a = value( a[3] )
a = a[2]
for i = 1 to a do
    puts(1, repeat( 32, a - i ) & t & 10)
    t &= "**"
end for
puts(1, repeat( 32, a - 1 ) & 42 & 10 )

With only relevant whitespace:

include get.e
object a=command_line(),t=42a=value(a[3])a=a[2]for i=1to a do puts(1,repeat(32,a-i)&t&10)t&="**"end for puts(1,repeat(32,a-1)&42&10)

Answer 43

Language C# in verbosity

using System;

namespace ChristmasTree
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main( string[] args )
        {

            var buildATree = new BuildATree( int.Parse( args[0] ) );

            Console.WriteLine( buildATree.MakeTree() );

            Console.ReadLine();
        }
    }
}


using System.Text;

namespace ChristmasTree
{
    public class BuildATree
    {
        private int TreeHeight
        {
            get;
            set;
        }

        public BuildATree()
            : this( 3 )
        {}

        public BuildATree( int treeHeight )
        {
            this.TreeHeight = treeHeight;

            if( treeHeight > 30 )
                this.TreeHeight = 30;
        }

        public string MakeTree()
        {
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();

            for( int i = 0; i < this.TreeHeight; i++ )
            {
                sb.AppendLine( 
                    new string( ' ', this.TreeHeight - i - 1 ) 
                    + new string( '*', i * 2 + 1 ) );
            }

            sb.AppendLine( new string( ' ', this.TreeHeight-1 ) + "*" );

            return sb.ToString();
        }
    }
}

Answer 44

Excessively long version in J (97 chars)

t=:3 :0
d=:0
k=:''
while.d<y
do.
k=:k,((d{((y-1)+>:i.y))$!.'*'((d{((|.i.y)))$,' ')),LF
d=:d+1
end.k,y$k
)

Run it this way:

t N

where N is tree height.

And Merry Xmas (a bit late).

Answer 45

Language: x86 asm 16-bit, Byte count: 50

No assembly version yet? :)

 bits 16
 org 100h

 mov si, 82h
 lodsb
 aaa
 mov cx, ax
 mov dx, 1
 push cx 
 mov al, 20h
 int 29h
 loop $-2
 push dx
 mov al, 2ah
 int 29h
 dec dx
 jnz $-3
 pop dx
 mov al, 0ah
 int 29h
 inc dx
 inc dx
 pop cx
 loop $-23
 shr dx, 1
 xchg cx, dx
 mov al, 20h
 int 29h
 loop $-2
 mov al, 2ah
 int 29h
 ret

(Note: N is limited to 1 - 9 in this version)

G:\>tree 9
         *
        ***
       *****
      *******
     *********
    ***********
   *************
  ***************
 *****************
         *

Download here

Answer 46

in c++, the shortest and the fastest way "i think" :)

void tree(int c, char* o)
{
#define _(p,x) t=p;while(t--)*o++=x
    if(o&&c>0)
    {
     int m=c+1,t;
     do
     {
      _(c,' ');
      _((m-c)*2-1,'*');
      _(c,' ');
      *o++='\n';
     }while(--c);
     _(m-1,' ');
     *o++= '*';
     *o++='\n';
     *o=0;
    }
}
int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
    char t[1024];
    tree(5, t);
    printf("%s", t);
}

Answer 47

C# 3.0

using System;
using System.Linq;
class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] a)
    {
        int n = int.Parse(a[0]);
        Console.WriteLine(Enumerable.Range(1, n).Concat(new int[] { 1 })
            .Select(x => new string('*', x * 2 - 1).PadLeft(x + n))
            .Aggregate((x, y) => x + "\n" + y));
    }
}

158 characters:

int n=int.Parse(a[0]);Console.WriteLine(Enumerable.Range(1,n).Concat(new int[]{1}).Select(x=>new string('*',x*2-1).PadLeft(x+n)).Aggregate((x,y)=>x+"\n"+y));

Answer 48

J

24 characters.

(,{.)(}:@|."1,.])[\'*'$~

   (,{.)(}:@|."1,.])[\'*'$~5
    *    
   ***   
  *****  
 ******* 
*********
    *    

Explanation:

'*'$~5
*****

[\'*'$~5
*    
**   
***  
**** 
*****

Then }:@|."1 reverses each row and strips off the last column, and ,. staples it to ].

Then ,{. pastes the first column onto the bottom.

Previous entries:

29 characters, no spaces at all.

   ((\:i.@#),}.)"1$&'*'"0>:0,~i.3
  *
 ***
*****
  *
   ((\:i.@#),}.)"1$&'*'"0>:0,~i.11
          *
         ***
        *****
       *******
      *********
     ***********
    *************
   ***************
  *****************
 *******************
*********************
          *

---

   NB. count from 1 to n, then 1 again
   >:0,~i.3
1 2 3 1
   NB. replicate '*' x times each
   $&'*'"0>:0,~i.3
*
**
***
*
   NB. reverse each row
   (\:i.@#)"1$&'*'"0>:0,~i.3
  *
 **
***
  *
   NB. strip off leading column
   }."1$&'*'"0>:0,~i.3

*
**

   NB. paste together
   ((\:i.@#),}.)"1$&'*'"0>:0,~i.3
  *
 ***
*****
  *

Answer 49

Since this is a CW: I don't like that code golfs are always organized in terms of "number of characters" or somesuch. Couldn't they be organized in terms of number of instructions for the compiler/interpreter (or some similar criterion)? Here is the Ruby solution again, and it's basically the same, but now for human consumption too:

SPACE = " "
ASTERISK = "*"
height_of_tree=ARGV[0].to_i
tree_lines = (1..height_of_tree).to_a
tree_lines.push 1 # trunk
tree_lines.each do | line |
   spaces_before = SPACE*(height_of_tree-line)
   asterisks = ASTERISK*(2*line-1) 
   puts spaces_before + asterisks
end

Answer 50

Fortran 90

A bit modified, so the tree trunk looks more proportional to the height of the tree.

    write(*,*) 'how high a tree? '; read(*,*)n
    write(*,'(a,a)') (repeat(' ',n-i),repeat('*',2*i-1),i=1,n)
    write(*,'(a,a)') (repeat(' ',n-1),repeat('*',1),i=1,n/5+1)
    end

Answer 51

VBScript, 106 characters

n = WScript.Arguments(0)
For i = 1 To n
  WScript.Echo Space(n-i+1) & String(2*i-1, "*")
Next
WScript.Echo Space(n) & "*"

Usage and output example:

> cscript christmastree.vbs 7 //nologo
       *
      ***
     *****
    *******
   *********
  ***********
 *************
       *

Answer 52

Windows Batch File

Windows batch files have poor support for string operations: they can concatename, extract and replace strings, but generation of arbitrary-length strings according to a certain pattern AFAIK can only be done via loops. This is how Zach Scrivena's solution works.

However, one can notice that the N+1-th tree line can be generated from the N-th line by cutting one leading space off and adding two traling asterisks, which pretty much simplifies the task. Also, the tree truck repeats the tree top so we can re-use that string to get rid of a few extra loops. So, here's my batch file that uses these two tricks (165 characters):

@echo off
setlocal enableextensions enabledelayedexpansion
set s=
for /l %%i in (1,1,%1)do set s= !s!
set t=!s!*
for /l %%i in (1,1,%1)do echo !t!&set t=!t:~1!**
echo %s%*

Assuming that echo is already off and command extensions and delayed variable expansion are on, we can drop the first two lines and shorten the code down to 108 characters.

Usage:

> xmastree.bat 7 & pause
       * 
      *** 
     ***** 
    ******* 
   ********* 
  *********** 
 ************* 
       *

Answer 53

Here's a Ruby Newbie (ha! It rhymes!) with his first working solution:

Ruby 164 characters (of readable code)

n=gets.to_i-1
(0..n).each do |j|  
    (n-j).times do 
        print " "
    end 
    (1+j*2).times do
        print "*" 
    end
    print "\n"
end
n.times do 
    print " "
end
print "*"

Answer 54

C# - Recursion

using System;

class A
{
    static string f(int n, int r)
    {
        return "\n".PadLeft(2 * r, '*').PadLeft(n + r) 
            + (r < n ? f(n, ++r) : "*".PadLeft(n));
    }

    static void Main(string[] a)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(f(int.Parse(a[0]), 1));
    }
}

177 chars (not as short the other C# method posted, but a different way of doing it).

Answer 55

Lua:

113 significant chars:

s=string.rep;n=tonumber(arg[1]);r=print;for i=0,n do l=s(" ", n-i)..s("*",(n-(n-i))*2+1);r(l)end r(s(" ",n).."*")

Answer 56

Golfscript - 27 chars

~:i,0+{.i\-(' '*\.)+'*'*n}%

~:i  # eval the command line arg, store in i  
,0+  # create a list [0..i-1] add 0 to the end  
{}%  # map this block over the list  
.    # make a copy of the list element 
i\-  # subtract the list element from i 
(    # decrease by one more  
' '* # multiply the result by ' '
\    # swap, so the list element is back on top of stack
.)+  # duplicate, add one, add the two numbers together
'*'* # multiply the result by '*'
n    # put a newline here

Answer 57

C++

#include<iostream>

using namespace std;

int main(int a,char**c)
{
    int h = atoi(c[1]);
    for(int i=0; i<h; i++)
    {
        cout << string(h-i, ' ') << string(i*2+1, '*') << endl;
    }
    cout << string(h, ' ') << '*' << endl;
}

golfed to 188 char

#include<iostream>    
using namespace std;
#define s string
int main(int a,char**c){int h=atoi(c[1]);for(int i=0;i<h;i++){cout<<s(h-i,' ')<<s(i*2+1,'*')<<endl;}cout<<s(h,' ')<<'*'<<endl;}

Answer 58

GolfScript, 34 characters

Another GolfScript entry:

~:x,-1%[x(]+{." "*x@- 2*("*"*n.},;

Explanation:

~:x                   #read input, store into x
,                     #create array [0,1,2,...,x-1]
-1%                   #reverse it
[x(]+                 #append x-1 to the array
{." "*x@- 2*("*"*n.}, #map each element in array to this block, outputs each line
;                     #remove results of map from stack

The block does:

{.                    #duplicate value given by map (stack is now: i i)
" "*                  #push " ", times it by i (stack now: i "   ") 
x                     #push x, stack is: (i "   " x), and bring i
@                     #bring i to the front (stack is: "   " x i)
- 2*(                 #pop x,i, push ((x-i)*2-1)
"*"*                  #print that many *'s
n.}                   #print newline, duplicate it so the map doesn't kill it