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 minimum value of 3, and a maximum value 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 White Spaces 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 PPCG!

Answer 1

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 2

Brainfuck, 240 characters

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

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 3

Perl, 50 chars

(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 4

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 5

x86 asm 16-bit, 50 bytes

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 6

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 7

Ruby, 64 bytes

n=ARGV[0].to_i
((1..n).to_a+[1]).each{|i|puts' '*(n-i)+'*'*(2*i-1)}

n=$*[0].to_i
((1..n).to_a<<1).each{|i|puts' '*(n-i)+'*'*(2*i-1)}

Merry Christmas all!

Edit: Improvements added as suggested by Joshua Swink

Answer 8

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 9

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 10

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

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

Answer 11

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 12

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 13

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 14

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 15

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 16

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 17

Language:PowerShell, Char count: 41 (including 1 space)

1..$args[0]+1|%{" "*(30-$_)+"*"*($_*2-1)}

Answer 18

21 characters with dyalog APL.

m,⍨⌽0 1↓m←↑'*'\¨⍨1,⍨⍳

⍳ gives a vector of integers starting with 1.

1,⍨ adds a one to the end of the vector. This will be the foot of the tree.

'*'\¨⍨ gives a vector of *-strings with lengths given by the previous vector.

↑ transforms the vector to a matrix and adds spaces to the right.

m← stores the matrix in m.

0 1↓ drops zero rows and the first column.

⌽ reverses the matrix.

m,⍨ concatenates with m at the right side.

Answer 19

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 20

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 21

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 22

Jelly, 12 bytes

R”*ẋz⁶ṚŒBṁ‘Y

Try it online!

Answer 23

R (62 bytes)

I did not see R solution yet. Correct me if I missed it.

for(i in c(1:N,1))cat(rep(" ",N-i),rep("*",2*i-1),"\n",sep="")

Output:

> N <- 3
> for(i in c(1:N,1))cat(rep(" ",N-i),rep("*",2*i-1),"\n",sep="")
  *
 ***
*****
  *
> 
> N <- 4
> for(i in c(1:N,1))cat(rep(" ",N-i),rep("*",2*i-1),"\n",sep="")
   *
  ***
 *****
*******
   *
> 
> N <- 5
> for(i in c(1:N,1))cat(rep(" ",N-i),rep("*",2*i-1),"\n",sep="")
    *
   ***
  *****
 *******
*********
    *

Answer 24

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 25

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 26

Charcoal, 9 bytes (noncompeting)

Ｇ↗↘←Ｎ*Ｍ↓*

Try it online!

Verbose

Polygon(:UpRight, :DownRight, :Left, InputNumber(), "*")
Move(:Down)
Print("*")

Try it online!

Answer 27

05AB1E, 9 bytes

LĆ'*×j€û»

Try it online or verify all Christmas trees in the range [3, 30].

€û» can alternatively be ».º for the same byte-count.

Explanation:

L            # Create a list in the range [1, (implicit) input]
             #  i.e. 3 → [1,2,3]
 Ć           # Enclose; adding the first item (the 1) also add the end of the list
             #  i.e. [1,2,3] → [1,2,3,1]
  '*×       '# For each, repeat the string "*" that many times
             #  i.e. [1,2,3,1] → ["*","**","***","*"]
     j       # Prepend spaces to make all items of a length equal to the (implicit) input
             #  i.e. ["*","**","***","*"] and 3 → ["  *"," **","***","  *"]
      €û     # Palindromize each string
             #  i.e. ["  *"," **","***","  *"] → ["  *  "," *** ","*****","  *  "]
        »    # Join the list by newlines (and output implicitly)
             #  i.e. ["  *  "," *** ","*****","  *  "] → "  *  \n *** \n*****\n  *  "

Answer 28

c: 151 116 115

Just giving it a whirl

i,j,a;main(c,v)int**v;{for(a=atoi(v[1]);i<a;i+=puts(""))for(j=0;j<a+i;)putchar(++j<a-i?32:42);printf("%*s",a,"*");}

Readable code:

i, j, a; 
main(c, v) int **v; {
    for (a = atoi(v[1]); i < a; i += puts(""))
        for(j = 0; j < a + i;)
            putchar(++j < a - i ? 32 : 42);
    printf("%*s", a, "*");
}

Try it online!

Code History:

main(int c, char **v){
    int i, j, a = atoi(v[1]);
    for (i = 1; i <= a; i++) {
        for (j = 0; j < a + i - 1; j++)
            putchar((j >= a - i) ? '*' : ' ');
        putchar('\n');
    }
    printf("%*s*\n", a - 1, "");
}

Answer 29

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 30

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 31

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 32

Haskell - 105 95 characters - 3 Relevant spaces

Improved on the other Haskell solution (https://codegolf.stackexchange.com/a/4267/7353) by 2 12 strokes.

• Updated take x$cycle "*" into replicate x '*'
• Removed unnecessary brackets

Updated version:

r=replicate;main=(\x->mapM_ putStrLn[r(x-l)' '++r(l+l-1)'*'|l<-[1..x]++[1]])=<<(readLn::IO Int)

Previous version:

c=cycle;main=(\x->mapM_ putStrLn[(take(x-l)$c" ")++(take(l+l-1)$c"*")|l<-[1..x]++[1]])=<<(readLn::IO Int)

Readable (updated) version:

main=(\ size->
          mapM_
               putStrLn
               [replicate (size - count) ' ' ++ replicate (count + count - 1) '*' | count <- [1..size] ++ [1]]
     ) =<< ( readLn :: IO Int )

Haskell is such an elegant language.

Answer 33

K 33

q)k)f:{{(|:'x),'1_'x}x$(1+(!x),0)#'"*"}
q)f 4
"   *   "
"  ***  "
" ***** "
"*******"
"   *   "

Answer 34

Bash: 126120

As there is no bash purpose, there is one:

for((z=$1-1;z;z--)){ printf -v s "%$((($1-z)*2-1))s" ""
printf "%$((2*$1-z))s\n" "${s// /*}";};printf "%$((1+$1))s\n" \*

This could be written:

#!/bin/bash
               #
              for\
            ((z=$1-
          1;z;z--));do
        printf -v s "%$((
     ($1-z)*2-1))s" "" #fil
   printf "%$((2*$1-z))s\n" \
 "${s// /*}";done;printf "%$((1
          +$1))s\n"\
              \*
              ##

In use:

set -- 12
for((z=$1-1;z;z--)){ printf -v s "%$((($1-z)*2-1))s" ""
printf "%$((2*$1-z))s\n" "${s// /*}";};printf "%$((1+$1))s\n" \*
            *
           ***
          *****
         *******
        *********
       ***********
      *************
     ***************
    *****************
   *******************
  *********************
            *

Or into the script:

./chrismas.sh 6
      *
     ***
    *****
   *******
  *********
      *

Answer 35

05AB1E (legacy), 16 10 bytes

L·<'**Ć.c»

Try it online!

Explanation:

L·<'**Ć.c»
L          : Create a range [1..input]
 ·<        : 2n-1 every element
   '**     : Multiply every element with "*"
      Ć    : Append the first element to the end
       .c  : Centralize elements
         » : Print out with newlines

Previous solution:

µ¾·>'**¼})Ć.c»

Try it online!

Explanation:

µ¾·>'**I¾-ú¼})Ć»
 ¾·>'**I¾-ú      : Create the row with padding and push to stack
           ¼     : Increment the counter
µ           }    : Loop until the counter reaches the input
             )   : Enclose stack to a list
              Ć  : Append the head to the end
               » : Print out the stack with newlines

Answer 36

Intel 4004 machine code, 59 bytes

This 4-bit chip was the first commercial microprocessor, introduced in 1971. Multiplication and division were performed in software, and the accumulator could not be copied to one of the 16 registers except by swapping values.

40 33 50 0F A0 F8 B0 A0 1C 02 A1 B0 50 0F C0 24
20 A0 F8 50 2B 24 2A A1 90 F5 50 2B 24 20 A0 F8
50 2B 24 0C 53 E0 24 0D 53 E0 C0 14 32 53 E0 F8
40 2B C0 53 F0 B3 B0 A0 B1 50 02

The assembly code requires this python emulator for meaningful output.

jun start

mainloop:
    jms printline
    ld r0
    dac
    xch r0
    ld r0
    jcn an mainloop
    ld r1
    xch r0
    jms printline
    bbl 0

printline:
    fim r2 32
    ld r0
    dac
    jms printx

    fim r2 42
    ld r1
    sub r0
    ral
    jms printx

    fim r2 32
    ld r0
    dac
    jms printx

    ;carriage return
    fim r2 12
    jms $3e0
    fim r2 13
    jms $3e0

    bbl 0

printx: 
    jcn az ditch
    jms $3e0
    dac
    jun printx
ditch:
    bbl 0

start:
    jms $3f0 ; input
    xch r3
    xch r0 ; running total
    ld r0
    xch r1 ; permanent total
    jms mainloop

Sample run:

$ python intel4004-emu/main.py tree.4004 
8
       *       
      ***      
     *****     
    *******    
   *********   
  ***********  
 ************* 
***************
       *       

Answer 37

K (oK), 33 bytes

{(x+1)#(-x+1+!x)$x#x("**",)\"* "}

Try it online!

Answer 38

Python - 104 / 94 characters

Alright, so I have two solutions here. One of them is, I guess, a bit "trickier", placing all of the code on one line, while the other solution is actually shorter.

import sys
c=int(sys.argv[1])
for i in range(c+2):print" "*(c-1)+"*"if i==c+1 else" "*(c-i)+"*"*(2*i-1)

That's the 104-char version. Who said python is always readable? It doesn't use any "tricks" though, which is a plus, I guess? If we split the if/else statement onto a seperate line like so:

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

...this is much neater and is actually a few characters shorter.

Answer 39

J, 24

Works akin to the accepted answer in that you include the parameter in the source code. Expressing it as a proper function would be slightly longer. Uses a different approach than the accepted answer.

' *'#~(>:@+:,.~#-])0,~i.

E.g.

   ' *' #~ (>:@+: ,.~ #-]) 0 ,~ i.5
    *    
   ***   
  *****  
 ******* 
*********
    *    

As a function (27):

#&' *'@(>:@+:,.~#-])@,&0@i.

Answer 40

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 41

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 42

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 43

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 44

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 45

JavaScript (ES6), 58 bytes

f=(n,s=`*
`,l)=>n?(k=' '.repeat(--n)+s)+f(n,'**'+s,l||k):l

Demo

f=(n,s=`*
`,l)=>n?(k=' '.repeat(--n)+s)+f(n,'**'+s,l||k):l

console.log(f(7))

Answer 46

This is my first experience with code golf. So advices are welcome :)

C: 170 chars:

int main(){
    int n,m=1,x;
    scanf("%d",&n);x=2*n-1;
    for(;m<x*n+n+2;m++)
        printf("%c",m==x*n|m==x*n+n+1?42:m==x*n+1?10:m>x*n?32:!(m%(2*n-1))?10:!(m%x<n-m/x)&m%x<m/x+n+1?42:32);
}

Answer 47

It's in PHP.

<center><?$t=$_GET[1]*2-$i=1;while($i<=$t){echo str_repeat('*',$i).'<br>';$i+=2;}echo'*'?><center>

Total characters(with spaces):98 Total characters(with no spaces):97 Bytes:98

Answer 48

I did not see a solution using R. The code below may not be efficient, but it seems to work (170 characters with spaces if all code placed on one line):

for(i in 1:4){ cat( paste( paste(rep(' ', (3-(i-1))), collapse=''), 
                           paste(rep('*', (2*i-1)),   collapse=''), collapse=''),  
               sep='\n'); if(i==4) cat('    *    ', sep='\n')}


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

Answer 49

Javascript, 89

i=4
c=t=""
while(i){o=c,j=(i--+1)*2-3
while(j--)o+="*"
t=o+"\n"+t
c+=" "}console.log(t+o)

Javascript 81

o=s=''
for(a=3;a--;){l=s+=' '
for(k=a*2+1;k--;)l+='*'
o=l+'\n'+o}console.log(o+l)

Answer 50

><>: 136 chars

This one's not going to win, but because Christmas is coming again, I thought fish needed a Christmas tree too! (pun intended)

1-:&1$>:> :1(?!v~$:> :1(?!vv
        ^-1o" "<   ^-1o"*"<>~2+$1-:0(?!v~~&ao>" "o1-v
      ^                              oa<;o"*"^!?(1: <

It can be run as follows with the standard interpreter:

./fish.py christmas.fish -v 5

... for N=5. (If the file is called christmas.fish :P) In this way, one prepopulates the stack with the value 5. This is the closest I could get to a command-line argument.

Answer 51

Python 2 - 62 Bytes:

i,x=input()*2,1
exec"print('*'*(x%i)).center(i);x+=2;"*(i/2+1)

Multiplying the input by two saves a byte because of the need for extra brackets.
There may be a way to further golf the operations.

Answer 52

Scala, 73 chars

val n=args(0).toInt
(1 to n):+1 foreach(i=>println(" "*(n-i)+"*"*(2*i-1)))

run as

golf.scala 10

Answer 53

Japt -R, 11 bytes

ÇÑÄ î*Ãp* û

Try it

Ç               :Map the range [0,input)
 Ñ              :  Multiply by 2
  Ä             :  Add 1
    î*          :  Repeat * that many times
      Ã         :End map
       p*       :Push a *
          û     :Centre pad each element with spaces to the length of the longest
                :Implicitly join with newlines

Answer 54

Python 2, 56 bytes

i=n=input()
exec"i=~-i%n;print' '*i+'*'*(n*2-i+~i);"*-~n

Try it online!

Answer 55

Japt, 11 bytes

õ_ç* êÃp* û

Try it online!

Answer 56

Perl 6, 39 bytes

{say " "x$^a-$_,\*x$_*2-1 for 1...$a,1}

Try it online!

It's one of those questions, where it's easier to just print the lines in the code block.

Explanation:

{say " "x$^a-$_,\*x$_*2-1 for 1...$a,1}
{                                     }   # Anonymous code block
                          for 1...$a,1    # Loop over 1 to n and 1 again
 say                                      # Print
     " "x$^a-$_                           # Leading spaces
               ,\*x$_*2-1                 # And then the amount of asterisks

Answer 57

Lua, 100 99 bytes

p,r,n=io.write,('').rep,arg[1]for i=0,n do p(r(' ',n-i+1),r('*',i*2+1),'\n')end p(r(' ',n+1),'*\n')

Try it online!

Another Lua version, a little shorter.

Answer 58

PHP, 79 bytes

while($argn)echo$r[]=str_pad("
",1+$argn--).str_pad("",++$n*2-1,"*");echo$r[0];

Run as pipe with -nR or try it online.

Answer 59

Zsh, 77 64 bytes

Since all these old questions are now open, I think the oldest q. on codegolf.se needs a zsh answer!
Try it Online!

s=*;for ((;i<$1;))printf %$[$1+i++]s\\n $s&&s+=**
printf %$1s \*

_{Hat-tip to Alastair from Boxing Day 2008
NB: Putting the printf stuff in a function is no advantage...
NB2: original for 77 bytes.. saved 12 bytes by eliminating quotes, braces, trailing newline}

Answer 60

Keg, 42 38 32 23 bytes

:&1ɧ1⑷:⑻$-⑬*$⑵;`*`*⑸(
'

Try it online!

-9 bytes due to generating odd numbers inside of the map

Answer History

32 Bytes

¿&1(⑻|:2+)1^⑷:;½ℤ⑻$-⑬*^`*`*⑸(,
,

Try it online!

-6 bytes due to using a mapping approach

38 Bytes

:&®l1(©l|⑬©l*,:`*`*,
,2+©l;®l)&⑬*,`*`,

-4 bytes due to ⑬ operator (space string)

_{Funny story: I almost said this was 40 bytes before I realised that I forgot how to count.}

Try it online!

I might as well place up the Keg Christmas tree for the year seeing as how it's almost December!

Explained

:&®l    #Store the amount of lines in variable l and the register
1   #Push the number of stars per row
(©l|    #Repeat variable l times
    ⑬©l*,   #Print that amount of spaces
    :`*`*,  #Print that amount of stars

    ,   #Print a literal newline
    2+  #Increment the number of stars
    ©l;®l   #Update the amount of spaces to print
)
&⑬*,`*`,    #Print the bottom row

Answer 61

Poetic, 547 bytes

the triangle trees
a december i loved
o,i placed a fun christmasy thing
i know i am hoping on a santa,a gift,cookie plates,or bag o dolls
i know i am choosing my toy to expect of him,Mr.Claus
i say,Mr,i think i may ask nicely
we are nice people,we are
o,under the tree i go crazy as i glance at the a-b-c puzzle we got
a thing on Xmas i am happy to be toying with
o,i found it!for a moment,i shouted thanks
a gift i am having as we enjoy a holiday feast
and now i sleep
oh,here i am,silent as i could
i quickly awaken
i then go to locate a present

Try it online!

Translated from a version by Daniel Cristofani, but optimized specifically for program length in Poetic (more groups of > than <, more groups of + than -, etc).

Answer 62

Charcoal, 12 bytes

Ｇ<Ｎ*‖↑¶Ｍ⊖θ←*

Try it online

explanation

Ｇ<Ｎ*             #Draw a triangle size input N with character "*"
      ‖↑           #Mirror the triangle so it is the right way round
        ¶          #Newline
         Ｍ⊖θ←    #move left input-1 
               *   #"*" character
                   #the result is implicitly printed

Answer 63

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 64

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 65

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 66

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 67

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 68

JavaScript, 110 characters (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

For Javascript Console 105

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

Answer 69

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 70

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 71

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 72

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 73

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 74

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 75

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 76

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 77

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 78

Q, 54

{-1(-:)[((x+(!)x),x)]$(((&)((!)(2*x))mod 2),1)#\:"*";}

example:

q){-1(-:)[((x+(!)x),x)]$(((&)((!)(2*x))mod 2),1)#\:"*";} 10
         *
        ***
       *****
      *******
     *********
    ***********
   *************
  ***************
 *****************
*******************
         *

Answer 79

Python-3x, 119 bytes

N = int(input())
print(' '*N+'\n','\n'.join(['\t'+' '*(N-i)+'*'*(i*2+1) for i in range(N)]) + '\n', ' '*(N+3)+'*'+'\n')

result:-

enter N value
3
   *
  ***
 *****
   *



 4
        *
       ***
      *****
     *******
        *

9
             *
            ***
           *****
          *******
         *********
        ***********
       *************
      ***************
     *****************
             *

Answer 80

SOGL V0.12, 11 10 bytes

ƨ*αak} *¹╚

Try it Here!

Explanation:

     }      implicitly started loop, repeated input times
ƨ*          push "**"
  α         append that to the variable A, here defaulted to an empty string
   a        load the variable A
    k       remove the first characters
       *    push "*"
        ¹   wrap in an array
         ╚  center horizontally

Answer 81

Excel VBA, 72 Bytes

Anonymous VBE immediate window function that takes input from range [A1] and outputs to the VBE immediate window

For i=1To[A1]:[B1]=i:?Spc([A1]-i)[Rept("*",2*B1-1)]:Next:?Spc([A1-1])"*"

Answer 82

Python 3, 83 bytes

f=lambda n:'\n'.join([' '*(n-1-i)+'*'*(i*2+1)for i in range(n)])+'\n'+' '*(n-1)+'*'

Answer 83

JavaScript, 90 89 bytes

f=(l,n=1,s="")=>l+1?s+=f(l-1,n+2,l?`*`.repeat(n).padStart(l+n)+`
`:"*".padStart(n/2+1)):s

Try it online!

---

Alternative:

f=(l,n=1)=>l+1&&f(l-1,n+2,console.log(l?"*".repeat(n).padStart(l+n):"*".padStart(n/2+1)))

Try it online!

Answer 84

APL(NARS), 37 chars, 74 bytes

{⊃⍵{(' '⍴⍨⍺-⍵),'*'⍴⍨1+⍵×2}¨0,⍨0,⍳⍵-1}

test:

  h←{⊃⍵{(' '⍴⍨⍺-⍵),'*'⍴⍨1+⍵×2}¨0,⍨0,⍳⍵-1}
  h 5
     *    
    ***   
   *****  
  ******* 
 *********
     *    
  h 1
 *
 *
  h 2
  * 
 ***
  * 
  h 3
   *  
  *** 
 *****
   *  

Ot: It seems that your sys for know if i'am a human not work good in this chellphone (so I write this because possible this step is not taken)

Answer 85

Python 2, 119 116

This one generates the tree on one line:

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

It's too bad you have to import the sys module in Python before being able to read argv.

Being used from Command Prompt:

C:\Users\User4\Desktop>treeprint.py 6
     *
    ***
   *****
  *******
 *********
***********
     *

I have a Linux box but it can't connect to the Internet and only has Python 2.4, in case you're wondering why I'm using Windows.

Answer 86

Dart, 174 characters

main(p){var x=-1,r='',a=int.parse(p[0]),b=a,f=(x,y,[z='']){var s='';while(x-->0)s+=y;return s+z;};while(a-->0){x+=2;r+=f(a,' ')+f(x,'*','\n');}print('$r${f(b-1,' ','*')}');}

Answer 87

R, 94 chars

Christmas is over, but anyway:

t=function(N){
  f=function(i)cat(rep(" ",N-i),rep("*",2*i-3),"\n",sep="")
  lapply(2:N,FUN=f);f(2)
}

For trees of height 2 or more:

> t(2)  > t(3)  > t(5)
*        *         *
*       ***       ***
         *       *****
                *******
                   *

Answer 88

Python3,81 bytes

n=int(input());
for j in range(n):
 print(' '*(n-j)+'*'*(2*j+1))
print(' '*n+'*')

try it online

Answer 89

Wren, 91 bytes

Fn.new{|n|
for(i in 0...n)System.print(" "*(n-i)+"*"*(2*i+1))
System.print(" "*n+"*")
}

Try it online!

Answer 90

x86 machine code, 42 40 bytes

Same limitation as in previous x86 answer (N < 10) applies. It may be lifted by replacing the first four lines with the following six (+6 bytes):

start:
    mov si, 82h
    lodsw
    xchg al, ah
    and ax, 0F0Fh
    aad

Assembly source code:

start:
    mov si, 82h
    lodsb
    aaa
    xchg ax, cx
    mov dx, 0A2Ah
    mov di, dx
    push cx
_loop:
    push cx
    rep stosb
    xchg ax, dx
    mov cx, bx
    rep stosb
    stosw
    inc bx
    inc bx
    pop cx
    xchg ax, dx
    loop _loop
    pop cx
    rep stosb
    xchg ax, dx
    stosw
    xchg ax, dx
    mov ax, 0924h
    stosb
    int 21h
    ret

Answer 91

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 92

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 93

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 94

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 95

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 96

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 97

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 98

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 99

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 100

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 101

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 102

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 103

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 104

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

Answer 105

JavaScript, 137 bytes

function k(a){var b="";for(i=0;i<a;i++){for(j=0;j<a*2;j++)b+=j>a-2-i
&&j<a+i?"*":" ";b+="\n"}for(i=0;i<a*2;i++)b+=i==a-1?"*":" ";return b}

Test case (formatting disorder is due to the first " marking a string):

k(3)

"  *   
 ***  
***** 
  *   "