Lost in the Cyber Abyss: Code – Cyber – InfoSec – OSINT

Below is the original article I wrote back in 2009 but find the topic still relevant for students new to C#.

Introduction to C# Programming: ASCII XMas Tree – C# and .Net Sample Project.

C#, pronounced C Sharp, is a relatively new programming language from Microsoft that was designed to take full advantage of the new .Net Framework.

Below is a sample project I did for a programming class I’m attending at MJC in Modesto. To test and run the code listed on this site you should download a free copy of Microsoft Visual C# Express 2005. There are four Visual Studio Express versions available for free from Microsoft, Visual Basic, C#, J# and C++.

The X-Mas tree project was a good idea because it really makes you think.

See the code example below.

C# ASCII XMas Tree Code Sample

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            //create the main array
            int[] myArray = new int[] { 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 };

            //The outside foreach loop to loop throught the array
            foreach (int intLoop in myArray)
            {
                //creates the spaces, takes the array number minus 1 then divide by 2
                //this gives you the amount of spaces needed for each level of the tree
                 for (int iSpace = 0; iSpace < ((myArray[4]-intLoop)/2); iSpace++)
                {
                    System.Console.Write(" ");
                }               
                //middle loop writes the asterisks "*" the full amount of current array[]

                for (int i = 0;i < intLoop; i++)
                {               
                System.Console.Write("*");
             }
                //creates the spaces, takes the array number minus 1 then divide by 2
                //this gives you the amount of spaces needed for each level of the tree
              for (int iSpace = 0; iSpace < ((myArray[4] - intLoop) / 2); iSpace++)
             {
                 System.Console.Write(" ");
             }

            //creates new lines after all 3 loops run

             System.Console.WriteLine("");
            }
            //nest this loop and do it 3 times
            for (int iBase = 0; iBase < myArray[1]; iBase++)
            {
                // now make the base of the tree
                for (int iSpaces = 0; iSpaces < myArray[1]; iSpaces++)
                {
                    System.Console.Write(" ");
                }
                for (int iPipes = 0; iPipes < myArray[1]; iPipes++)
                {
                    System.Console.Write("|");
                }
                // now make the base of the tree
                for (int iSpaces = 0; iSpaces < myArray[1]; iSpaces++)
                {
                    System.Console.Write(" ");
                }
                  //creates new lines after all 3 loops run
                    System.Console.WriteLine("");
            }
        }
    }
}

Good luck to you on all your future programming challenges!