alphabet_rangoli.py

# Problem: https://www.hackerrank.com/challenges/alphabet-rangoli/problem?
# YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZJsyQTEeiYI

# char a as Unicode code
start = 97 # 'a'
def print_rangoli(size):
    lines = []
    for i in range(size):
        line = create_line(start + i, size - i, size)
        lines.append(line)
    all_lines = lines[::-1] + lines[1:]
    for line in all_lines:
        print(line)

def create_line(start_char_int, size, max_size):
    base_char_list =  [chr(start_char_int + i) for i in range(size)]
    base_char_list += ['-'] * (max_size - size)
    full_char_list = base_char_list[::-1] + base_char_list[1:]
    return '-'.join(full_char_list)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    n = int(input())
    print_rangoli(n)