Set puzzle

From Rosetta Code
Task
Set puzzle
You are encouraged to solve this task according to the task description, using any language you may know.

Set Puzzles are created with a deck of cards from the Set Game™. The object of the puzzle is to find sets of 3 cards in a rectangle of cards that have been dealt face up.

There are 81 cards in a deck. Each card contains a unique variation of the following four features: color, symbol, number and shading.

  • there are three colors:
       red, green, purple

  • there are three symbols:
       oval, squiggle, diamond

  • there is a number of symbols on the card:
       one, two, three

  • there are three shadings:
       solid, open, striped

Three cards form a set if each feature is either the same on each card, or is different on each card. For instance: all 3 cards are red, all 3 cards have a different symbol, all 3 cards have a different number of symbols, all 3 cards are striped.

There are two degrees of difficulty: basic and advanced. The basic mode deals 9 cards, that contain exactly 4 sets; the advanced mode deals 12 cards that contain exactly 6 sets.

When creating sets you may use the same card more than once.

Task

Write code that deals the cards (9 or 12, depending on selected mode) from a shuffled deck in which the total number of sets that could be found is 4 (or 6, respectively); and print the contents of the cards and the sets.

For instance:

DEALT 9 CARDS:

green, one, oval, striped
green, one, diamond, open
green, one, diamond, striped
green, one, diamond, solid
purple, one, diamond, open
purple, two, squiggle, open
purple, three, oval, open
red, three, oval, open
red, three, diamond, solid


CONTAINING 4 SETS:

green, one, oval, striped
purple, two, squiggle, open
red, three, diamond, solid


green, one, diamond, open
green, one, diamond, striped
green, one, diamond, solid


green, one, diamond, open
purple, two, squiggle, open
red, three, oval, open


purple, one, diamond, open
purple, two, squiggle, open
purple, three, oval, open



Acornsoft Lisp

(setq numbers '(one two three))
(setq shadings '(solid open striped))
(setq colours '(red green purple))
(setq symbols '(oval squiggle diamond))

(defun play ((n-cards . 9))
  (find-enough-sets n-cards (quotient n-cards 2)))

(defun find-enough-sets (n-cards enough (deal) (sets))
  (loop
    (setq deal (random-sample n-cards (deck)))
    (setq sets (find-sets deal))
    (while (lessp (length sets) enough)
      (show-cards deal)
      (printc)
      (show-sets sets))))

(defun show-cards (cards)
  (printc (length cards) '! cards)
  (map printc cards))

(defun show-sets (sets)
  (printc (length sets) '! sets)
  (map '(lambda (set)
          (printc)
          (map printc set))
       sets))

(defun find-sets (deal)
  (keep-if is-set (combinations 3 deal)))

(defun is-set (cards)
  (every feature-makes-set (transpose cards)))

(defun feature-makes-set (feature-values)
  (or (all-same feature-values)
      (all-different feature-values)))

(defun combinations (n items)
  (cond
    ((zerop n) '(()))
    ((null items) '())
    (t (append
          (mapc '(lambda (c) (cons (car items) c))
                (combinations (sub1 n) (cdr items)))
          (combinations n (cdr items))))))

'(  Making a deck  )

(defun deck ()
  ' ( The deck has to be made only once )
  (cond ((get 'deck 'cards))
        (t (put 'deck 'cards (make-deck)))))

(defun make-deck ()
  (add-feature numbers
    (add-feature shadings
      (add-feature colours
        (add-feature symbols
          (list '()))))))

(defun add-feature (values deck)
  (flatmap '(lambda (value)
               (mapc '(lambda (card) (cons value card))
                     deck))
           values))

'(  Utilities  )

(defun all-same (values)
  (every '(lambda (v) (eq v (car values)))
         values))

(defun all-different (values)
  (every '(lambda (v) (onep (count v values)))
         values))

(defun count (v values (n . 0))
  (loop (until (null values) n)
    (cond ((eq (car values) v) (setq n (add1 n))))
    (setq values (cdr values))))
  
(defun every (test suspects)
  (or (null suspects)
      (and (test (car suspects))
           (every test (cdr suspects)))))

(defun transpose (rows)
  (apply mapc (cons list rows)))

(defun reverse (list (result . ()))
  (map '(lambda (e) (setq result (cons e result)))
       list)
  result)

(defun append (a b)
  (reverse (reverse a) b))

(defun flatmap (_f_ _list_)
  (cond ((null _list_) '())
        (t (append (_f_ (car _list_))
                   (flatmap _f_ (cdr _list_))))))

(defun keep-if (_p_ _items_ (_to_keep_))
  (map '(lambda (_i_)
          (cond ((_p_ _i_)
                 (setq _to_keep_ (cons _i_ _to_keep_)))))
       _items_)
  (reverse _to_keep_))
Output:

Calling (play) will output:

9 cards
(three open red oval)
(three solid green diamond)
(two solid red squiggle)
(one open red oval)
(two striped green oval)
(one striped red diamond)
(three solid purple oval)
(one solid purple oval)
(three solid purple diamond)

4 sets

(three open red oval)
(two solid red squiggle)
(one striped red diamond)

(three open red oval)
(two striped green oval)
(one solid purple oval)

(three solid green diamond)
(two solid red squiggle)
(one solid purple oval)

(one open red oval)
(two striped green oval)
(three solid purple oval)

Ada

We start with the specification of a package "Set_Puzzle.

package Set_Puzzle is
   
   type Three is range 1..3;
   type Card is array(1 .. 4) of Three;
   type Cards is array(Positive range <>) of Card;   
   type Set is array(Three) of Positive;
   
   procedure Deal_Cards(Dealt: out Cards);
   -- ouputs an array with disjoint cards
   
   function To_String(C: Card) return String;
   
   generic
      with procedure Do_something(C: Cards; S: Set);
   procedure Find_Sets(Given: Cards);
   -- calls Do_Something once for each set it finds. 
   
end Set_Puzzle;

Now we implement the package "Set_Puzzle".

with Ada.Numerics.Discrete_Random;

package body Set_Puzzle is
   
   package Rand is new Ada.Numerics.Discrete_Random(Three);
   R: Rand.Generator;
   
   function Locate(Some: Cards; C: Card) return Natural is
      -- returns index of card C in Some, or 0 if not found
   begin
      for I in Some'Range loop
	 if C = Some(I) then
	    return I;
	 end if;
      end loop;
      return 0;
   end Locate;
   
   procedure Deal_Cards(Dealt: out Cards) is
      function Random_Card return Card is
	 (Rand.Random(R), Rand.Random(R), Rand.Random(R), Rand.Random(R));
   begin 
      for I in Dealt'Range loop
	 -- draw a random card until different from all card previously drawn
	 Dealt(I) := Random_Card; -- draw random card
	 while Locate(Dealt(Dealt'First .. I-1), Dealt(I)) /= 0 loop
	    -- Dealt(I) has been drawn before
	    Dealt(I) := Random_Card; -- draw another random card
	 end loop;
      end loop;
   end Deal_Cards;
      
   procedure Find_Sets(Given: Cards) is
      function To_Set(A, B: Card) return Card is
	 -- returns the unique card C, which would make a set with A and B
	 C: Card;
      begin
	 for I in 1 .. 4 loop
	    if A(I) = B(I) then 
	       C(I) := A(I); -- all three the same
	    else
	       C(I) := 6 - A(I) - B(I); -- all three different;
	    end if;
	 end loop;
	 return C;
      end To_Set;
      
      X: Natural;
      
   begin
      for I in Given'Range loop
	 for J in Given'First .. I-1 loop
	    X := Locate(Given, To_Set(Given(I), Given(J)));
	    if I < X then -- X=0 is no set, 0 < X < I is a duplicate
	      Do_Something(Given, (J, I, X));
	    end if;
	 end loop;
      end loop;
   end Find_Sets;
	    
   function To_String(C: Card) return String is
      
      Col: constant array(Three) of String(1..6) 
	:= ("Red   ", "Green ", "Purple");
      Sym: constant array(Three) of String(1..8) 
	:= ("Oval    ", "Squiggle", "Diamond ");
      Num: constant array(Three) of String(1..5) 
	:= ("One  ", "Two  ", "Three");
      Sha: constant array(Three) of String(1..7) 
	:= ("Solid  ", "Open   ", "Striped");
      
   begin
      return (Col(C(1)) & " " & Sym(C(2)) & " " & Num(C(3)) & " " & Sha(C(4)));
   end To_String;

begin
   Rand.Reset(R);
end Set_Puzzle;

Finally, we write the main program, using the above package. It reads two parameters from the command line. The first parameter describes the number of cards, the second one the number of sets. Thus, for the basic mode one has to call "puzzle 9 4", for the advanced mode "puzzle 12 6", but the program would support any other combination of parameters just as well.

with Ada.Text_IO, Set_Puzzle, Ada.Command_Line;

procedure Puzzle is
   
   package TIO renames Ada.Text_IO;
   
   Card_Count:     Positive := Positive'Value(Ada.Command_Line.Argument(1));
   Required_Sets:  Positive := Positive'Value(Ada.Command_Line.Argument(2));
   
   Cards: Set_Puzzle.Cards(1 .. Card_Count);
   
   function Cnt_Sets(C: Set_Puzzle.Cards) return Natural is
      Cnt: Natural := 0;
      procedure Count_Sets(C: Set_Puzzle.Cards; S: Set_Puzzle.Set) is
      begin
         Cnt := Cnt + 1;
      end Count_Sets;
      procedure CS is new Set_Puzzle.Find_Sets(Count_Sets);
   begin
      CS(C);
      return Cnt;
   end Cnt_Sets;
   
   procedure Print_Sets(C: Set_Puzzle.Cards) is
      procedure Print_A_Set(C: Set_Puzzle.Cards; S: Set_Puzzle.Set) is
      begin
         TIO.Put("(" & Integer'Image(S(1)) & "," & Integer'Image(S(2))
                   & "," & Integer'Image(S(3)) & " )  ");
      end Print_A_Set;
      procedure PS is new Set_Puzzle.Find_Sets(Print_A_Set);
   begin
      PS(C);
      TIO.New_Line;
   end Print_Sets;

begin
   loop    -- deal random cards
      Set_Puzzle.Deal_Cards(Cards);
      exit when Cnt_Sets(Cards) = Required_Sets;
   end loop;    -- until number of sets is as required
   
   for I in Cards'Range loop    -- print the cards 
      if I < 10 then
         TIO.Put(" ");
      end if;
      TIO.Put_Line(Integer'Image(I) & " " & Set_Puzzle.To_String(Cards(I)));
   end loop;
   
   Print_Sets(Cards);    -- print the sets
end Puzzle;
Output:
>./puzzle 9 4
  1 Red    Diamond  One   Striped
  2 Green  Squiggle Two   Solid  
  3 Red    Squiggle Three Open   
  4 Green  Squiggle Three Solid  
  5 Purple Oval     Two   Open   
  6 Purple Squiggle One   Striped
  7 Green  Squiggle One   Solid  
  8 Purple Squiggle One   Solid  
  9 Purple Diamond  Three Solid  
( 2, 3, 6 )  ( 1, 4, 5 )  ( 2, 4, 7 )  ( 5, 6, 9 )

>./puzzle 12 6
  1 Purple Diamond  One   Solid  
  2 Red    Diamond  One   Striped
  3 Red    Oval     Three Striped
  4 Green  Oval     Two   Solid  
  5 Red    Squiggle Three Solid  
  6 Green  Squiggle Two   Solid  
  7 Red    Squiggle Three Striped
  8 Red    Squiggle Three Open   
  9 Purple Squiggle One   Striped
 10 Red    Diamond  Two   Solid  
 11 Red    Squiggle One   Open   
 12 Red    Oval     One   Solid  
( 1, 4, 5 )  ( 5, 7, 8 )  ( 6, 8, 9 )  ( 3, 10, 11 )  ( 5, 10, 12 )  ( 2, 11, 12 )

AutoHotkey

; Generate deck; card encoding from Raku
Loop, 81
	deck .= ToBase(A_Index-1, 3)+1111 ","
deck := RegExReplace(deck, "3", "4")

; Shuffle
deck := shuffle(deck)

msgbox % clipboard := allValidSets(9, 4, deck)
msgbox % clipboard := allValidSets(12, 6, deck)

; Render a hand (or any list) of cards
PrettyHand(hand) {
	 Color1:="red",Color2:="green",Color4:="purple"
	,Symbl1:="oval",Symbl2:="squiggle",Symbl4:="diamond"
	,Numbr1:="one",Numbr2:="two",Numbr4:="three"
	,Shape1:="solid",Shape2:="open",Shape4:="striped"
	Loop, Parse, hand, `,
	{
		StringSplit, i, A_LoopField
		s .= "`t" Color%i1% "`t" Symbl%i2% "`t" Numbr%i3% "`t" Shape%i4% "`n"
	}
	Return s
}

; Get all unique valid sets of three cards in a hand.
allValidSets(n, m, deck) {
	While j != m
	{
		j := 0
		,hand := draw(n, deck)
		,s := "Dealt " n " cards:`n" . prettyhand(hand)
		StringSplit, set, hand, `,
		comb := comb(n,3)
		Loop, Parse, comb, `n
		{
			StringSplit, i, A_LoopField, %A_Space%
			If isValidSet(set%i1%, set%i2%, set%i3%)
				s .= "`nSet " ++j ":`n" . prettyhand(set%i1% "," set%i2% "," set%i3%)
		}
	}
	Return s
}

; Convert n to arbitrary base using recursion
toBase(n,b) {  ; n >= 0, 1 < b < StrLen(t), t = digits
	Static t := "0123456789ABCDEF"
	Return (n < b ? "" : ToBase(n//b,b)) . SubStr(t,mod(n,b)+1,1)
}

; Knuth shuffle from http://rosettacode.org/wiki/Knuth_Shuffle#AutoHotkey
shuffle(list) {									; shuffle comma separated list, converted to array
	StringSplit a, list, `,						; make array (length = a0)
	Loop % a0-1 {
		Random i, A_Index, a0					; swap item 1,2... with a random item to the right of it
		t := a%i%, a%i% := a%A_Index%, a%A_Index% := t
	}
	Loop % a0									; construct string from sorted array
		s .= "," . a%A_Index%
	Return SubStr(s,2)							; drop leading comma
}

; Randomly pick a hand of cards from the deck
draw(n, deck) {
	Loop, % n
	{
		Random, i, 1, 81
		cards := deck
		Loop, Parse, cards, `,
			(A_Index = i) ? (hand .= A_LoopField ",") : (cards .= A_LoopField ",")
		deck := cards
	}
	Return SubStr(hand, 1, -1)
}

; Test if a particular group of three cards is a valid set
isValidSet(a, b, c) {
	StringSplit, a, a
	StringSplit, b, b
	StringSplit, c, c
	Return !((a1|b1|c1 ~= "[3,5,6]") + (a2|b2|c2 ~= "[3,5,6]") + (a3|b3|c3 ~= "[3,5,6]") + (a4|b4|c4 ~= "[3,5,6]"))
}

; Get all combinations, from http://rosettacode.org/wiki/Combinations#AutoHotkey
comb(n,t) { ; Generate all n choose t combinations of 1..n, lexicographically
	IfLess n,%t%, Return
	Loop %t%
		c%A_Index% := A_Index
	i := t+1, c%i% := n+1
	
	Loop {
		Loop %t%
			i := t+1-A_Index, c .= c%i% " "
		c .= "`n"	  ; combinations in new lines
		j := 1, i := 2
		Loop
			If (c%j%+1 = c%i%)
				 c%j% := j, ++j, ++i
			Else Break
		If (j > t)
			Return c
		c%j% += 1
	}
}
Sample output:
Dealt 9 cards:
	purple	diamond	three	striped
	green	diamond	two	open
	green	oval	one	striped
	red	oval	two	solid
	purple	squiggle	two	striped
	red	diamond	three	open
	red	diamond	three	open
	green	oval	one	solid
	red	oval	two	solid

Set 1:
	purple	squiggle	two	striped
	red	oval	two	solid
	green	diamond	two	open

Set 2:
	green	oval	one	solid
	red	diamond	three	open
	purple	squiggle	two	striped

Set 3:
	green	oval	one	solid
	red	diamond	three	open
	purple	squiggle	two	striped

Set 4:
	red	oval	two	solid
	purple	squiggle	two	striped
	green	diamond	two	open


Dealt 12 cards:
	purple	oval	two	open
	purple	diamond	three	solid
	green	squiggle	three	striped
	green	squiggle	one	solid
	purple	squiggle	one	striped
	purple	squiggle	one	solid
	green	diamond	two	solid
	purple	squiggle	one	striped
	red	diamond	two	striped
	green	diamond	one	open
	green	oval	one	open
	red	squiggle	one	open

Set 1:
	purple	squiggle	one	striped
	purple	diamond	three	solid
	purple	oval	two	open

Set 2:
	purple	squiggle	one	striped
	purple	diamond	three	solid
	purple	oval	two	open

Set 3:
	green	diamond	one	open
	red	diamond	two	striped
	purple	diamond	three	solid

Set 4:
	green	oval	one	open
	green	diamond	two	solid
	green	squiggle	three	striped

Set 5:
	red	squiggle	one	open
	purple	squiggle	one	striped
	green	squiggle	one	solid

Set 6:
	red	squiggle	one	open
	purple	squiggle	one	striped
	green	squiggle	one	solid

C

Brute force. Each card is a unique number in the range of [0,81]. Randomly deal a hand of cards until exactly the required number of sets are found.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

char *names[4][3] = {
	{ "red", "green", "purple" },
	{ "oval", "squiggle", "diamond" },
	{ "one", "two", "three" },
	{ "solid", "open", "striped" }
};

int set[81][81];

void init_sets(void)
{
	int i, j, t, a, b;
	for (i = 0; i < 81; i++) {
		for (j = 0; j < 81; j++) {
			for (t = 27; t; t /= 3) {
				a = (i / t) % 3;
				b = (j / t) % 3;
				set[i][j] += t * (a == b ? a : 3 - a - b);
			}
		}
	}
}

void deal(int *out, int n)
{
	int i, j, t, c[81];
	for (i = 0; i < 81; i++) c[i] = i;
	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
		j = i + (rand() % (81 - i));
		t = c[i], c[i] = out[i] = c[j], c[j] = t;
	}
}

int get_sets(int *cards, int n, int sets[][3])
{
	int i, j, k, s = 0;
	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
		for (j = i + 1; j < n; j++) {
			for (k = j + 1; k < n; k++) {
				if (set[cards[i]][cards[j]] == cards[k])
					sets[s][0] = i,
					sets[s][1] = j,
					sets[s][2] = k,
					s++;
			}
		}
	}

	return s;
}

void show_card(int c)
{
	int i, t;
	for (i = 0, t = 27; t; i++, t /= 3)
		printf("%9s", names[i][(c/t)%3]);
	putchar('\n');
}

void deal_sets(int ncard, int nset)
{
	int c[81];
	int csets[81][3]; // might not be enough for large ncard
	int i, j, s;

	do deal(c, ncard); while ((s = get_sets(c, ncard, csets)) != nset);

	printf("dealt %d cards\n", ncard);
	for (i = 0; i < ncard; i++) {
		printf("%2d:", i);
		show_card(c[i]);
	}
	printf("\nsets:\n");

	for (i = 0; i < s; i++) {
		for (j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
			printf("%2d:", csets[i][j]);
			show_card(c[csets[i][j]]);
		}
		putchar('\n');
	}
}

int main(void)
{
	init_sets();
	deal_sets(9, 4);

	while (1) deal_sets(12, 6);

	return 0;
}

C#

Works with: C sharp version 8
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using static System.Linq.Enumerable;

public static class SetPuzzle
{
    static readonly Feature[] numbers  = { (1, "One"), (2, "Two"), (3, "Three") };
    static readonly Feature[] colors   = { (1, "Red"), (2, "Green"), (3, "Purple") };
    static readonly Feature[] shadings = { (1, "Open"), (2, "Striped"), (3, "Solid") };
    static readonly Feature[] symbols  = { (1, "Oval"), (2, "Squiggle"), (3, "Diamond") };

    private readonly struct Feature
    {
        public Feature(int value, string name) => (Value, Name) = (value, name);
        public int Value { get; }
        public string Name { get; }
        public static implicit operator int(Feature f) => f.Value;
        public static implicit operator Feature((int value, string name) t) => new Feature(t.value, t.name);
        public override string ToString() => Name;
    }

    private readonly struct Card : IEquatable<Card>
    {
        public Card(Feature number, Feature color, Feature shading, Feature symbol) =>
            (Number, Color, Shading, Symbol) = (number, color, shading, symbol);

        public Feature Number { get; }
        public Feature Color { get; }
        public Feature Shading { get; }
        public Feature Symbol { get; }

        public override string ToString() => $"{Number} {Color} {Shading} {Symbol}(s)";
        public bool Equals(Card other) => Number == other.Number && Color == other.Color && Shading == other.Shading && Symbol == other.Symbol;
    }

    public static void Main() {
        Card[] deck = (
            from number in numbers
            from color in colors
            from shading in shadings
            from symbol in symbols
            select new Card(number, color, shading, symbol)
        ).ToArray();
        var random = new Random();

        Deal(deck, 9, 4, random);
        Console.WriteLine();
        Console.WriteLine();
        Deal(deck, 12, 6, random);
    }

    static void Deal(Card[] deck, int size, int target, Random random) {
        List<(Card a, Card b, Card c)> sets;
        do {
            Shuffle(deck, random.Next);
            sets = (
                from i in 0.To(size - 2)
                from j in (i + 1).To(size - 1)
                from k in (j + 1).To(size)
                select (deck[i], deck[j], deck[k])
            ).Where(IsSet).ToList();
        } while (sets.Count != target);
        Console.WriteLine("The board:");
        foreach (Card card in deck.Take(size)) Console.WriteLine(card);
        Console.WriteLine();
        Console.WriteLine("Sets:");
        foreach (var s in sets) Console.WriteLine(s);
    }

    static void Shuffle<T>(T[] array, Func<int, int, int> rng) {
        for (int i = 0; i < array.Length; i++) {
            int r = rng(i, array.Length);
            (array[r], array[i]) = (array[i], array[r]);
        }
    }

    static bool IsSet((Card a, Card b, Card c) t) =>
        AreSameOrDifferent(t.a.Number, t.b.Number, t.c.Number) &&
        AreSameOrDifferent(t.a.Color, t.b.Color, t.c.Color) &&
        AreSameOrDifferent(t.a.Shading, t.b.Shading, t.c.Shading) &&
        AreSameOrDifferent(t.a.Symbol, t.b.Symbol, t.c.Symbol);

    static bool AreSameOrDifferent(int a, int b, int c) => (a + b + c) % 3 == 0;
    static IEnumerable<int> To(this int start, int end) => Range(start, end - start - 1);
}
Output:
The board:
Two Green Open Oval(s)
Three Green Open Diamond(s)
Two Red Open Oval(s)
One Purple Solid Oval(s)
Two Green Striped Squiggle(s)
Two Purple Open Oval(s)
Two Red Striped Squiggle(s)
Two Purple Solid Diamond(s)
Three Green Solid Diamond(s)

Sets:
(Two Green Open Oval(s), Two Red Open Oval(s), Two Purple Open Oval(s))
(Two Green Open Oval(s), Two Red Striped Squiggle(s), Two Purple Solid Diamond(s))
(Three Green Open Diamond(s), One Purple Solid Oval(s), Two Red Striped Squiggle(s))
(Two Red Open Oval(s), Two Green Striped Squiggle(s), Two Purple Solid Diamond(s))


The board:
One Purple Open Squiggle(s)
One Red Striped Diamond(s)
One Purple Solid Oval(s)
Three Purple Striped Squiggle(s)
Three Green Open Oval(s)
Two Purple Solid Squiggle(s)
One Red Open Diamond(s)
Two Purple Open Diamond(s)
Three Red Solid Diamond(s)
One Green Open Oval(s)
One Purple Solid Squiggle(s)
One Purple Solid Diamond(s)

Sets:
(One Purple Open Squiggle(s), Three Purple Striped Squiggle(s), Two Purple Solid Squiggle(s))
(One Purple Open Squiggle(s), One Red Open Diamond(s), One Green Open Oval(s))
(One Red Striped Diamond(s), Three Green Open Oval(s), Two Purple Solid Squiggle(s))
(One Red Striped Diamond(s), One Green Open Oval(s), One Purple Solid Squiggle(s))
(One Purple Solid Oval(s), Three Purple Striped Squiggle(s), Two Purple Open Diamond(s))
(Three Purple Striped Squiggle(s), Three Green Open Oval(s), Three Red Solid Diamond(s))

C++

Translation of: Java
#include <time.h>
#include <algorithm>
#include <iostream>
#include <iomanip>
#include <vector>
#include <string>

enum color {
    red, green, purple 
};
enum symbol {
    oval, squiggle, diamond 
};
enum number {
    one, two, three 
};
enum shading {
    solid, open, striped 
};
class card {
public:
    card( color c, symbol s, number n, shading h ) {
        clr = c; smb = s; nbr = n; shd = h;
    }
    color getColor() { 
        return clr;
    }
    symbol getSymbol() { 
        return smb; 
    }
    number getNumber() {
        return nbr; 
    }
    shading getShading() {
        return shd;
    }
    std::string toString() {
        std::string str = "[";
        str += clr == red ? "red " : clr == green ? "green " : "purple ";
        str += nbr == one ? "one " : nbr == two ? "two " : "three ";
        str += smb == oval ? "oval " : smb == squiggle ? "squiggle " : "diamond ";
        str += shd == solid ? "solid" : shd == open ? "open" : "striped";
        return str + "]";
    }
private:
    color    clr;
    symbol   smb;
    number   nbr;
    shading  shd;
};
typedef struct {
    std::vector<size_t> index;
} set;
class setPuzzle {
public:
    setPuzzle() {
        for( size_t c = red; c <= purple; c++ ) {
            for( size_t s = oval; s <= diamond; s++ ) {
                for( size_t n = one; n <= three; n++ ) {
                    for( size_t h = solid; h <= striped; h++ ) {
                        card crd( static_cast<color>  ( c ), 
                                  static_cast<symbol> ( s ), 
                                  static_cast<number> ( n ), 
                                  static_cast<shading>( h ) );
                        _cards.push_back( crd );
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
    void create( size_t countCards, size_t countSets, std::vector<card>& cards, std::vector<set>& sets ) {
        while( true ) {
            sets.clear();
            cards.clear();
            std::random_shuffle( _cards.begin(), _cards.end() );
            for( size_t f = 0; f < countCards; f++ ) {
                cards.push_back( _cards.at( f ) );
            }
            for( size_t c1 = 0; c1 < cards.size() - 2; c1++ ) {
                for( size_t c2 = c1 + 1; c2 < cards.size() - 1; c2++ ) {
                    for( size_t c3 = c2 + 1; c3 < cards.size(); c3++ ) {
                        if( testSet( &cards.at( c1 ), &cards.at( c2 ), &cards.at( c3 ) ) ) {
                            set s;
                            s.index.push_back( c1 ); s.index.push_back( c2 ); s.index.push_back( c3 );
                            sets.push_back( s );
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
            if( sets.size() == countSets ) return;
        }
    }
private:
    bool testSet( card* c1, card* c2, card* c3 ) {
        int
        c = ( c1->getColor()   + c2->getColor()   + c3->getColor()   ) % 3,
        s = ( c1->getSymbol()  + c2->getSymbol()  + c3->getSymbol()  ) % 3,
        n = ( c1->getNumber()  + c2->getNumber()  + c3->getNumber()  ) % 3,
        h = ( c1->getShading() + c2->getShading() + c3->getShading() ) % 3;
        return !( c + s + n + h );
    }
    std::vector<card> _cards;
};
void displayCardsSets( std::vector<card>& cards, std::vector<set>& sets ) {
    size_t cnt = 1;
    std::cout << " ** DEALT " << cards.size() << " CARDS: **\n";
    for( std::vector<card>::iterator i = cards.begin(); i != cards.end(); i++ ) {
        std::cout << std::setw( 2 ) << cnt++ << ": " << ( *i ).toString() << "\n";
    }
    std::cout << "\n ** CONTAINING " << sets.size() << " SETS: **\n";
    for( std::vector<set>::iterator i = sets.begin(); i != sets.end(); i++ ) {
        for( size_t j = 0; j < ( *i ).index.size(); j++ ) {
            std::cout << " " << std::setiosflags( std::ios::left ) << std::setw( 34 ) 
                      << cards.at( ( *i ).index.at( j ) ).toString() << " : "
                      << std::resetiosflags( std::ios::left ) << std::setw( 2 ) << ( *i ).index.at( j ) + 1 << "\n";
        }
        std::cout << "\n";
    }
    std::cout << "\n\n";
}
int main( int argc, char* argv[] ) {
    srand( static_cast<unsigned>( time( NULL ) ) );
    setPuzzle p;
    std::vector<card> v9, v12;
    std::vector<set>  s4, s6;
    p.create(  9, 4,  v9, s4 );
    p.create( 12, 6, v12, s6 );
    displayCardsSets(  v9, s4 );
    displayCardsSets( v12, s6 );
    return 0;
}
Output:
 ** DEALT 9 CARDS: **
 1: [red three squiggle solid]
 2: [purple three squiggle solid]
 3: [red two diamond open]
 4: [purple three oval striped]
 5: [green one squiggle solid]
 6: [green two diamond open]
 7: [red one oval striped]
 8: [green one diamond striped]
 9: [purple one diamond open]

 ** CONTAINING 4 SETS: **
 [red three squiggle solid]         :  1
 [red two diamond open]             :  3
 [red one oval striped]             :  7

 [purple three squiggle solid]      :  2
 [green two diamond open]           :  6
 [red one oval striped]             :  7

 [red two diamond open]             :  3
 [purple three oval striped]        :  4
 [green one squiggle solid]         :  5

 [green one squiggle solid]         :  5
 [red one oval striped]             :  7
 [purple one diamond open]          :  9



 ** DEALT 12 CARDS: **
 1: [green one diamond striped]
 2: [red two squiggle solid]
 3: [red three oval striped]
 4: [red two diamond open]
 5: [green three squiggle striped]
 6: [red three squiggle striped]
 7: [green two squiggle solid]
 8: [purple two squiggle striped]
 9: [purple one squiggle open]
10: [green one squiggle striped]
11: [purple three squiggle solid]
12: [red three squiggle open]

 ** CONTAINING 6 SETS: **
 [green one diamond striped]        :  1
 [red three oval striped]           :  3
 [purple two squiggle striped]      :  8

 [red two squiggle solid]           :  2
 [green three squiggle striped]     :  5
 [purple one squiggle open]         :  9

 [green three squiggle striped]     :  5
 [purple three squiggle solid]      : 11
 [red three squiggle open]          : 12

 [red three squiggle striped]       :  6
 [green two squiggle solid]         :  7
 [purple one squiggle open]         :  9

 [red three squiggle striped]       :  6
 [purple two squiggle striped]      :  8
 [green one squiggle striped]       : 10

 [purple two squiggle striped]      :  8
 [purple one squiggle open]         :  9
 [purple three squiggle solid]      : 11

Ceylon

Add import ceylon.random "1.3.3" to your module.ceylon file

import ceylon.random {
    Random,
    DefaultRandom
}

abstract class Feature() of Color | Symbol | NumberOfSymbols | Shading {}

abstract class Color()
        of red | green | purple
        extends Feature() {}
object red extends Color() {
    string => "red";
}
object green extends Color() {
    string => "green";
}
object purple extends Color() {
    string => "purple";
}

abstract class Symbol()
        of oval | squiggle | diamond
        extends Feature() {}
object oval extends Symbol() {
    string => "oval";
}
object squiggle extends Symbol() {
    string => "squiggle";
}
object diamond extends Symbol() {
    string => "diamond";
}

abstract class NumberOfSymbols()
        of one | two | three
        extends Feature() {}
object one extends NumberOfSymbols() {
    string => "one";
}
object two extends NumberOfSymbols() {
    string => "two";
}
object three extends NumberOfSymbols() {
    string => "three";
}

abstract class Shading()
        of solid | open | striped
        extends Feature() {}
object solid extends Shading() {
    string => "solid";
}
object open extends Shading() {
    string => "open";
}
object striped extends Shading() {
    string => "striped";
}

class Card(color, symbol, number, shading) {
    shared Color color;
    shared Symbol symbol;
    shared NumberOfSymbols number;
    shared Shading shading;

    value plural => number == one then "" else "s";
    string => "``number`` ``shading`` ``color`` ``symbol````plural``";
}

{Card*} deck = {
    for(color in `Color`.caseValues)
    for(symbol in `Symbol`.caseValues)
    for(number in `NumberOfSymbols`.caseValues)
    for(shading in `Shading`.caseValues)
    Card(color, symbol, number, shading)
};

alias CardSet => [Card+];

Boolean validSet(CardSet cards) {

    function allOrOne({Feature*} features) =>
            let(uniques = features.distinct.size)
            uniques == 3 || uniques == 1;

    return allOrOne(cards*.color) &&
            allOrOne(cards*.number) &&
            allOrOne(cards*.shading) &&
            allOrOne(cards*.symbol);
}

{CardSet*} findSets(Card* cards) =>
        cards
            .sequence()
            .combinations(3)
            .filter(validSet);

Random random = DefaultRandom();

class Mode of basic | advanced {

    shared Integer numberOfCards;
    shared Integer numberOfSets;

    shared new basic {
        numberOfCards = 9;
        numberOfSets = 4;
    }

    shared new advanced {
        numberOfCards = 12;
        numberOfSets = 6;
    }
}

[{Card*}, {CardSet*}] deal(Mode mode) {
    value randomStream = random.elements(deck);
    while(true) {
        value cards = randomStream.distinct.take(mode.numberOfCards).sequence();
        value sets = findSets(*cards);
        if(sets.size == mode.numberOfSets) {
            return [cards, sets];
        }
    }
}

shared void run() {
    value [cards, sets] = deal(Mode.basic);
    print("The cards dealt are:
           ");
    cards.each(print);
    print("
           Containing the sets:
           ");
    for(cardSet in sets) {
        cardSet.each(print);
        print("");
    }

}

Common Lisp

Translation of: Acornsoft Lisp
(defparameter numbers '(one two three))
(defparameter shadings '(solid open striped))
(defparameter colours '(red green purple))
(defparameter symbols '(oval squiggle diamond))

(defun play (&optional (n-cards 9))
  (find-enough-sets n-cards (floor n-cards 2)))

(defun find-enough-sets (n-cards enough)
  (loop
    (let* ((deal (random-sample n-cards (deck)))
           (sets (find-sets deal)))
      (when (>= (length sets) enough)
        (show-cards deal)
        (show-sets sets)
        (return t)))))

(defun show-cards (cards)
  (format t "~D cards~%~{~(~{~10S~}~)~%~}~%"
          (length cards) cards))

(defun show-sets (sets)
  (format t "~D sets~2%~:{~(~@{~{~8S~}~%~}~)~%~}"
          (length sets) sets))

(defun find-sets (deal)
  (remove-if-not #'is-set (combinations 3 deal)))

(defun is-set (cards)
  (every #'feature-makes-set (transpose cards)))

(defun feature-makes-set (feature-values)
  (or (all-same feature-values)
      (all-different feature-values)))

(defun combinations (n items)
  (cond
    ((zerop n) '(()))
    ((null items) '())
    (t (append
          (mapcar (lambda (c) (cons (car items) c))
                  (combinations (1- n) (cdr items)))
          (combinations n (cdr items))))))

;;; Making a deck

(defun deck ()
  ;; The deck has to be made only once
  (or (get 'deck 'cards)
      (setf (get 'deck 'cards) (make-deck))))

(defun make-deck ()
  (add-feature numbers
    (add-feature shadings
      (add-feature colours
        (add-feature symbols
          (list '()))))))

(defun add-feature (values deck)
  (mapcan (lambda (value)
             (mapcar (lambda (card) (cons value card))
                     deck))
          values))

;;; Utilities

(defun random-sample (n items)
  (let ((len (length items))
        (taken '()))
    (dotimes (_ n)
      (loop
        (let ((i (random len)))
          (unless (find i taken)
            (setq taken (cons i taken))
            (return)))))
    (mapcar (lambda (i) (nth i items)) taken)))

(defun all-same (values)
  (every #'eql values (rest values)))

(defun all-different (values)
  (every (lambda (v) (= (count v values) 1))
         values))

(defun transpose (rows)
  (apply #'mapcar #'list rows))
Output:

Calling (play 12) will output:

12 cards
two       open      red       oval      
three     solid     red       squiggle  
one       striped   red       oval      
three     solid     green     squiggle  
three     solid     green     diamond   
three     solid     red       oval      
one       open      purple    squiggle  
two       solid     red       diamond   
three     open      red       squiggle  
two       striped   green     diamond   
two       striped   red       squiggle  
three     solid     purple    oval      

6 sets

two     open    red     oval    
one     striped red     oval    
three   solid   red     oval    

two     open    red     oval    
two     solid   red     diamond 
two     striped red     squiggle

three   solid   red     squiggle
three   solid   green   diamond 
three   solid   purple  oval    

one     striped red     oval    
two     solid   red     diamond 
three   open    red     squiggle

three   solid   green   squiggle
one     open    purple  squiggle
two     striped red     squiggle

three   solid   red     oval    
one     open    purple  squiggle
two     striped green   diamond 

D

Basic Version

import std.stdio, std.random, std.array, std.conv, std.traits,
       std.exception, std.range, std.algorithm;

const class SetDealer {
    protected {
        enum Color:  ubyte {green, purple, red}
        enum Number: ubyte {one, two, three}
        enum Symbol: ubyte {oval, diamond, squiggle}
        enum Fill:   ubyte {open, striped, solid}

        static struct Card {
            Color c;
            Number n;
            Symbol s;
            Fill f;
        }

        static immutable Card[81] deck;
    }

    static this() pure nothrow @safe {
        immutable colors = [EnumMembers!Color];
        immutable numbers = [EnumMembers!Number];
        immutable symbols = [EnumMembers!Symbol];
        immutable fill = [EnumMembers!Fill];

        deck = deck.length.iota.map!(i => Card(colors[i / 27],
                                               numbers[(i / 9) % 3],
                                               symbols[(i / 3) % 3],
                                               fill[i % 3])).array;
    }

    // randomSample produces a sorted output that's convenient in our
    // case because we're printing to stout. Normally you would want
    // to shuffle.
    immutable(Card)[] deal(in uint numCards) const {
        enforce(numCards < deck.length, "Number of cards too large");
        return deck[].randomSample(numCards).array;
    }

    // The summed enums of valid sets are always zero or a multiple
    // of 3.
    bool validSet(in ref Card c1, in ref Card c2, in ref Card c3)
    const pure nothrow @safe @nogc {
        return !((c1.c + c2.c + c3.c) % 3 ||
                 (c1.n + c2.n + c3.n) % 3 ||
                 (c1.s + c2.s + c3.s) % 3 ||
                 (c1.f + c2.f + c3.f) % 3);
    }

    immutable(Card)[3][] findSets(in Card[] cards, in uint target = 0)
    const pure nothrow @safe {
        immutable len = cards.length;
        if (len < 3)
            return null;

        typeof(return) sets;
        foreach (immutable i; 0 .. len - 2)
            foreach (immutable j; i + 1 .. len - 1)
                foreach (immutable k; j + 1 .. len)
                    if (validSet(cards[i], cards[j], cards[k])) {
                        sets ~= [cards[i], cards[j], cards[k]];
                        if (target != 0 && sets.length > target)
                            return null;
                    }
        return sets;
    }
}

const final class SetPuzzleDealer : SetDealer {
    enum {basic = 9, advanced = 12}

    override immutable(Card)[] deal(in uint numCards = basic) const {
        immutable numSets = numCards / 2;
        typeof(return) cards;

        do {
            cards = super.deal(numCards);
        } while (findSets(cards, numSets).length != numSets);

        return cards;
    }
}

void main() {
    const dealer = new SetPuzzleDealer;
    const cards = dealer.deal;

    writefln("DEALT %d CARDS:", cards.length);
    writefln("%(%s\n%)", cards);

    immutable sets = dealer.findSets(cards);
    immutable len = sets.length;
    writefln("\nFOUND %d SET%s:", len, len == 1 ? "" : "S");
    writefln("%(%(%s\n%)\n\n%)", sets);
}
Sample output:
DEALT 9 CARDS:
immutable(Card)(green, one, diamond, open)
immutable(Card)(green, two, diamond, open)
immutable(Card)(purple, one, diamond, striped)
immutable(Card)(purple, one, diamond, solid)
immutable(Card)(purple, two, squiggle, solid)
immutable(Card)(purple, three, oval, open)
immutable(Card)(red, one, diamond, solid)
immutable(Card)(red, one, squiggle, open)
immutable(Card)(red, three, oval, striped)

FOUND 4 SETS:
immutable(Card)(green, one, diamond, open)
immutable(Card)(purple, one, diamond, striped)
immutable(Card)(red, one, diamond, solid)

immutable(Card)(green, one, diamond, open)
immutable(Card)(purple, two, squiggle, solid)
immutable(Card)(red, three, oval, striped)

immutable(Card)(green, two, diamond, open)
immutable(Card)(purple, three, oval, open)
immutable(Card)(red, one, squiggle, open)

immutable(Card)(purple, one, diamond, striped)
immutable(Card)(purple, two, squiggle, solid)
immutable(Card)(purple, three, oval, open)

Short Version

This requires the third solution module of the Combinations Task.

void main() {
    import std.stdio, std.algorithm, std.range, std.random, combinations3;

    enum nDraw = 9, nGoal = nDraw / 2;
    auto deck = cartesianProduct("red green purple".split,
                                 "one two three".split,
                                 "oval squiggle diamond".split,
                                 "solid open striped".split).array;

    retry:
    auto draw = deck.randomSample(nDraw).map!(t => [t[]]).array;
    const sets = draw.combinations(3).filter!(cs => cs.dup
        .transposed.all!(t => t.array.sort().uniq.count % 2)).array;
    if (sets.length != nGoal)
        goto retry;

    writefln("Dealt %d cards:\n%(%-(%8s %)\n%)\n", draw.length, draw);
    writefln("Containing:\n%(%(%-(%8s %)\n%)\n\n%)", sets);
}
Output:
Dealt 9 cards:
  purple      one     oval    solid
     red    three squiggle    solid
  purple    three  diamond    solid
   green      one squiggle     open
   green      two squiggle     open
     red      two     oval  striped
  purple      one squiggle  striped
  purple      two squiggle  striped
   green    three  diamond  striped

Containing:
  purple    three  diamond    solid
   green      one squiggle     open
     red      two     oval  striped

     red    three squiggle    solid
   green      two squiggle     open
  purple      one squiggle  striped

     red    three squiggle    solid
   green      one squiggle     open
  purple      two squiggle  striped

     red      two     oval  striped
  purple      one squiggle  striped
   green    three  diamond  striped

EasyLang

attr$[][] &= [ "one  " "two  " "three" ]
attr$[][] &= [ "solid  " "striped" "open   " ]
attr$[][] &= [ "red   " "green " "purple" ]
attr$[][] &= [ "diamond" "oval" "squiggle" ]
# 
subr init
   for card = 0 to 80
      pack[] &= card
   .
.
proc card2attr card . attr[] .
   attr[] = [ ]
   for i to 4
      attr[] &= card mod 3 + 1
      card = card div 3
   .
.
proc printcards cards[] . .
   for card in cards[]
      card2attr card attr[]
      for i to 4
         write attr$[i][attr[i]] & " "
      .
      print ""
   .
   print ""
.
proc getsets . cards[] set[] .
   set[] = [ ]
   for i to len cards[]
      card2attr cards[i] a[]
      for j = i + 1 to len cards[]
         card2attr cards[j] b[]
         for k = j + 1 to len cards[]
            card2attr cards[k] c[]
            ok = 1
            for at to 4
               s = a[at] + b[at] + c[at]
               if s <> 3 and s <> 6 and s <> 9
                  ok = 0
               .
            .
            if ok = 1
               set[] &= cards[i]
               set[] &= cards[j]
               set[] &= cards[k]
            .
         .
      .
   .
.
proc run ncards nsets . .
   # 
   repeat
      init
      cards[] = [ ]
      for i to ncards
         ind = random len pack[]
         cards[] &= pack[ind]
         pack[ind] = pack[len pack[]]
         len pack[] -1
      .
      getsets cards[] set[]
      until len set[] = 3 * nsets
   .
   print "Cards:"
   printcards cards[]
   print "Sets:"
   for i = 1 step 3 to 3 * nsets - 2
      printcards [ set[i] set[i + 1] set[i + 2] ]
   .
.
run 9 4
print " --------------------------"
run 12 6

EchoLisp

(require 'list)

;; a card is a vector  [id color number symb shading], 0 <= id < 81
(define (make-deck (id -1))
(for*/vector(
	[ color '(red green purple)]
	[ number '(one two three)]
	[ symb '( oval squiggle diamond)]
	[ shading '(solid open striped)]) (++ id) (vector id color number symb shading)))
(define DECK (make-deck))

;; pre-generate  531441 ordered triples, among which 6561 are winners
(define TRIPLES (make-vector (* 81 81 81)))
(define (make-triples )
   (for* ((i 81)(j 81)(k 81))
	(vector-set! TRIPLES (+ i (* 81 j) (* 6561 k))
		(check-set [DECK i] [DECK j] [DECK k]))))
	
;; a deal is a list of cards id's.
(define (show-deal deal)
   (for ((card deal)) (writeln [DECK card]))
   (for ((set (combinations deal 3)))
     (when 
     (check-set [DECK (first set)] [DECK (second set)][DECK (third set)])
     (writeln 'winner set))))
		
;; rules of game here
(define (check-set cards: a b c)
	(for ((i (in-range 1 5))) ;; each feature
	#:continue (and (= [a i] [b i]) (= [a i] [c i]))
	#:continue (and (!= [a i] [b i]) (!= [a i] [c i]) (!= [b i][c i]))
	#:break  #t =>  #f ))
	
;; sets = list of triples (card-id card-id card-id)
(define (count-sets sets )
	(for/sum ((s sets))
    (if [TRIPLES ( + (first s) (* 81 (second s)) (* 6561 (third s)))]
    1 0)))
				

;; task
(make-triples)

(define (play (n 9) (cmax 4) (sets) (deal))
	(while #t
		(set! deal (take (shuffle (iota 81)) n))
		(set! sets (combinations deal 3))
		#:break (= (count-sets sets) cmax) => (show-deal deal)
		))
Output:
(play) ;; The 9-4 game by default
#( 13 red two squiggle open)    
#( 54 purple one oval solid)    
#( 2 red one oval striped)    
#( 15 red two diamond solid)    
#( 53 green three diamond striped)    
#( 48 green three squiggle solid)    
#( 41 green two squiggle striped)    
#( 66 purple two squiggle solid)    
#( 64 purple two oval open)    
winner     (13 54 53)    
winner     (13 41 66)    
winner     (54 15 48)    
winner     (15 41 64) 
;; 10 deals

(play 12 6)
#( 43 green two diamond open)    
#( 16 red two diamond open)    
#( 79 purple three diamond open)    
#( 63 purple two oval solid)    
#( 60 purple one diamond solid)    
#( 75 purple three squiggle solid)    
#( 64 purple two oval open)    
#( 71 purple two diamond striped)    
#( 67 purple two squiggle open)    
#( 34 green one diamond open)    
#( 59 purple one squiggle striped)    
#( 54 purple one oval solid)    
winner     (16 79 34)    
winner     (79 63 59)    
winner     (79 60 71)    
winner     (63 60 75)    
winner     (63 71 67)    
winner     (75 67 59)  
;; 31 deals

;; the (9 6) game is more difficult
#( 11 red two oval striped)    
#( 9 red two oval solid)    
#( 26 red three diamond striped)    
#( 5 red one squiggle striped)    
#( 60 purple one diamond solid)    
#( 43 green two diamond open)    
#( 10 red two oval open)    
#( 67 purple two squiggle open)    
#( 48 green three squiggle solid)    
winner     (11 9 10)    
winner     (11 26 5)    
winner     (9 60 48)    
winner     (26 60 43)    
winner     (5 67 48)    
winner     (43 10 67)    
;; 17200 deals     

Elixir

Translation of: Ruby
defmodule RC do
  def set_puzzle(deal, goal) do
    {puzzle, sets} = get_puzzle_and_answer(deal, goal, produce_deck)
    IO.puts "Dealt #{length(puzzle)} cards:"
    print_cards(puzzle)
    IO.puts "Containing #{length(sets)} sets:"
    Enum.each(sets, fn set -> print_cards(set) end)
  end
  
  defp get_puzzle_and_answer(hand_size, num_sets_goal, deck) do
    hand = Enum.take_random(deck, hand_size)
    sets = get_all_sets(hand)
    if length(sets) == num_sets_goal do
      {hand, sets}
    else
      get_puzzle_and_answer(hand_size, num_sets_goal, deck)
    end
  end
  
  defp get_all_sets(hand) do
    Enum.filter(comb(hand, 3), fn candidate ->
      List.flatten(candidate)
      |> Enum.group_by(&(&1))
      |> Map.values
      |> Enum.all?(fn v -> length(v) != 2 end)
    end)
  end
  
  defp print_cards(cards) do
    Enum.each(cards, fn card ->
      :io.format "  ~-8s  ~-8s  ~-8s  ~-8s~n", card
    end)
    IO.puts ""
  end
  
  @colors   ~w(red green purple)a
  @symbols  ~w(oval squiggle diamond)a
  @numbers  ~w(one two three)a
  @shadings ~w(solid open striped)a
  
  defp produce_deck do
    for color <- @colors, symbol <- @symbols, number <- @numbers, shading <- @shadings,
      do: [color, symbol, number, shading]
  end
  
  defp comb(_, 0), do: [[]]
  defp comb([], _), do: []
  defp comb([h|t], m) do
    (for l <- comb(t, m-1), do: [h|l]) ++ comb(t, m)
  end
end

RC.set_puzzle(9, 4)
RC.set_puzzle(12, 6)
Output:
Dealt 9 cards:
  green     oval      one       open    
  red       oval      one       open    
  red       oval      two       open    
  green     diamond   two       striped 
  green     diamond   three     open    
  green     diamond   one       open    
  purple    squiggle  one       open    
  red       oval      three     solid   
  red       oval      three     open    

Containing 4 sets:
  red       oval      one       open    
  red       oval      two       open    
  red       oval      three     open    

  red       oval      one       open    
  green     diamond   one       open    
  purple    squiggle  one       open    

  red       oval      two       open    
  green     diamond   three     open    
  purple    squiggle  one       open    

  green     diamond   two       striped 
  purple    squiggle  one       open    
  red       oval      three     solid   

Dealt 12 cards:
  purple    oval      one       open    
  purple    diamond   two       open    
  red       oval      three     striped 
  purple    diamond   three     striped 
  purple    oval      one       solid   
  red       oval      two       open    
  green     diamond   three     open    
  green     squiggle  one       solid   
  green     oval      three     striped 
  red       diamond   two       solid   
  red       diamond   one       solid   
  green     squiggle  three     striped 

Containing 6 sets:
  purple    oval      one       open    
  red       diamond   two       solid   
  green     squiggle  three     striped 

  purple    diamond   two       open    
  red       oval      three     striped 
  green     squiggle  one       solid   

  red       oval      three     striped 
  purple    diamond   three     striped 
  green     squiggle  three     striped 

  purple    diamond   three     striped 
  red       oval      two       open    
  green     squiggle  one       solid   

  purple    oval      one       solid   
  red       oval      two       open    
  green     oval      three     striped 

  purple    oval      one       solid   
  green     squiggle  one       solid   
  red       diamond   one       solid   

Erlang

Until a better solution is found this is one.

-module( set ).

-export( [deck/0, is_set/3, shuffle_deck/1, task/0] ).

-record( card, {number, symbol, shading, colour} ).

deck() -> [#card{number=N, symbol=Sy, shading=Sh, colour=C} || N <- [1,2,3], Sy <- [diamond, squiggle, oval], Sh <- [solid, striped, open], C <- [red, green, purple]].

is_set( Card1, Card2, Card3 ) ->
        is_colour_correct( Card1, Card2, Card3 )
        andalso is_number_correct( Card1, Card2, Card3 )
        andalso is_shading_correct( Card1, Card2, Card3 )
        andalso is_symbol_correct( Card1, Card2, Card3 ).

shuffle_deck( Deck ) -> knuth_shuffle:list( Deck ).

task() ->
    basic(),
    advanced().



advanced() -> common( 6, 12 ).

basic() -> common( 4, 9 ).

common(	X, Y ) ->
    {Sets, Cards} = find_x_sets_in_y_cards( X, Y, deck() ),
    io:fwrite( "Cards ~p~n", [Cards] ),
    io:fwrite( "Gives sets:~n" ),
    [io:fwrite( "~p~n", [S] ) || S <- Sets].

find_x_sets_in_y_cards( X, Y, Deck ) ->
    {Cards, _T} = lists:split( Y, shuffle_deck(Deck) ),
    find_x_sets_in_y_cards( X, Y, Cards, make_sets1(Cards, []) ).

find_x_sets_in_y_cards( X, _Y, _Deck, Cards, Sets ) when erlang:length(Sets) =:= X -> {Sets, Cards};
find_x_sets_in_y_cards( X, Y, Deck, _Cards, _Sets ) -> find_x_sets_in_y_cards( X, Y, Deck ).

is_colour_correct( Card1, Card2, Card3 ) -> is_colour_different( Card1, Card2, Card3 ) orelse is_colour_same( Card1, Card2, Card3 ).

is_colour_different( #card{colour=C1}, #card{colour=C2}, #card{colour=C3} ) when C1 =/= C2, C1 =/= C3, C2 =/= C3 -> true;
is_colour_different( _Card1, _Card2, _Card3 ) -> false.

is_colour_same( #card{colour=C}, #card{colour=C}, #card{colour=C} ) -> true;
is_colour_same( _Card1, _Card2, _Card3 ) -> false.

is_number_correct( Card1, Card2, Card3 ) -> is_number_different( Card1, Card2, Card3 ) orelse is_number_same( Card1, Card2, Card3 ).

is_number_different( #card{number=N1}, #card{number=N2}, #card{number=N3} ) when N1 =/= N2, N1 =/= N3, N2 =/= N3 -> true;
is_number_different( _Card1, _Card2, _Card3 ) -> false.

is_number_same( #card{number=N}, #card{number=N}, #card{number=N} ) -> true;
is_number_same( _Card1, _Card2, _Card3 ) -> false.

is_shading_correct( Card1, Card2, Card3 ) -> is_shading_different( Card1, Card2, Card3 ) orelse is_shading_same( Card1, Card2, Card3 ).

is_shading_different( #card{shading=S1}, #card{shading=S2}, #card{shading=S3} ) when S1 =/= S2, S1 =/= S3, S2 =/= S3 -> true;
is_shading_different( _Card1, _Card2, _Card3 ) -> false.

is_shading_same( #card{shading=S}, #card{shading=S}, #card{shading=S} ) -> true;
is_shading_same( _Card1, _Card2, _Card3 ) -> false.

is_symbol_correct( Card1, Card2, Card3 ) -> is_symbol_different( Card1, Card2, Card3 ) orelse is_symbol_same( Card1, Card2, Card3 ).

is_symbol_different( #card{symbol=S1}, #card{symbol=S2}, #card{symbol=S3} ) when S1 =/= S2, S1 =/= S3, S2 =/= S3 -> true;
is_symbol_different( _Card1, _Card2, _Card3 ) -> false.

is_symbol_same( #card{symbol=S}, #card{symbol=S}, #card{symbol=S} ) -> true;
is_symbol_same( _Card1, _Card2, _Card3 ) -> false.
%% Nested loops 1, 2 and 3
make_sets1( [_Second_to_last, _Last], Sets ) -> Sets;
make_sets1( [Card | T], Sets ) -> make_sets1( T, make_sets2(Card, T, Sets) ).

make_sets2( _Card, [_Last], Sets ) -> Sets;
make_sets2( Card1, [Card2 | T], Sets ) -> make_sets2( Card1, T, make_sets3( Card1, Card2, T,  Sets) ).

make_sets3( _Card1, _Card2, [], Sets ) -> Sets;
make_sets3( Card1, Card2, [Card3 | T], Sets ) ->
        make_sets3( Card1, Card2, T, make_sets_acc(is_set(Card1, Card2, Card3), {Card1, Card2, Card3}, Sets) ).

make_sets_acc( true, Set, Sets ) -> [Set | Sets];
make_sets_acc( false, _Set, Sets ) -> Sets.
Output:
53> set:task().
Cards [{card,2,diamond,striped,purple},
       {card,3,squiggle,solid,purple},
       {card,2,squiggle,open,red},
       {card,3,oval,solid,purple},
       {card,1,diamond,striped,green},
       {card,1,oval,open,purple},
       {card,3,squiggle,striped,purple},
       {card,2,diamond,solid,purple},
       {card,1,oval,striped,purple}]
Gives sets:
{{card,1,oval,open,purple},
 {card,3,squiggle,striped,purple},
 {card,2,diamond,solid,purple}}
{{card,2,squiggle,open,red},
 {card,3,oval,solid,purple},
 {card,1,diamond,striped,green}}
{{card,2,diamond,striped,purple},
 {card,3,squiggle,striped,purple},
 {card,1,oval,striped,purple}}
{{card,2,diamond,striped,purple},
 {card,3,squiggle,solid,purple},
 {card,1,oval,open,purple}}
Cards [{card,1,diamond,striped,purple},
       {card,3,diamond,solid,purple},
       {card,2,diamond,solid,green},
       {card,1,diamond,open,green},
       {card,3,oval,striped,red},
       {card,3,squiggle,striped,red},
       {card,2,oval,solid,purple},
       {card,1,squiggle,open,green},
       {card,3,diamond,solid,green},
       {card,2,diamond,striped,red},
       {card,2,squiggle,solid,purple},
       {card,3,oval,open,purple}]
Gives sets:
{{card,3,squiggle,striped,red},
 {card,3,diamond,solid,green},
 {card,3,oval,open,purple}}
{{card,3,squiggle,striped,red},
 {card,1,squiggle,open,green},
 {card,2,squiggle,solid,purple}}
{{card,1,diamond,open,green},
 {card,3,squiggle,striped,red},
 {card,2,oval,solid,purple}}
{{card,1,diamond,open,green},
 {card,3,oval,striped,red},
 {card,2,squiggle,solid,purple}}
{{card,3,diamond,solid,purple},
 {card,1,diamond,open,green},
 {card,2,diamond,striped,red}}
{{card,1,diamond,striped,purple},
 {card,2,squiggle,solid,purple},
 {card,3,oval,open,purple}}

F#

open System

type Number = One | Two | Three
type Color = Red | Green | Purple
type Fill = Solid | Open | Striped
type Symbol = Oval | Squiggle | Diamond

type Card = { Number: Number; Color: Color; Fill: Fill; Symbol: Symbol }

// A 'Set' is 3 cards in which each individual feature is either all the SAME on each card, OR all DIFFERENT on each card.
let SetSize = 3

type CardsGenerator() =
    let _rand = Random()    

    let shuffleInPlace data =
        Array.sortInPlaceBy (fun _ -> (_rand.Next(0, Array.length data))) data

    let createCards() =
        [| for n in [One; Two; Three] do
                for c in [Red; Green; Purple] do
                    for f in [Solid; Open; Striped] do
                        for s in [Oval; Squiggle; Diamond] do
                            yield { Number = n; Color = c; Fill = f; Symbol = s } |]

    let _cards = createCards()

    member x.GetHand cardCount =        
        shuffleInPlace _cards
        Seq.take cardCount _cards |> Seq.toList

// Find all the combinations of n elements
let rec combinations n items = 
    match n, items with
    | 0, _  -> [[]]
    | _, [] -> []
    | k, (x::xs) -> List.map ((@) [x]) (combinations (k-1) xs) @ combinations k xs

let validCardSet (cards: Card list) =
    // Valid feature if all features are the same or different
    let validFeature = function
        | [a; b; c] -> (a = b && b = c) || (a <> b && a <> c && b <> c)
        | _ -> false

    // Build and validate the feature lists
    let isValid = cards |> List.fold (fun (ns, cs, fs, ss) c ->                                
                               (c.Number::ns, c.Color::cs, c.Fill::fs, c.Symbol::ss)) ([], [], [], [])
                        |> fun (ns, cs, fs, ss) ->
                               (validFeature ns) && (validFeature cs) && (validFeature fs) && (validFeature ss)

    if isValid then Some cards else None

let findSolution cardCount setCount =
    let cardsGen = CardsGenerator()

    let rec search () =
        let hand = cardsGen.GetHand cardCount
        let foundSets = combinations SetSize hand |> List.choose validCardSet
        
        if foundSets.Length = setCount then (hand, foundSets) else search()

    search()

let displaySolution (hand: Card list, sets: Card list list) =
    let printCardDetails (c: Card) =
        printfn "    %A %A %A %A" c.Number c.Color c.Symbol c.Fill

    printfn "Dealt %d cards:" hand.Length
    List.iter printCardDetails hand
    printf "\n"

    printfn "Found %d sets:" sets.Length
    sets |> List.iter (fun cards -> List.iter printCardDetails cards; printf "\n" )

let playGame() =
    let solve cardCount setCount =
        displaySolution (findSolution cardCount setCount)

    solve 9 4
    solve 12 6

playGame()

Output:

Dealt 9 cards:
    Three Red Diamond Solid
    Two Red Oval Solid
    Three Red Oval Striped
    Two Purple Oval Striped
    One Green Squiggle Open
    One Purple Diamond Solid
    One Green Oval Striped
    One Green Diamond Solid
    Three Purple Diamond Striped

Found 4 sets:
    Three Red Diamond Solid
    Two Purple Oval Striped
    One Green Squiggle Open

    Two Red Oval Solid
    One Green Squiggle Open
    Three Purple Diamond Striped

    Three Red Oval Striped
    Two Purple Oval Striped
    One Green Oval Striped

    One Green Squiggle Open
    One Green Oval Striped
    One Green Diamond Solid

Dealt 12 cards:
    One Green Diamond Open
    Two Red Diamond Striped
    Three Red Oval Striped
    One Red Diamond Open
    Three Green Oval Open
    Two Purple Squiggle Solid
    Two Red Oval Striped
    One Red Oval Striped
    Two Red Oval Open
    Three Purple Oval Striped
    One Purple Diamond Open
    Three Red Oval Solid

Found 6 sets:
    One Green Diamond Open
    Three Red Oval Striped
    Two Purple Squiggle Solid

    One Green Diamond Open
    One Red Diamond Open
    One Purple Diamond Open

    Three Red Oval Striped
    Two Red Oval Striped
    One Red Oval Striped

    Three Green Oval Open
    Three Purple Oval Striped
    Three Red Oval Solid

    Two Purple Squiggle Solid
    Three Purple Oval Striped
    One Purple Diamond Open

    One Red Oval Striped
    Two Red Oval Open
    Three Red Oval Solid

Factor

USING: arrays backtrack combinators.short-circuit formatting
fry grouping io kernel literals math.combinatorics math.matrices
prettyprint qw random sequences sets ;
IN: rosetta-code.set-puzzle

CONSTANT: deck $[
    [
        qw{ red green purple } amb-lazy
        qw{ one two three } amb-lazy
        qw{ oval squiggle diamond } amb-lazy
        qw{ solid open striped } amb-lazy 4array
    ] bag-of
]

: valid-category? ( seq -- ? )
    { [ all-equal? ] [ all-unique? ] } 1|| ;

: valid-set? ( seq -- ? )
    [ valid-category? ] column-map t [ and ] reduce ;

: find-sets ( seq -- seq )
    3 <combinations> [ valid-set? ] filter ;

: deal-hand ( m n -- seq valid? )
    [ deck swap sample ] dip over find-sets length = ;

: find-valid-hand ( m n -- seq )
    [ f ] 2dip '[ drop _ _ deal-hand not ] loop ;

: set-puzzle ( m n -- )
    [ find-valid-hand ] 2keep
    [ "Dealt %d cards:\n" printf simple-table. nl ]
    [
        "Containing %d sets:\n" printf find-sets
        { { " " " " " " " " } } join simple-table. nl
    ] bi-curry* bi ;

: main ( -- )
    9  4 set-puzzle
    12 6 set-puzzle ;

MAIN: main
Output:
Dealt 9 cards:
purple one   diamond  striped
purple three squiggle open
purple one   oval     solid
green  two   squiggle striped
red    one   oval     striped
green  three oval     solid
purple three diamond  striped
red    two   oval     striped
purple two   diamond  striped

Containing 4 sets:
purple one   diamond  striped
purple three diamond  striped
purple two   diamond  striped
                       
purple three squiggle open
purple one   oval     solid
purple two   diamond  striped
                       
green  two   squiggle striped
red    one   oval     striped
purple three diamond  striped
                       
green  two   squiggle striped
red    two   oval     striped
purple two   diamond  striped

Dealt 12 cards:
green  one   oval     striped
red    two   squiggle striped
red    two   diamond  open
purple two   oval     solid
green  three squiggle open
purple one   squiggle striped
purple two   squiggle open
red    two   squiggle solid
red    three oval     open
purple one   oval     solid
red    one   diamond  striped
red    two   oval     striped

Containing 6 sets:
green  one   oval     striped
purple two   oval     solid
red    three oval     open
                       
green  one   oval     striped
purple one   squiggle striped
red    one   diamond  striped
                       
red    two   diamond  open
red    two   squiggle solid
red    two   oval     striped
                       
purple two   oval     solid
green  three squiggle open
red    one   diamond  striped
                       
green  three squiggle open
purple one   squiggle striped
red    two   squiggle solid
                       
red    two   squiggle solid
red    three oval     open
red    one   diamond  striped

Go

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "math/rand"
    "time"
)

const (
    number = [3]string{"1", "2", "3"}
    color  = [3]string{"red", "green", "purple"}
    shade  = [3]string{"solid", "open", "striped"}
    shape  = [3]string{"oval", "squiggle", "diamond"}
)

type card int

func (c card) String() string {
    return fmt.Sprintf("%s %s %s %s",
        number[c/27],
        color[c/9%3],
        shade[c/3%3],
        shape[c%3])
}

func main() {
    rand.Seed(time.Now().Unix())
    game("Basic", 9, 4)
    game("Advanced", 12, 6)
}

func game(level string, cards, sets int) {
    // create deck
    d := make([]card, 81)
    for i := range d {
        d[i] = card(i)
    }
    var found [][3]card
    for len(found) != sets {
        found = found[:0]
        // deal
        for i := 0; i < cards; i++ {
            j := rand.Intn(81 - i)
            d[i], d[j] = d[j], d[i]
        }
        //  consider all triplets
        for i := 2; i < cards; i++ {
            c1 := d[i]
            for j := 1; j < i; j++ {
                c2 := d[j]
            l3:
                for _, c3 := range d[:j] {
                    for f := card(1); f < 81; f *= 3 {
                        if (c1/f%3 + c2/f%3 + c3/f%3) % 3 != 0 {
                            continue l3 // not a set
                        }
                    }
                    // it's a set
                    found = append(found, [3]card{c1, c2, c3})
                }
            }
        }
    }
    // found the right number
    fmt.Printf("%s game.  %d cards, %d sets.\n", level, cards, sets)
    fmt.Println("Cards:")
    for _, c := range d[:cards] {
        fmt.Println("  ", c)
    }
    fmt.Println("Sets:")
    for _, s := range found {
        fmt.Printf("  %s\n  %s\n  %s\n",s[0],s[1],s[2])
    }
}
Output:
Basic game.  9 cards, 4 sets.
Cards:
   3 red solid oval
   3 red open oval
   3 purple striped oval
   2 green striped oval
   2 red solid oval
   1 purple open diamond
   2 purple solid squiggle
   1 green striped diamond
   3 green striped squiggle
Sets:
   2 purple solid squiggle
   1 purple open diamond
   3 purple striped oval

   1 green striped diamond
   2 purple solid squiggle
   3 red open oval

   3 green striped squiggle
   1 purple open diamond
   2 red solid oval

   3 green striped squiggle
   1 green striped diamond
   2 green striped oval

Advanced game.  12 cards, 6 sets.
Cards:
   2 green solid squiggle
   3 red solid oval
   3 purple open oval
   2 purple open squiggle
   3 red striped oval
   1 red open oval
   1 purple open diamond
   1 green striped squiggle
   3 red open oval
   3 red striped squiggle
   2 red striped oval
   1 purple solid diamond
Sets:
   1 purple open diamond
   2 purple open squiggle
   3 purple open oval

   1 purple open diamond
   3 red striped oval
   2 green solid squiggle

   3 red open oval
   3 red striped oval
   3 red solid oval

   2 red striped oval
   1 red open oval
   3 red solid oval

   1 purple solid diamond
   3 red solid oval
   2 green solid squiggle

   1 purple solid diamond
   1 green striped squiggle
   1 red open oval

Haskell

import Control.Monad.State
       (State, evalState, replicateM, runState, state)
import System.Random (StdGen, newStdGen, randomR)
import Data.List (find, nub, sort)

combinations :: Int -> [a] -> [[a]]
combinations 0 _ = [[]]
combinations _ [] = []
combinations k (y:ys) = map (y :) (combinations (k - 1) ys) ++ combinations k ys

data Color
  = Red
  | Green
  | Purple
  deriving (Show, Enum, Bounded, Ord, Eq)

data Symbol
  = Oval
  | Squiggle
  | Diamond
  deriving (Show, Enum, Bounded, Ord, Eq)

data Count
  = One
  | Two
  | Three
  deriving (Show, Enum, Bounded, Ord, Eq)

data Shading
  = Solid
  | Open
  | Striped
  deriving (Show, Enum, Bounded, Ord, Eq)

data Card = Card
  { color :: Color
  , symbol :: Symbol
  , count :: Count
  , shading :: Shading
  } deriving (Show)

-- Identify a set of three cards by counting all attribute types.
-- if each count is 3 or 1 ( not 2 ) the the cards compose a set.
isSet :: [Card] -> Bool
isSet cs =
  let total = length . nub . sort . flip map cs
  in notElem 2 [total color, total symbol, total count, total shading]

-- Get a random card from a deck. Returns the card and removes it from the deck.
getCard :: State (StdGen, [Card]) Card
getCard =
  state $
  \(gen, cs) ->
     let (i, newGen) = randomR (0, length cs - 1) gen
         (a, b) = splitAt i cs
     in (head b, (newGen, a ++ tail b))

-- Get a hand of cards.  Starts with new deck and then removes the
-- appropriate number of cards from that deck.
getHand :: Int -> State StdGen [Card]
getHand n =
  state $
  \gen ->
     let az = [minBound .. maxBound]
         deck =
           [ Card co sy ct sh
           | co <- az 
           , sy <- az 
           , ct <- az 
           , sh <- az ]
         (a, (newGen, _)) = runState (replicateM n getCard) (gen, deck)
     in (a, newGen)

-- Get an unbounded number of hands of the appropriate number of cards.
getManyHands :: Int -> State StdGen [[Card]]
getManyHands n = (sequence . repeat) (getHand n)

-- Deal out hands of the appropriate size until one with the desired number
-- of sets is found.  then print the hand and the sets.
showSolutions :: Int -> Int -> IO ()
showSolutions cardCount solutionCount = do
  putStrLn $
    "Showing hand of " ++
    show cardCount ++ " cards with " ++ show solutionCount ++ " solutions."
  gen <- newStdGen
  let Just z =
        find ((solutionCount ==) . length . filter isSet . combinations 3) $
        evalState (getManyHands cardCount) gen
  mapM_ print z
  putStrLn ""
  putStrLn "Solutions:"
  mapM_ putSet $ filter isSet $ combinations 3 z
  where
    putSet st = do
      mapM_ print st
      putStrLn ""

-- Show a hand of 9 cards with 4 solutions
-- and a hand of 12 cards with 6 solutions.
main :: IO ()
main = do
  showSolutions 9 4
  showSolutions 12 6
Output:
Showing hand of 9 cards with 4 solutions.
Card {color = Red, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Purple, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Red, symbol = Oval, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Squiggle, count = Two, shading = Striped}
Card {color = Red, symbol = Squiggle, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Red, symbol = Diamond, count = One, shading = Striped}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Diamond, count = Three, shading = Solid}
Card {color = Purple, symbol = Squiggle, count = One, shading = Solid}
Card {color = Purple, symbol = Oval, count = Three, shading = Striped}

Solutions:
Card {color = Red, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Red, symbol = Oval, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Red, symbol = Squiggle, count = Two, shading = Open}

Card {color = Purple, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Red, symbol = Diamond, count = One, shading = Striped}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Diamond, count = Three, shading = Solid}

Card {color = Purple, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Purple, symbol = Squiggle, count = One, shading = Solid}
Card {color = Purple, symbol = Oval, count = Three, shading = Striped}

Card {color = Green, symbol = Squiggle, count = Two, shading = Striped}
Card {color = Red, symbol = Diamond, count = One, shading = Striped}
Card {color = Purple, symbol = Oval, count = Three, shading = Striped}

Showing hand of 12 cards with 6 solutions.
Card {color = Purple, symbol = Oval, count = Two, shading = Solid}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Squiggle, count = Two, shading = Striped}
Card {color = Purple, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Squiggle, count = One, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Oval, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Oval, count = One, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Squiggle, count = Three, shading = Solid}
Card {color = Red, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Oval, count = One, shading = Solid}
Card {color = Red, symbol = Squiggle, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Oval, count = Three, shading = Open}

Solutions:
Card {color = Purple, symbol = Oval, count = Two, shading = Solid}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Squiggle, count = Two, shading = Striped}
Card {color = Red, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}

Card {color = Green, symbol = Squiggle, count = Two, shading = Striped}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Squiggle, count = One, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Squiggle, count = Three, shading = Solid}

Card {color = Purple, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Oval, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Red, symbol = Squiggle, count = Two, shading = Open}

Card {color = Purple, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Red, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}

Card {color = Green, symbol = Squiggle, count = One, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Diamond, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Oval, count = Three, shading = Open}

Card {color = Green, symbol = Oval, count = Two, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Oval, count = One, shading = Open}
Card {color = Green, symbol = Oval, count = Three, shading = Open}

J

Solution:

require 'stats/base'

Number=: ;:'one two three'
Colour=: ;:'red green purple'
Fill=: ;:'solid open striped'
Symbol=: ;:'oval squiggle diamond'
Features=: Number ; Colour ; Fill ;< Symbol
Deck=: > ; <"1 { i.@#&.> Features
sayCards=: (', ' joinstring Features {&>~ ])"1
drawRandom=: ] {~ (? #)
isSet=: *./@:(1 3 e.~ [: #@~."1 |:)"2
getSets=: [: (] #~ isSet) ] {~ 3 comb #
countSets=: #@:getSets

set_puzzle=: verb define
 target=. <. -: y
 whilst. target ~: countSets Hand do. 
   Hand=. y drawRandom Deck
 end.
 echo 'Dealt ',(": y),' Cards:'
 echo sayCards sort Hand
 echo LF,'Found ',(":target),' Sets:'
 echo sayCards sort"2 getSets Hand
)

Example:

   set_puzzle 9
Dealt 9 Cards:
one, red, solid, oval         
one, green, open, squiggle    
two, purple, striped, squiggle
three, red, solid, squiggle   
three, red, open, oval        
three, green, solid, oval     
three, green, open, diamond   
three, purple, open, oval     
three, purple, striped, oval  

Found 4 Sets:
three, red, solid, squiggle   
three, green, open, diamond   
three, purple, striped, oval  

one, red, solid, oval         
two, purple, striped, squiggle
three, green, open, diamond   

one, green, open, squiggle    
two, purple, striped, squiggle
three, red, solid, squiggle   

three, red, open, oval        
three, green, solid, oval     
three, purple, striped, oval

Java

import java.util.*;

public class SetPuzzle {

    enum Color {

        GREEN(0), PURPLE(1), RED(2);

        private Color(int v) {
            val = v;
        }
        public final int val;
    }

    enum Number {

        ONE(0), TWO(1), THREE(2);

        private Number(int v) {
            val = v;
        }
        public final int val;
    }

    enum Symbol {

        OVAL(0), DIAMOND(1), SQUIGGLE(2);

        private Symbol(int v) {
            val = v;
        }
        public final int val;
    }

    enum Fill {

        OPEN(0), STRIPED(1), SOLID(2);

        private Fill(int v) {
            val = v;
        }
        public final int val;
    }

    private static class Card implements Comparable<Card> {

        Color c;
        Number n;
        Symbol s;
        Fill f;

        @Override
        public String toString() {
            return String.format("[Card: %s, %s, %s, %s]", c, n, s, f);
        }

        @Override
        public int compareTo(Card o) {
            return (c.val - o.c.val) * 10 + (n.val - o.n.val);
        }
    }
    private static Card[] deck;

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        deck = new Card[81];
        Color[] colors = Color.values();
        Number[] numbers = Number.values();
        Symbol[] symbols = Symbol.values();
        Fill[] fillmodes = Fill.values();
        for (int i = 0; i < deck.length; i++) {
            deck[i] = new Card();
            deck[i].c = colors[i / 27];
            deck[i].n = numbers[(i / 9) % 3];
            deck[i].s = symbols[(i / 3) % 3];
            deck[i].f = fillmodes[i % 3];
        }
        findSets(12);
    }

    private static void findSets(int numCards) {
        int target = numCards / 2;
        Card[] cards;
        Card[][] sets = new Card[target][3];
        int cnt;
        do {
            Collections.shuffle(Arrays.asList(deck));
            cards = Arrays.copyOfRange(deck, 0, numCards);
            cnt = 0;

            outer:
            for (int i = 0; i < cards.length - 2; i++) {
                for (int j = i + 1; j < cards.length - 1; j++) {
                    for (int k = j + 1; k < cards.length; k++) {
                        if (validSet(cards[i], cards[j], cards[k])) {
                            if (cnt < target)
                                sets[cnt] = new Card[]{cards[i], cards[j], cards[k]};
                            if (++cnt > target) {
                                break outer;
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        } while (cnt != target);

        Arrays.sort(cards);

        System.out.printf("GIVEN %d CARDS:\n\n", numCards);
        for (Card c : cards) {
            System.out.println(c);
        }
        System.out.println();

        System.out.println("FOUND " + target + " SETS:\n");
        for (Card[] set : sets) {
            for (Card c : set) {
                System.out.println(c);
            }
            System.out.println();
        }
    }

    private static boolean validSet(Card c1, Card c2, Card c3) {
        int tot = 0;
        tot += (c1.c.val + c2.c.val + c3.c.val) % 3;
        tot += (c1.n.val + c2.n.val + c3.n.val) % 3;
        tot += (c1.s.val + c2.s.val + c3.s.val) % 3;
        tot += (c1.f.val + c2.f.val + c3.f.val) % 3;
        return tot == 0;
    }
}
GIVEN 12 CARDS:

[Card: GREEN, ONE, DIAMOND, OPEN]
[Card: GREEN, TWO, SQUIGGLE, OPEN]
[Card: GREEN, THREE, DIAMOND, STRIPED]
[Card: GREEN, THREE, DIAMOND, OPEN]
[Card: PURPLE, ONE, DIAMOND, SOLID]
[Card: PURPLE, ONE, SQUIGGLE, SOLID]
[Card: PURPLE, TWO, SQUIGGLE, SOLID]
[Card: PURPLE, THREE, DIAMOND, OPEN]
[Card: RED, ONE, SQUIGGLE, STRIPED]
[Card: RED, ONE, OVAL, STRIPED]
[Card: RED, TWO, DIAMOND, STRIPED]
[Card: RED, THREE, OVAL, STRIPED]

FOUND 6 SETS:

[Card: GREEN, TWO, SQUIGGLE, OPEN]
[Card: PURPLE, ONE, DIAMOND, SOLID]
[Card: RED, THREE, OVAL, STRIPED]

[Card: GREEN, THREE, DIAMOND, OPEN]
[Card: RED, ONE, OVAL, STRIPED]
[Card: PURPLE, TWO, SQUIGGLE, SOLID]

[Card: GREEN, THREE, DIAMOND, OPEN]
[Card: PURPLE, ONE, DIAMOND, SOLID]
[Card: RED, TWO, DIAMOND, STRIPED]

[Card: RED, ONE, SQUIGGLE, STRIPED]
[Card: RED, THREE, OVAL, STRIPED]
[Card: RED, TWO, DIAMOND, STRIPED]

[Card: RED, ONE, OVAL, STRIPED]
[Card: PURPLE, ONE, SQUIGGLE, SOLID]
[Card: GREEN, ONE, DIAMOND, OPEN]

[Card: GREEN, ONE, DIAMOND, OPEN]
[Card: RED, THREE, OVAL, STRIPED]
[Card: PURPLE, TWO, SQUIGGLE, SOLID]

Julia

Plays one basic game and one advanced game.

using Random, IterTools, Combinatorics

function SetGameTM(basic = true)
    drawsize = basic ? 9 : 12
    setsneeded = div(drawsize, 2)
    setsof3 = Vector{Vector{NTuple{4, String}}}()
    draw = Vector{NTuple{4, String}}()
    deck = collect(Iterators.product(["red", "green", "purple"], ["one", "two", "three"], 
        ["oval", "squiggle", "diamond"], ["solid", "open", "striped"]))
        
    while length(setsof3) != setsneeded
        empty!(draw)
        empty!(setsof3)
        map(x -> push!(draw, x), shuffle(deck)[1:drawsize])
        for threecards in combinations(draw, 3)
            canuse = true
            for i in 1:4
                u = length(unique(map(x->x[i], threecards)))
                if u != 3 && u != 1
                    canuse = false
                end
            end
            if canuse
                push!(setsof3, threecards)
            end
        end
    end
    
    println("Dealt $drawsize cards:")
    for card in draw
        println("    $card")
    end
    println("\nFormed these cards into $setsneeded sets:")
    for set in setsof3
        for card in set
            println("    $card")
        end
        println()
    end
end

SetGameTM()
SetGameTM(false)
Output:

Dealt 9 cards:
   ("green", "one", "oval", "open")
   ("green", "three", "diamond", "open")
   ("purple", "one", "diamond", "striped")
   ("purple", "three", "oval", "solid")
   ("red", "two", "diamond", "open")
   ("red", "one", "oval", "striped")
   ("green", "one", "squiggle", "striped")
   ("green", "two", "oval", "solid")
   ("purple", "two", "squiggle", "open")

Formed these cards into 4 sets:
   ("green", "three", "diamond", "open")
   ("green", "one", "squiggle", "striped")
   ("green", "two", "oval", "solid")

   ("purple", "one", "diamond", "striped")
   ("purple", "three", "oval", "solid")
   ("purple", "two", "squiggle", "open")

   ("purple", "one", "diamond", "striped")
   ("red", "one", "oval", "striped")
   ("green", "one", "squiggle", "striped")

   ("purple", "three", "oval", "solid")
   ("red", "two", "diamond", "open")
   ("green", "one", "squiggle", "striped")

Dealt 12 cards:
   ("red", "one", "squiggle", "open")
   ("green", "one", "diamond", "striped")
   ("red", "two", "oval", "solid")
   ("green", "three", "squiggle", "striped")
   ("green", "three", "squiggle", "open")
   ("red", "one", "oval", "solid")
   ("purple", "two", "oval", "striped")
   ("green", "two", "oval", "striped")
   ("green", "three", "oval", "open")
   ("purple", "two", "diamond", "open")
   ("purple", "three", "diamond", "striped")
   ("purple", "two", "squiggle", "solid")

Formed these cards into 6 sets:
   ("red", "one", "squiggle", "open")
   ("green", "three", "squiggle", "striped")
   ("purple", "two", "squiggle", "solid")

   ("red", "one", "squiggle", "open")
   ("green", "three", "oval", "open")
   ("purple", "two", "diamond", "open")

   ("green", "one", "diamond", "striped")
   ("green", "three", "squiggle", "striped")
   ("green", "two", "oval", "striped")

   ("green", "three", "squiggle", "striped")
   ("red", "one", "oval", "solid")
   ("purple", "two", "diamond", "open")

   ("red", "one", "oval", "solid")
   ("purple", "two", "oval", "striped")
   ("green", "three", "oval", "open")

   ("purple", "two", "oval", "striped")
   ("purple", "two", "diamond", "open")
   ("purple", "two", "squiggle", "solid")

Kotlin

// version 1.1.3

import java.util.Collections.shuffle

enum class Color   { RED, GREEN, PURPLE }
enum class Symbol  { OVAL, SQUIGGLE, DIAMOND }
enum class Number  { ONE, TWO, THREE }
enum class Shading { SOLID, OPEN, STRIPED }
enum class Degree  { BASIC, ADVANCED }

class Card(
    val color:   Color,
    val symbol:  Symbol,
    val number:  Number,
    val shading: Shading
) : Comparable<Card> {

    private val value = 
        color.ordinal * 27 + symbol.ordinal * 9 + number.ordinal * 3  + shading.ordinal
  
    override fun compareTo(other: Card) = value.compareTo(other.value)

    override fun toString() = (
        color.name.padEnd(8)   +
        symbol.name.padEnd(10) +
        number.name.padEnd(7)  + 
        shading.name.padEnd(7)
    ).toLowerCase()

    companion object {
        val zero = Card(Color.RED, Symbol.OVAL, Number.ONE, Shading.SOLID)
    }
}

fun createDeck() = 
    List<Card>(81) {
        val col = Color.values()  [it / 27]
        val sym = Symbol.values() [it / 9 % 3]
        val num = Number.values() [it / 3 % 3]
        val shd = Shading.values()[it % 3] 
        Card(col, sym, num, shd)
    }

fun playGame(degree: Degree) {
    val deck = createDeck()
    val nCards = if (degree == Degree.BASIC) 9 else 12
    val nSets = nCards / 2
    val sets = Array(nSets) { Array(3) { Card.zero } }
    var hand: Array<Card>
    outer@ while (true) {
        shuffle(deck)
        hand = deck.take(nCards).toTypedArray()
        var count = 0  
        for (i in 0 until hand.size - 2) {
            for (j in i + 1 until hand.size - 1) {
                for (k in j + 1 until hand.size) {
                    val trio = arrayOf(hand[i], hand[j], hand[k]) 
                    if (isSet(trio)) {
                        sets[count++] = trio
                        if (count == nSets) break@outer
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
    hand.sort()
    println("DEALT $nCards CARDS:\n")
    println(hand.joinToString("\n"))
    println("\nCONTAINING $nSets SETS:\n")
    for (s in sets) {
        s.sort()
        println(s.joinToString("\n"))
        println()
    }  
}

fun isSet(trio: Array<Card>): Boolean {
    val r1 = trio.sumBy { it.color.ordinal   } % 3
    val r2 = trio.sumBy { it.symbol.ordinal  } % 3
    val r3 = trio.sumBy { it.number.ordinal  } % 3
    val r4 = trio.sumBy { it.shading.ordinal } % 3
    return (r1 + r2 + r3 + r4) == 0
}

fun main(args: Array<String>) {   
    playGame(Degree.BASIC)
    println()
    playGame(Degree.ADVANCED)
}

Sample output:

DEALT 9 CARDS:

red     oval      three  solid  
red     diamond   two    solid  
green   oval      one    open   
green   oval      three  open   
green   squiggle  one    open   
green   diamond   one    open   
purple  oval      three  striped
purple  squiggle  three  solid  
purple  diamond   two    striped

CONTAINING 4 SETS:

red     oval      three  solid  
green   squiggle  one    open   
purple  diamond   two    striped

red     oval      three  solid  
green   oval      three  open   
purple  oval      three  striped

green   oval      one    open   
green   squiggle  one    open   
green   diamond   one    open   

red     diamond   two    solid  
green   squiggle  one    open   
purple  oval      three  striped


DEALT 12 CARDS:

red     squiggle  two    solid  
red     diamond   two    solid  
red     diamond   two    open   
red     diamond   two    striped
green   oval      one    open   
green   oval      three  solid  
green   oval      three  open   
green   squiggle  one    solid  
green   diamond   one    striped
purple  oval      one    solid  
purple  oval      three  open   
purple  squiggle  one    striped

CONTAINING 6 SETS:

red     diamond   two    open   
green   oval      three  solid  
purple  squiggle  one    striped

red     diamond   two    solid  
red     diamond   two    open   
red     diamond   two    striped

red     diamond   two    solid  
green   oval      three  open   
purple  squiggle  one    striped

red     squiggle  two    solid  
green   diamond   one    striped
purple  oval      three  open   

green   oval      one    open   
green   squiggle  one    solid  
green   diamond   one    striped

red     diamond   two    striped
green   squiggle  one    solid  
purple  oval      three  open   

Mathematica/Wolfram Language

A simple brute force approach. This code highlights two things: 1) a few of Mathematica's "higher-level" functions such as Tuples and Subsets and 2) the straightforwardness enabled by the language's "dynamic typing" (more precisely, its symbolic semantics) and its usage of lists for everything (in this particular example, the fact that functions such as Tuples and Entropy can be used on lists with arbitrary content).

colors = {Red, Green, Purple};
symbols = {"0", "\[TildeTilde]", "\[Diamond]"};
numbers = {1, 2, 3};
shadings = {"\[FilledSquare]", "\[Square]", "\[DoublePrime]"};

validTripleQ[l_List] := Entropy[l] != Entropy[{1, 1, 2}];
validSetQ[cards_List] := And @@ (validTripleQ /@ Transpose[cards]);

allCards = Tuples[{colors, symbols, numbers, shadings}];

deal[{numDeal_, setNum_}] := Module[{cards, count = 0},
   While[count != setNum,
    cards = RandomSample[allCards, numDeal];
    count = Count[Subsets[cards, {3}], _?validSetQ]];
   cards];
Row[{Style[#2, #1], #3, #4}] & @@@ deal[{9, 4}]

Nim

import algorithm, math, random, sequtils, strformat, strutils

type

  # Card features.
  Number {.pure.} = enum One, Two, Three
  Color {.pure.} = enum Red, Green, Purple
  Symbol {.pure.} = enum Oval, Squiggle, Diamond
  Shading {.pure.} = enum Solid, Open, Striped

  # Cards and list of cards.
  Card = tuple[number: Number; color: Color; symbol: Symbol; shading: Shading]
  Triplet = array[3, Card]
  Deck = array[81, Card]

  # Game level.
  Level {.pure.} = enum Basic = "basic", Advanced = "advanced"


proc `$`(card: Card): string =
  ## Return the string representation of a card.
  toLowerAscii(&"{card.number:<5}  {card.color:<6}  {card.symbol:<8}  {card.shading:<7}")


proc initDeck(): Deck =
  ## Create a new deck.
  var i = 0
  for num in Number.low..Number.high:
    for col in Color.low..Color.high:
      for sym in Symbol.low..Symbol.high:
        for sh in Shading.low..Shading.high:
          result[i] = (number: num, color: col, symbol: sym, shading: sh)
          inc i


proc isSet(triplet: Triplet): bool =
  ## Check if a triplets of cards is a set.
  sum(triplet.mapIt(ord(it.number))) mod 3 == 0 and
  sum(triplet.mapIt(ord(it.color))) mod 3 == 0 and
  sum(triplet.mapIt(ord(it.symbol))) mod 3 == 0 and
  sum(triplet.mapIt(ord(it.shading))) mod 3 == 0


proc playGame(level: Level) =
  ## Play the game at given level.

  var deck = initDeck()
  let (nCards, nSets) = if level == Basic: (9, 4) else: (12, 6)
  var sets: seq[Triplet]
  var hand: seq[Card]
  echo &"Playing {level} game: {nCards} cards, {nSets} sets."

  block searchHand:
    while true:
      sets.setLen(0)
      deck.shuffle()
      hand = deck[0..<nCards]
      block countSets:
        for i in 0..(nCards - 3):
          for j in (i + 1)..(nCards - 2):
            for k in (j + 1)..(nCards - 1):
              let triplet = [hand[i], hand[j], hand[k]]
              if triplet.isSet():
                sets.add triplet
                if sets.len > nSets:
                  break countSets   # Too much sets. Try with a new hand.
        if sets.len == nSets:
          break searchHand    # Found: terminate search.

  # Display the hand and the sets.
  echo "\nCards:"
  for card in sorted(hand): echo "    ", card
  echo "\nSets:"
  for s in sets:
    for card in sorted(s): echo "    ", card
    echo()


randomize()
playGame(Basic)
echo()
playGame(Advanced)
Output:
Playing basic game: 9 cards, 4 sets.

Cards:
    one    purple  oval      solid  
    one    purple  diamond   open   
    two    red     squiggle  open   
    two    green   diamond   open   
    two    green   diamond   striped
    two    purple  oval      open   
    three  red     diamond   solid  
    three  red     diamond   open   
    three  purple  squiggle  open   

Sets:
    one    purple  diamond   open   
    two    purple  oval      open   
    three  purple  squiggle  open   

    one    purple  diamond   open   
    two    green   diamond   striped
    three  red     diamond   solid  

    two    red     squiggle  open   
    two    green   diamond   open   
    two    purple  oval      open   

    one    purple  diamond   open   
    two    green   diamond   open   
    three  red     diamond   open   


Playing advanced game: 12 cards, 6 sets.

Cards:
    one    green   diamond   striped
    one    purple  diamond   striped
    two    red     oval      open   
    two    red     diamond   open   
    two    green   oval      solid  
    two    green   oval      striped
    three  red     squiggle  striped
    three  green   oval      solid  
    three  green   squiggle  solid  
    three  green   squiggle  open   
    three  green   squiggle  striped
    three  purple  diamond   open   

Sets:
    one    green   diamond   striped
    two    green   oval      striped
    three  green   squiggle  striped

    one    purple  diamond   striped
    two    green   oval      striped
    three  red     squiggle  striped

    one    green   diamond   striped
    two    green   oval      solid  
    three  green   squiggle  open   

    one    purple  diamond   striped
    two    red     oval      open   
    three  green   squiggle  solid  

    three  green   squiggle  solid  
    three  green   squiggle  open   
    three  green   squiggle  striped

    three  red     squiggle  striped
    three  green   oval      solid  
    three  purple  diamond   open

PARI/GP

dealraw(cards)=vector(cards,i,vector(4,j,1<<random(3)));
howmany(a,b,c)=hammingweight(bitor(a,bitor(b,c)));
name(v)=Str(["red","green",0,"purple"][v[1]],", ",["oval","squiggle",0,"diamond"][v[2]],", ",["one","two",0,"three"][v[3]],", ",["solid","open",0,"striped"][v[4]]);
check(D,sets)={
  my(S=List());
  for(i=1,#D-2,for(j=i+1,#D-1,for(k=j+1,#D,
    for(x=1,4,
      if(howmany(D[i][x],D[j][x],D[k][x])==2,next(2))
    );
    listput(S,[i,j,k]);
    if(#S>sets,return(0))
  )));
  if(#S==sets,Vec(S),0)
};
deal(cards,sets)={
  my(v,s);
  until(s,
    s=check(v=dealraw(cards),sets)
  );
  v=apply(name,v);
  for(i=1,cards,print(v[i]));
  for(i=1,sets,
    print("Set #"i);
    for(j=1,3,print("  "v[s[i][j]]))
  )
};
deal(9,4)
deal(12,6)
Output:
green, diamond, one, open
purple, squiggle, three, solid
green, squiggle, two, striped
green, oval, one, striped
purple, oval, two, striped
purple, oval, one, open
red, squiggle, one, open
green, squiggle, one, solid
red, diamond, three, solid
Set #1
  green, diamond, one, open
  green, oval, one, striped
  green, squiggle, one, solid
Set #2
  green, diamond, one, open
  purple, oval, one, open
  red, squiggle, one, open
Set #3
  purple, squiggle, three, solid
  green, squiggle, two, striped
  red, squiggle, one, open
Set #4
  green, squiggle, two, striped
  purple, oval, one, open
  red, diamond, three, solid


purple, squiggle, three, open
red, oval, two, open
purple, oval, two, solid
green, squiggle, two, solid
purple, diamond, two, striped
purple, squiggle, two, solid
green, oval, two, striped
red, oval, one, striped
red, squiggle, two, striped
green, diamond, three, solid
green, diamond, two, open
purple, oval, one, open
Set #1
  red, oval, two, open
  purple, oval, two, solid
  green, oval, two, striped
Set #2
  red, oval, two, open
  green, squiggle, two, solid
  purple, diamond, two, striped
Set #3
  purple, oval, two, solid
  red, squiggle, two, striped
  green, diamond, two, open
Set #4
  green, squiggle, two, solid
  green, oval, two, striped
  green, diamond, two, open
Set #5
  purple, diamond, two, striped
  green, oval, two, striped
  red, squiggle, two, striped
Set #6
  red, squiggle, two, striped
  green, diamond, three, solid
  purple, oval, one, open

Perl

Translation of: Raku

It's actually slightly simplified, since generating Enum classes and objects would be overkill for this particular task.

#!perl
use strict;
use warnings;

# This code was adapted from the Raku solution for this task.

# Each element of the deck is an integer, which, when written
# in octal, has four digits, which are all either 1, 2, or 4.

my $fmt = '%4o';
my @deck = grep sprintf($fmt, $_) !~ tr/124//c, 01111 .. 04444;

# Given a feature digit (1, 2, or 4), produce the feature's name.
# Note that digits 0 and 3 are unused.
my @features = map [split ' '], split /\n/,<<'';
! red   green    ! purple
! one   two      ! three
! oval  squiggle ! diamond
! solid open     ! striped

81 == @deck or die "There are ".@deck." cards (should be 81)";

# By default, draw 9 cards, but if the user
# supplied a parameter, use that.
my $draw = shift(@ARGV) || 9;
my $goal = int($draw/2);

# Get the possible combinations of 3 indices into $draw elements.
my @combinations = combine(3, 0 .. $draw-1);

my @sets;

do {
	# Shuffle the first $draw elements of @deck.
	for my $i ( 0 .. $draw-1 ) {
		my $j = $i + int rand(@deck - $i);
		@deck[$i, $j] = @deck[$j, $i];
	}

	# Find all valid sets using the shuffled elements.
	@sets = grep {
		my $or = 0;
		$or |= $_ for @deck[@$_];
		# If all colors (or whatever) are the same, then
		# a 1, 2, or 4 will result when we OR them together.
		# If they're all different, then a 7 will result.
		# If any other digit occurs, the set is invalid.
		sprintf($fmt, $or) !~ tr/1247//c;
	} @combinations;

	# Continue until there are exactly $goal valid sets.
} until @sets == $goal;

print "Drew $draw cards:\n";
for my $i ( 0 .. $#sets ) {
	print "Set ", $i+1, ":\n";
	my @cards = @deck[ @{$sets[$i]} ];
	for my $card ( @cards ) {
		my @octal = split //, sprintf '%4o', $card;
		my @f = map $features[$_][$octal[$_]], 0 .. 3;
		printf "    %-6s %-5s %-8s %s\n", @f;
	}
}

exit;

# This function is adapted from the perl5i solution for the
# RosettaCode Combinations task.
sub combine {
	my $n = shift;
	return unless @_;
	return map [$_], @_ if $n == 1;
	my $head = shift;
	my @result = combine( $n-1, @_ );
	unshift @$_, $head for @result;
	@result, combine( $n, @_ );
}

__END__
Output:
Drew 12 cards:
Set 1:
    red    three oval     striped
    green  three diamond  striped
    purple three squiggle striped
Set 2:
    red    three oval     striped
    purple three squiggle open
    green  three diamond  solid
Set 3:
    purple one   diamond  striped
    red    three diamond  striped
    green  two   diamond  striped
Set 4:
    green  three diamond  striped
    green  three diamond  open
    green  three diamond  solid
Set 5:
    red    three diamond  striped
    green  three oval     solid
    purple three squiggle open
Set 6:
    green  two   diamond  striped
    purple three squiggle striped
    red    one   oval     striped

Phix

Converts cards 1..81 (that idea from C) to 1/2/4 [/7] (that idea from Perl) but inverts the validation

with javascript_semantics
function comb(sequence pool, integer needed, sequence res={}, integer done=0, sequence chosen={})
    if needed=0 then    -- got a full set
        sequence {a,b,c} = chosen
        if not find_any({3,5,6},flatten(sq_or_bits(sq_or_bits(a,b),c))) then
            res = append(res,chosen)
        end if
    elsif done+needed<=length(pool) then
        -- get all combinations with and without the next item:
        done += 1
        res = comb(pool,needed-1,res,done,append(deep_copy(chosen),pool[done]))
        res = comb(pool,needed,res,done,chosen)
    end if
    return res
end function            
 
constant m124 = {1,2,4}
 
function card(integer n)
--returns the nth card (n is 1..81, res is length 4 of 1/2/4)
    n -= 1
    sequence res = repeat(0,4)
    for i=1 to 4 do
        res[i] = m124[remainder(n,3)+1]
        n = floor(n/3)
    end for
    return res
end function
 
constant colours = {"red", "green", 0, "purple"},
         symbols = {"oval", "squiggle", 0, "diamond"},
         numbers = {"one", "two", 0, "three"},
         shades  = {"solid", "open", 0, "striped"}
 
procedure print_cards(sequence hand, sequence cards)
    for i=1 to length(cards) do
        integer {c,m,n,g} = cards[i],
                id = find(cards[i],hand)
        printf(1,"%3d: %-7s %-9s %-6s %s\n",{id,colours[c],symbols[m],numbers[n],shades[g]})
    end for
    printf(1,"\n")
end procedure
 
procedure play(integer cards=9, integer sets=4)
    integer deals = 1
    while 1 do
        sequence deck = shuffle(tagset(81))
        sequence hand = deck[1..cards]
        for i=1 to length(hand) do
            hand[i] = card(hand[i])
        end for
        sequence res = comb(hand,3)
        if length(res)=sets then
            printf(1,"dealt %d cards (%d deals)\n",{cards,deals})
            print_cards(hand,hand)
            printf(1,"with %d sets\n",{sets})
            for i=1 to sets do
                print_cards(hand,res[i])
            end for
            exit
        end if
        deals += 1
    end while
end procedure
play()
--play(12,6)
--play(9,6)
Output:
dealt 9 cards (172 deals)
  1: red     oval      two    open
  2: green   oval      one    solid
  3: purple  diamond   two    striped
  4: green   diamond   one    striped
  5: green   oval      one    striped
  6: purple  squiggle  three  solid
  7: green   diamond   two    solid
  8: red     diamond   two    open
  9: green   squiggle  one    striped

with 4 sets
  1: red     oval      two    open
  4: green   diamond   one    striped
  6: purple  squiggle  three  solid

  3: purple  diamond   two    striped
  7: green   diamond   two    solid
  8: red     diamond   two    open

  4: green   diamond   one    striped
  5: green   oval      one    striped
  9: green   squiggle  one    striped

  5: green   oval      one    striped
  6: purple  squiggle  three  solid
  8: red     diamond   two    open

Picat

The problem generator check that it problem has exactly one solution, so that step can take a little time (some seconds). fail/0 is used to check for unicity of the solution.

import util.
import cp.

%
% Solve the task in the description.
%
go ?=>
  sets(1,Sets,SetLen,NumSets),
  print_cards(Sets),
  set_puzzle(Sets,SetLen,NumSets,X),
  print_sol(Sets,X),
  nl,
  fail, % check for other solutions
  nl.
go => true.

%
% Generate and solve a random instance with NumCards cards,
% giving exactly NumSets sets.
%
go2 =>
  _ = random2(),
  NumCards = 9, NumSets = 4, SetLen = 3,
  generate_and_solve(NumCards,NumSets,SetLen),
  fail, % prove unicity
  nl.

go3 =>
  _ = random2(),
  NumCards = 12, NumSets = 6, SetLen = 3,
  generate_and_solve(NumCards,NumSets,SetLen),  
  fail, % prove unicity)
  nl.

%
% Solve a Set Puzzle.
%
set_puzzle(Cards,SetLen,NumWanted, X) =>
  Len = Cards.length,
  NumFeatures = Cards[1].length,

  X = new_list(NumWanted),
  foreach(I in 1..NumWanted)
    Y = new_array(SetLen), 
    foreach(J in 1..SetLen)
      member(Y[J], 1..Len)
    end,
    % unicity and symmetry breaking of Y
    increasing2(Y), 
    % ensure unicity of the selected cards in X
    if I > 1 then
      foreach(J in 1..I-1) X[J] @< Y  end
    end,
    foreach(F in 1..NumFeatures)
       Z = [Cards[Y[J],F] : J in 1..SetLen],
       (allequal(Z) ; alldiff(Z))
    end,
    X[I] = Y
  end.

% (Strictly) increasing
increasing2(List) => 
  foreach(I in 1..List.length-1)
    List[I] @< List[I+1]
  end.

% All elements must be equal
allequal(List) => 
  foreach(I in 1..List.length-1)
    List[I] = List[I+1]
  end.

% All elements must be different
alldiff(List) => 
  Len = List.length,
  foreach(I in 1..Len, J in 1..I-1)
    List[I] != List[J]
  end.

% Print a solution
print_sol(Sets,X) =>
  println("Solution:"),
  println(x=X),
  foreach(R in X)
    println([Sets[R[I]] : I in 1..3])
  end,
  nl.

% Print the cards
print_cards(Cards) =>
  println("Cards:"),
  foreach({Card,I} in zip(Cards,1..Cards.len))
     println([I,Card])
  end,  
  nl.

%
% Generate a problem instance with NumSets sets (a unique solution).
%
% Note: not all random combinations of cards give a unique solution so
%       it might generate a number of deals.
%
generate_instance(NumCards,NumSets,SetLen, Cards) =>
  println([numCards=NumCards,numWantedSets=NumSets,setLen=SetLen]),
  Found = false,
  % Check that this instance has a unique solution.
  while(Found = false) 
    if Cards = random_deal(NumCards), 
      count_all(set_puzzle(Cards,SetLen,NumSets,_X)) = 1
    then
      Found := true
    end
  end.

%
% Generate a random problem instance of N cards.
%
random_deal(N) = Deal.sort() =>
  all_combinations(Combinations),
  Deal = [], 
  foreach(_I in 1..N)
    Len = Combinations.len,
    Rand = random(1,Len),
    Comb = Combinations[Rand],
    Deal := Deal ++ [Comb],
    Combinations := delete_all(Combinations, Comb)
  end.

%
% Generate a random instance and solve it.
%
generate_and_solve(NumCards,NumSets,SetLen) => 
  generate_instance(NumCards,NumSets,SetLen, Cards),
  print_cards(Cards),  
  set_puzzle(Cards,SetLen,NumSets,X), % solve it
  print_sol(Cards,X),
  nl.


%
% All the 81 possible combinations (cards)
%
table
all_combinations(All) =>
   Colors = [red, green, purple],
   Symbols = [oval, squiggle, diamond],
   Numbers = [one, two, three],
   Shadings = [solid, open, striped],
   All = findall([Color,Symbol,Number,Shading],
                  (member(Color,Colors),
                   member(Symbol,Symbols),
                   member(Number,Numbers),
                   member(Shading,Shadings))).

%
% From the task description.
%
% Solution: [[1,6,9],[2,3,4],[2,6,8],[5,6,7]]
%
sets(1,Sets,SetLen,Wanted) => 
  Sets = 
  [
    [green, one, oval, striped], % 1 
    [green, one, diamond, open], % 2 
    [green, one, diamond, striped], % 3
    [green, one, diamond, solid], % 4
    [purple, one, diamond, open], % 5
    [purple, two, squiggle, open], % 6
    [purple, three, oval, open], % 7
    [red, three, oval, open], % 8
    [red, three, diamond, solid] % 9
 ],
 SetLen = 3,
 Wanted = 4.


Solving the instance in the task description (go/0):

Output:
[1,[green,one,oval,striped]]
[2,[green,one,diamond,open]]
[3,[green,one,diamond,striped]]
[4,[green,one,diamond,solid]]
[5,[purple,one,diamond,open]]
[6,[purple,two,squiggle,open]]
[7,[purple,three,oval,open]]
[8,[red,three,oval,open]]
[9,[red,three,diamond,solid]]

Solution:
x = [{1,6,9},{2,3,4},{2,6,8},{5,6,7}]
[[green,one,oval,striped],[purple,two,squiggle,open],[red,three,diamond,solid]]
[[green,one,diamond,open],[green,one,diamond,striped],[green,one,diamond,solid]]
[[green,one,diamond,open],[purple,two,squiggle,open],[red,three,oval,open]]
[[purple,one,diamond,open],[purple,two,squiggle,open],[purple,three,oval,open]]

Solving the two random tasks (go2/0) and go3/0): {{out}::

[numCards = 9,numWantedSets = 4,setLen = 3]
Cards:
[1,[green,squiggle,one,solid]]
[2,[green,squiggle,two,solid]]
[3,[purple,diamond,three,striped]]
[4,[purple,oval,two,striped]]
[5,[purple,squiggle,one,striped]]
[6,[purple,squiggle,three,solid]]
[7,[purple,squiggle,three,striped]]
[8,[red,squiggle,one,open]]
[9,[red,squiggle,three,open]]

Solution:
x = [{1,5,8},{2,5,9},{2,7,8},{3,4,5}]
[[green,squiggle,one,solid],[purple,squiggle,one,striped],[red,squiggle,one,open]]
[[green,squiggle,two,solid],[purple,squiggle,one,striped],[red,squiggle,three,open]]
[[green,squiggle,two,solid],[purple,squiggle,three,striped],[red,squiggle,one,open]]
[[purple,diamond,three,striped],[purple,oval,two,striped],[purple,squiggle,one,striped]]

[numCards = 12,numWantedSets = 6,setLen = 3]
Cards:
[1,[green,diamond,one,solid]]
[2,[green,diamond,two,solid]]
[3,[green,oval,one,open]]
[4,[purple,oval,one,solid]]
[5,[purple,squiggle,one,open]]
[6,[purple,squiggle,one,solid]]
[7,[purple,squiggle,one,striped]]
[8,[red,diamond,one,solid]]
[9,[red,diamond,two,striped]]
[10,[red,oval,one,striped]]
[11,[red,squiggle,three,solid]]
[12,[red,squiggle,three,striped]]

Solution:
x = [{1,5,10},{2,4,11},{3,4,10},{3,7,8},{5,6,7},{9,10,12}]
[[green,diamond,one,solid],[purple,squiggle,one,open],[red,oval,one,striped]]
[[green,diamond,two,solid],[purple,oval,one,solid],[red,squiggle,three,solid]]
[[green,oval,one,open],[purple,oval,one,solid],[red,oval,one,striped]]
[[green,oval,one,open],[purple,squiggle,one,striped],[red,diamond,one,solid]]
[[purple,squiggle,one,open],[purple,squiggle,one,solid],[purple,squiggle,one,striped]]
[[red,diamond,two,striped],[red,oval,one,striped],[red,squiggle,three,striped]]

Constraint model

Here is the additional code for a constraint model. Note that the constraint solver only handles integers so the features must be converted to integers. To simplify, the random instance generator does not check for unicity of the problem instance, so it can have (and often have) a lot of solutions.

go4 => 
  NumCards = 18,
  NumWanted = 9,
  SetLen = 3,
  time(generate_instance2(NumCards,NumWanted, SetLen,Sets)),

  print_cards(Sets),
  println(setLen=SetLen),
  println(numWanted=NumWanted),
  SetsConv = convert_sets_to_num(Sets),

  set_puzzle_cp(SetsConv,SetLen,NumWanted, X),

  println(x=X),
  foreach(Row in X)
    println([Sets[I] : I in Row])
  end,
  nl,
  fail, % more solutions?
  nl.

set_puzzle_cp(Cards,SetLen,NumWanted, X) =>
  NumFeatures = Cards[1].len,
  NumSets = Cards.len,
  X = new_array(NumWanted,SetLen),
  X :: 1..NumSets,

  foreach(I in 1..NumWanted)
    % ensure unicity of the selected sets
    all_different(X[I]),
    increasing_strict(X[I]), % unicity and symmetry breaking of Y

    foreach(F in 1..NumFeatures)
      Z = $[ S : J in 1..SetLen, matrix_element(Cards, X[I,J],F, S) ],
      % all features are different or all equal
      (
        (sum([ Z[J] #!= Z[K] : J in 1..SetLen, K in 1..SetLen, J != K ])
                                            #= SetLen*SetLen - SetLen)
        #\/
        (sum([ Z[J-1] #= Z[J] : J in 2..SetLen]) #= SetLen-1)
      )
    end
  end,

  % Symmetry breaking (lexicographic ordered rows)
  lex2(X),

  solve($[ff,split],X).

%
% Symmetry breaking
% Ensure that the rows in X are lexicographic ordered
%
lex2(X) =>
   Len = X[1].length,
   foreach(I in 2..X.length) 
      lex_lt([X[I-1,J] : J in 1..Len], [X[I,J] : J in 1..Len])
   end.

%
% Convert sets of "verbose" instances to integer
% representations.
%
convert_sets_to_num(Sets) = NewSets =>
   Maps = new_map([
            red=1,green=2,purple=3,
            1=1,2=2,3=3,
            one=1,two=2,three=3,
            oval=1,squiggle=2,squiggles=2,diamond=3,
            solid=1,open=2,striped=3
         ]),
   NewSets1 = [],
   foreach(S in Sets)
     NewSets1 := NewSets1 ++ [[Maps.get(T) : T in S]]
   end,
   NewSets = NewSets1.


%
% Plain random problem instance, no check of solvability.
%
generate_instance2(NumCards,_NumSets,_SetLen, Cards) =>
  Cards = random_deal(NumCards).
Output:

This problem instance happens to have 10 solutions.

Cards:
[1,[green,diamond,one,open]]
[2,[green,diamond,one,solid]]
[3,[green,oval,one,open]]
[4,[green,oval,three,solid]]
[5,[green,oval,two,solid]]
[6,[green,squiggle,three,striped]]
[7,[green,squiggle,two,striped]]
[8,[purple,diamond,one,solid]]
[9,[purple,diamond,two,striped]]
[10,[purple,oval,one,solid]]
[11,[purple,oval,two,open]]
[12,[purple,squiggle,two,open]]
[13,[red,diamond,two,solid]]
[14,[red,oval,one,open]]
[15,[red,oval,three,solid]]
[16,[red,oval,two,solid]]
[17,[red,oval,two,striped]]
[18,[red,squiggle,one,striped]]

setLen = 3
numWanted = 9
x = {{1,4,7},{1,5,6},{1,10,18},{3,8,18},{4,10,16},{5,10,15},{5,11,17},{7,9,17},{7,11,13}}
[[green,diamond,one,open],[green,oval,three,solid],[green,squiggle,two,striped]]
[[green,diamond,one,open],[green,oval,two,solid],[green,squiggle,three,striped]]
[[green,diamond,one,open],[purple,oval,one,solid],[red,squiggle,one,striped]]
[[green,oval,one,open],[purple,diamond,one,solid],[red,squiggle,one,striped]]
[[green,oval,three,solid],[purple,oval,one,solid],[red,oval,two,solid]]
[[green,oval,two,solid],[purple,oval,one,solid],[red,oval,three,solid]]
[[green,oval,two,solid],[purple,oval,two,open],[red,oval,two,striped]]
[[green,squiggle,two,striped],[purple,diamond,two,striped],[red,oval,two,striped]]
[[green,squiggle,two,striped],[purple,oval,two,open],[red,diamond,two,solid]]

x = {{1,4,7},{1,5,6},{1,10,18},{3,8,18},{4,10,16},{5,10,15},{5,11,17},{7,9,17},{14,15,17}}
[[green,diamond,one,open],[green,oval,three,solid],[green,squiggle,two,striped]]
[[green,diamond,one,open],[green,oval,two,solid],[green,squiggle,three,striped]]
[[green,diamond,one,open],[purple,oval,one,solid],[red,squiggle,one,striped]]
[[green,oval,one,open],[purple,diamond,one,solid],[red,squiggle,one,striped]]
[[green,oval,three,solid],[purple,oval,one,solid],[red,oval,two,solid]]
[[green,oval,two,solid],[purple,oval,one,solid],[red,oval,three,solid]]
[[green,oval,two,solid],[purple,oval,two,open],[red,oval,two,striped]]
[[green,squiggle,two,striped],[purple,diamond,two,striped],[red,oval,two,striped]]
[[red,oval,one,open],[red,oval,three,solid],[red,oval,two,striped]]

...

Prolog

do_it(N) :-	
	card_sets(N, Cards, Sets),
	!,
	format('Cards: ~n'),
	maplist(print_card, Cards),
	format('~nSets: ~n'),
	maplist(print_set, Sets).
	
print_card(Card) :- format('  ~p ~p ~p ~p~n', Card).
print_set(Set) :- maplist(print_card, Set), nl.

n(9,4).
n(12,6).

card_sets(N, Cards, Sets) :-
	n(N,L),
	repeat,
	random_deal(N, Cards),	
	setof(Set, is_card_set(Cards, Set), Sets),	
	length(Sets, L).

random_card([C,S,N,Sh]) :-
	random_member(C, [red, green, purple]),
	random_member(S, [oval, squiggle, diamond]),
	random_member(N, [one, two, three]),
	random_member(Sh, [solid, open, striped]).
	
random_deal(N, Cards) :-
	length(Cards, N), 
	maplist(random_card, Cards).
	
is_card_set(Cards, Result) :-
	select(C1, Cards, Rest),
	select(C2, Rest, Rest2),
	select(C3, Rest2, _), 
	
	match(C1, C2, C3),
	sort([C1,C2,C3], Result).
	
match([],[],[]).
match([A|T1],[A|T2],[A|T3]) :- 
	match(T1,T2,T3).
match([A|T1],[B|T2],[C|T3]) :- 
	dif(A,B), dif(B,C), dif(A,C), 
	match(T1,T2,T3).
Output:
?- do_it(12).
Cards:
  red squiggle two solid
  red squiggle three open
  purple diamond two striped
  red oval two striped
  green oval one solid
  purple squiggle one open
  purple squiggle two solid
  green oval two striped
  purple squiggle three striped
  green diamond one solid
  purple diamond two open
  red diamond two open

Sets:
  green oval one solid
  purple diamond two striped
  red squiggle three open

  green oval one solid
  purple squiggle three striped
  red diamond two open

  green oval two striped
  purple diamond two open
  red squiggle two solid

  green oval two striped
  purple squiggle two solid
  red diamond two open

  purple squiggle one open
  purple squiggle three striped
  purple squiggle two solid

  red diamond two open
  red oval two striped
  red squiggle two solid

true.

?- do_it(9).
Cards:
  purple squiggle two solid
  green diamond one striped
  red diamond two solid
  green oval two open
  red diamond two striped
  purple diamond three striped
  green diamond two open
  green diamond three solid
  purple oval one open

Sets:
  green diamond one striped
  green diamond three solid
  green diamond two open

  green diamond one striped
  purple diamond three striped
  red diamond two striped

  green oval two open
  purple squiggle two solid
  red diamond two striped

  purple diamond three striped
  purple oval one open
  purple squiggle two solid

true.

Python

#!/usr/bin/python
    
from itertools import product, combinations
from random import sample
 
## Major constants
features = [ 'green purple red'.split(),
             'one two three'.split(),
             'oval diamond squiggle'.split(),
             'open striped solid'.split() ]
             
deck = list(product(list(range(3)), repeat=4))

dealt = 9
 
## Functions
def printcard(card):
    print(' '.join('%8s' % f[i] for f,i in zip(features, card)))
 
def getdeal(dealt=dealt):
    deal = sample(deck, dealt)
    return deal
 
def getsets(deal):
    good_feature_count = set([1, 3])
    sets = [ comb for comb in combinations(deal, 3)
             if all( [(len(set(feature)) in good_feature_count)
                     for feature in zip(*comb)]
                   ) ]
    return sets
 
def printit(deal, sets):
    print('Dealt %i cards:' % len(deal))
    for card in deal: printcard(card)
    print('\nFound %i sets:' % len(sets))
    for s in sets:
        for card in s: printcard(card)
        print('')
 
if __name__ == '__main__':
    while True:
        deal = getdeal()
        sets = getsets(deal)
        if len(sets) == dealt / 2:
           break
    printit(deal, sets)

Note: You could remove the inner square brackets of the 'if all( [...] )' part of the sets computation in the getsets function. It is a remnant of Python 2.7 debugging which gives access to the name feature. The code works on Python 3.X too, but not that access.

Output:
Dealt 9 cards:
   green    three squiggle    solid
   green    three squiggle     open
  purple      two squiggle    solid
   green      one  diamond    solid
     red    three     oval    solid
   green      two     oval    solid
     red      two     oval     open
  purple      one  diamond  striped
     red      two     oval    solid

Found 4 sets:
   green    three squiggle    solid
   green      one  diamond    solid
   green      two     oval    solid

   green    three squiggle    solid
     red      two     oval     open
  purple      one  diamond  striped

   green    three squiggle     open
  purple      one  diamond  striped
     red      two     oval    solid

  purple      two squiggle    solid
   green      one  diamond    solid
     red    three     oval    solid

Short Version

Translation of: D
import random, pprint
from itertools import product, combinations

N_DRAW = 9
N_GOAL = N_DRAW // 2

deck = list(product("red green purple".split(),
                    "one two three".split(),
                    "oval squiggle diamond".split(),
                    "solid open striped".split()))

sets = []
while len(sets) != N_GOAL:
    draw = random.sample(deck, N_DRAW)
    sets = [cs for cs in combinations(draw, 3)
            if all(len(set(t)) in [1, 3] for t in zip(*cs))]

print "Dealt %d cards:" % len(draw)
pprint.pprint(draw)
print "\nContaining %d sets:" % len(sets)
pprint.pprint(sets)
Output:
Dealt 9 cards:
[('purple', 'three', 'squiggle', 'striped'),
 ('red', 'one', 'squiggle', 'solid'),
 ('red', 'three', 'diamond', 'striped'),
 ('red', 'two', 'oval', 'open'),
 ('purple', 'three', 'squiggle', 'open'),
 ('green', 'three', 'oval', 'open'),
 ('purple', 'three', 'squiggle', 'solid'),
 ('green', 'two', 'squiggle', 'open'),
 ('purple', 'two', 'oval', 'open')]

Containing 4 sets:
[(('purple', 'three', 'squiggle', 'striped'),
  ('red', 'one', 'squiggle', 'solid'),
  ('green', 'two', 'squiggle', 'open')),
 (('purple', 'three', 'squiggle', 'striped'),
  ('purple', 'three', 'squiggle', 'open'),
  ('purple', 'three', 'squiggle', 'solid')),
 (('red', 'one', 'squiggle', 'solid'),
  ('red', 'three', 'diamond', 'striped'),
  ('red', 'two', 'oval', 'open')),
 (('red', 'three', 'diamond', 'striped'),
  ('green', 'three', 'oval', 'open'),
  ('purple', 'three', 'squiggle', 'solid'))]

Quackery

cards, sets, and echocard are defined at Set, the card game#Quackery.

  [ temp put
    [ dup cards dup
      sets dup size
      temp share != while
      2drop again ]
     swap
     say "Cards:" cr
     witheach echocard
     cr
     say "Sets:" cr
     witheach
       [ witheach echocard cr ]
     drop
     temp release ]             is task     ( n n -->     )

  basic task
  cr
  advanced task
Output:
BASIC

Cards:
three striped purple ovals
two solid green squiggles
two open green squiggles
one open purple squiggle
three striped red squiggles
two striped red ovals
one solid purple squiggle
two solid red diamonds
two open purple diamonds

Sets:
two open green squiggles
three striped red squiggles
one solid purple squiggle

two solid green squiggles
two striped red ovals
two open purple diamonds

two solid green squiggles
one open purple squiggle
three striped red squiggles

three striped purple ovals
one solid purple squiggle
two open purple diamonds


ADVANCED

Cards:
one open green oval
two solid purple squiggles
one striped red diamond
three solid purple diamonds
two solid green squiggles
two open purple squiggles
two open green ovals
two striped red squiggles
two open green diamonds
two striped red ovals
three open purple ovals
one open red oval

Sets:
two open green ovals
three open purple ovals
one open red oval

two solid green squiggles
two open purple squiggles
two striped red squiggles

one striped red diamond
two solid green squiggles
three open purple ovals

one striped red diamond
three solid purple diamonds
two open green diamonds

two solid purple squiggles
two open green diamonds
two striped red ovals

one open green oval
three solid purple diamonds
two striped red squiggles

Racket

#lang racket

(struct card [bits name])

(define cards
  (for/list ([C '(red   green    purple )] [Ci '(#o0001 #o0002 #o0004)]
             #:when #t
             [S '(oval  squiggle diamond)] [Si '(#o0010 #o0020 #o0040)]
             #:when #t
             [N '(one   two      three  )] [Ni '(#o0100 #o0200 #o0400)]
             #:when #t
             [D '(solid open     striped)] [Di '(#o1000 #o2000 #o4000)])
    (card (bitwise-ior Ci Si Ni Di) (format "~a, ~a, ~a, ~a" C S N D))))

(define (nsubsets l n)
  (cond [(zero? n) '(())] [(null? l) '()]
        [else (append (for/list ([l2 (nsubsets (cdr l) (- n 1))])
                        (cons (car l) l2))
                      (nsubsets (cdr l) n))]))
(define (set? cards)
  (regexp-match? #rx"^[1247]*$"
                 (number->string (apply bitwise-ior (map card-bits cards)) 8)))

(define (deal C S)
  (define hand  (take (shuffle cards) C))
  (define 3sets (filter set? (nsubsets hand 3)))
  (cond [(not (= S (length 3sets))) (deal C S)]
        [else (printf "Dealt ~a cards:\n" C)
              (for ([c hand]) (printf "  ~a\n" (card-name c)))
              (printf "\nContaining ~a sets:\n" S)
              (for ([set 3sets])
                (for ([c set]) (printf "  ~a\n" (card-name c)))
                (newline))]))

(deal 9 4)
(deal 12 6)

Raku

(formerly Perl 6)

The trick here is to allocate three different bits for each enum, with the result that the cards of a matching set OR together to produce a 4-digit octal number that contains only the digits 1, 2, 4, or 7. This OR is done by funny looking [+|], which is the reduction form of +|, which is the numeric bitwise OR. (Because Raku stole the bare | operator for composing junctions instead.)

enum Color (red => 0o1000, green =>  0o2000, purple => 0o4000);
enum Count (one =>  0o100, two =>     0o200, three =>   0o400);
enum Shape (oval =>  0o10, squiggle => 0o20, diamond =>  0o40);
enum Style (solid =>  0o1, open =>      0o2, striped =>   0o4);
 
my @deck = Color.enums X Count.enums X Shape.enums X Style.enums;
 
sub MAIN($DRAW = 9, $GOAL = $DRAW div 2) {
    sub show-cards(@c) { { printf "%9s%7s%10s%9s\n", @c[$_;*]».key } for ^@c }

    my @combinations = [^$DRAW].combinations(3);

    my @draw;
    repeat until (my @sets) == $GOAL {
        @draw = @deck.pick($DRAW);
        my @bits = @draw.map: { [+] @^enums».value }
        @sets = gather for @combinations -> @c {
            take @draw[@c].item when /^ <[1247]>+ $/ given ( [+|] @bits[@c] ).base(8);
        }
    }

    say "Drew $DRAW cards:";
    show-cards @draw;
    for @sets.kv -> $i, @cards {
        say "\nSet {$i+1}:";
        show-cards @cards;
    }
}
Output:
Drew 9 cards:
   purple    two   diamond     open
      red    two  squiggle  striped
   purple  three  squiggle     open
   purple    two  squiggle  striped
      red  three      oval  striped
      red    one   diamond  striped
   purple    two      oval    solid
    green  three   diamond    solid
      red    two  squiggle     open

Set 1:
   purple    two   diamond     open
   purple    two  squiggle  striped
   purple    two      oval    solid

Set 2:
   purple    two   diamond     open
      red    one   diamond  striped
    green  three   diamond    solid

Set 3:
      red    two  squiggle  striped
      red  three      oval  striped
      red    one   diamond  striped

Set 4:
   purple  three  squiggle     open
      red  three      oval  striped
    green  three   diamond    solid

REXX

Language note:   each REXX implementation has its own method of determining a starter seed for generating
pseudo-random numbers, and in addition, that starter seed may be dependent upon operating system factors,
hardware architecture, and other things like the (local) date and time-of-day, and other such variables.
The algorithm is also not the same for all REXX implementations.

The particular set of cards dealt (show below) used Regina 3.9.3 under a Windows/XP environment.

/*REXX program  finds and displays  "sets" (solutions)  for the   SET  puzzle   (game). */
parse arg game seed .                            /*get optional # cards to deal and seed*/
if game=='' | game==","  then game=  9           /*Not specified?  Then use the default.*/
if seed=='' | seed==","  then seed= 77           /* "      "         "   "   "      "   */
call aGame 0                                     /*with tell=0:    suppress the output. */
call aGame 1                                     /*with tell=1:    display   "     "    */
exit sets                                        /*stick a fork in it,  we're all done. */
/*──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────*/
aGame: parse arg tell;         good= game % 2    /*enable/disable the showing of output.*/
                                                 /* [↑]  the GOOD var is the right #sets*/
                 do seed=seed  until good==sets  /*generate deals until good  # of sets.*/
                 call random ,,seed              /*repeatability for the RANDOM invokes.*/
                 call genFeatures                /*generate various card game features. */
                 call genDeck                    /*    "    a deck  (with  81  "cards").*/
                 call dealer   game              /*deal a number of cards for the game. */
                 call findSets game%2            /*find # of sets from the dealt cards. */
                 end   /*until*/                 /* [↓]   when leaving, SETS is right #.*/
       return                                    /*return to invoker of this subroutine.*/
/*──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────*/
dealer: call sey  'dealing'  game  "cards:", , . /*shuffle and deal the cards.          */

           do cards=1  until cards==game         /*keep dealing until finished.         */
           _= random(1, words(##) )              /*pick   a card.                       */
           ##= delword(##, _, 1)                 /*delete "   "                         */
           @.cards= deck._                       /*add the card to the tableau.         */
           call sey right('card' cards, 30) " " @.cards    /*display a card to terminal.*/

               do j=1  for words(@.cards)        /* [↓]  define cells for cards.        */
               @.cards.j= word(@.cards, j)       /*define  a  cell for  a card.         */
               end   /*j*/
           end       /*cards*/

        return
/*──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────*/
defFeatures: parse arg what,v;   _= words(v)     /*obtain what is to be defined.        */

             if _\==values  then do;  call sey 'error,'  what  "features ¬=" values, ., .
                                      exit -1
                                 end             /* [↑]  check for typos and/or errors. */

               do k=1  for words(values)         /*define all the possible values.      */
               call value what'.'k,  word(values, k)         /*define  a  card feature. */
               end   /*k*/

             return
/*──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────*/
findSets: parse arg n;   call genPoss            /*N:  the number of sets to be found.  */
          call sey                               /*find any sets that were generated [↑]*/

              do         j=1  for p              /*P:  is the number of possible sets.  */
                  do     f=1  for features
                      do g=1  for groups;     !!.j.f.g= word(!.j.f, g)
                      end   /*g*/
                  end       /*f*/

              ok= 1                              /*everything is peachy─kean (OK) so far*/

                  do g=1  for groups
                  _= !!.j.1.g                    /*build strings to hold possibilities. */
                  equ= 1                         /* [↓]  handles all the equal features.*/

                         do f=2  to features  while equ;     equ= equ  &  _==!!.j.f.g
                         end   /*f*/

                  dif= 1
                  __= !!.j.1.g                   /* [↓]  handles all  unequal  features.*/
                                      do f=2  to  features  while  \equ
                                      dif= dif &  (wordpos(!!.j.f.g, __)==0)
                                      __= __  !!.j.f.g  /*append to string for next test*/
                                      end   /*f*/

                  ok=ok & (equ | dif)            /*now, see if all are equal or unequal.*/
                  end   /*g*/

              if \ok  then iterate               /*Is this set OK?   Nope, then skip it.*/
              sets= sets + 1                     /*bump the number of the sets found.   */
              call sey  right('set'  sets":  ", 15)    !.j.1    sep   !.j.2    sep   !.j.3
              end   /*j*/

          call sey  sets   'sets found.', .
          return
/*──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────*/
genDeck: #= 0;   ##=                             /*#:  cards in deck;  ##:  shuffle aid.*/

                       do         num=1  for values;         xnum = word(numbers,  num)
                          do      col=1  for values;         xcol = word(colors,   col)
                             do   sym=1  for values;         xsym = word(symbols,  sym)
                               do sha=1  for values;         xsha = word(shadings, sha)
                               #= # + 1;  ##= ## #;
                               deck.#= xnum  xcol  xsym  xsha          /*create a card. */
                               end   /*sha*/
                            end      /*num*/
                          end        /*sym*/
                       end           /*col*/

         return                                  /*#:  the number of cards in the deck. */
/*──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────*/
genFeatures: features= 3;  groups= 4;  values= 3 /*define # features, groups, values.   */
             numbers = 'one two three'           ;    call defFeatures 'number',  numbers
             colors  = 'red green purple'        ;    call defFeatures 'color',   colors
             symbols = 'oval squiggle diamond'   ;    call defFeatures 'symbol',  symbols
             shadings= 'solid open striped'      ;    call defFeatures 'shading', shadings
             return
/*──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────*/
genPoss: p= 0;   sets= 0;   sep=' ───── '        /*define some REXX variables.          */
         !.=
                    do       i=1    for game     /* [↓]  the  IFs  eliminate duplicates.*/
                       do    j=i+1  to  game
                          do k=j+1  to  game
                          p= p + 1;          !.p.1= @.i;       !.p.2= @.j;      !.p.3= @.k
                          end   /*k*/
                       end      /*j*/
                    end         /*i*/            /* [↑]  generate the permutation list. */

         return
/*──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────*/
sey:  if \tell  then  return                     /*¬ tell?    Then suppress the output. */
      if arg(2)==.  then say;      say arg(1);      if arg(3)==.  then say;         return

output when using the default input:

dealing 9 cards:

                        card 1   one green oval open
                        card 2   two purple squiggle striped
                        card 3   one green diamond solid
                        card 4   three red diamond open
                        card 5   two purple squiggle striped
                        card 6   two purple oval striped
                        card 7   two purple diamond striped
                        card 8   three red squiggle open
                        card 9   two red oval solid

       set 1:   two purple squiggle striped  ─────  two purple oval striped  ─────  two purple diamond striped
       set 2:   one green diamond solid  ─────  three red diamond open  ─────  two purple diamond striped
       set 3:   one green diamond solid  ─────  two purple oval striped  ─────  three red squiggle open
       set 4:   two purple squiggle striped  ─────  two purple oval striped  ─────  two purple diamond striped

4 sets found.
output   when using the input of:     12
dealing 12 cards:

                        card 1   one purple diamond striped
                        card 2   one green diamond striped
                        card 3   one purple squiggle solid
                        card 4   one red oval solid
                        card 5   two green oval open
                        card 6   one green diamond open
                        card 7   two green squiggle striped
                        card 8   three green squiggle solid
                        card 9   three green squiggle open
                       card 10   one purple diamond open
                       card 11   three green squiggle open
                       card 12   two red oval open

       set 1:   one purple diamond striped  ─────  three green squiggle solid  ─────  two red oval open
       set 2:   one green diamond striped  ─────  two green oval open  ─────  three green squiggle solid
       set 3:   two green oval open  ─────  one green diamond open  ─────  three green squiggle open
       set 4:   two green oval open  ─────  one green diamond open  ─────  three green squiggle open
       set 5:   three green squiggle open  ─────  one purple diamond open  ─────  two red oval open
       set 6:   one purple diamond open  ─────  three green squiggle open  ─────  two red oval open

6 sets found.

Ruby

Brute force.

COLORS   = %i(red green purple) #use [:red, :green, :purple] in Ruby < 2.0
SYMBOLS  = %i(oval squiggle diamond)
NUMBERS  = %i(one two three)
SHADINGS = %i(solid open striped)
DECK = COLORS.product(SYMBOLS, NUMBERS, SHADINGS)

def get_all_sets(hand) 
  hand.combination(3).select do |candidate|
    grouped_features = candidate.flatten.group_by{|f| f}
    grouped_features.values.none?{|v| v.size == 2}
  end
end

def get_puzzle_and_answer(hand_size, num_sets_goal)
  begin
    hand = DECK.sample(hand_size)
    sets = get_all_sets(hand)
  end until sets.size == num_sets_goal
  [hand, sets]
end

def print_cards(cards)
  puts cards.map{|card| "  %-8s" * 4 % card}
  puts
end

def set_puzzle(deal, goal=deal/2)
  puzzle, sets = get_puzzle_and_answer(deal, goal)
  puts "Dealt #{puzzle.size} cards:"
  print_cards(puzzle)
  puts "Containing #{sets.size} sets:"
  sets.each{|set| print_cards(set)}
end

set_puzzle(9)
set_puzzle(12)
Output:
Dealt 9 cards:
  red       diamond   two       open    
  red       squiggle  three     open    
  red       diamond   two       striped 
  red       diamond   two       solid   
  red       oval      three     striped 
  green     squiggle  three     open    
  red       oval      three     open    
  red       squiggle  one       striped 
  red       oval      one       open    

Containing 4 sets:
  red       diamond   two       open    
  red       squiggle  three     open    
  red       oval      one       open    

  red       diamond   two       open    
  red       diamond   two       striped 
  red       diamond   two       solid   

  red       diamond   two       striped 
  red       oval      three     striped 
  red       squiggle  one       striped 

  red       diamond   two       solid   
  red       oval      three     open    
  red       squiggle  one       striped 

Dealt 12 cards:
  red       diamond   three     solid   
  red       diamond   three     striped 
  purple    squiggle  one       striped 
  purple    oval      two       striped 
  green     diamond   two       open    
  purple    oval      three     open    
  red       diamond   one       striped 
  green     oval      one       solid   
  purple    squiggle  two       solid   
  green     oval      two       open    
  red       oval      two       striped 
  red       diamond   two       striped 

Containing 6 sets:
  red       diamond   three     solid   
  purple    squiggle  one       striped 
  green     oval      two       open    

  red       diamond   three     solid   
  green     oval      one       solid   
  purple    squiggle  two       solid   

  red       diamond   three     striped 
  red       diamond   one       striped 
  red       diamond   two       striped 

  green     diamond   two       open    
  purple    squiggle  two       solid   
  red       oval      two       striped 

  purple    oval      three     open    
  green     oval      one       solid   
  red       oval      two       striped 

  purple    squiggle  two       solid   
  green     oval      two       open    
  red       diamond   two       striped 

Rust

use itertools::Itertools;
use rand::Rng;

const DECK_SIZE: usize = 81;
const NUM_ATTRIBUTES: usize = 4;
const ATTRIBUTES: [&[&str]; NUM_ATTRIBUTES] = [
    &["red", "green", "purple"],
    &["one", "two", "three"],
    &["oval", "squiggle", "diamond"],
    &["solid", "open", "striped"],
];

fn get_random_card_indexes(num_of_cards: usize) -> Vec<usize> {
    let mut selected_cards: Vec<usize> = Vec::with_capacity(num_of_cards);
    let mut rng = rand::thread_rng();
    loop {
        let idx = rng.gen_range(0..DECK_SIZE);
        if !selected_cards.contains(&idx) {
            selected_cards.push(idx);
        }
        if selected_cards.len() == num_of_cards {
            break;
        }
    }

    selected_cards
}

fn run_game(num_of_cards: usize, minimum_number_of_sets: usize) {
    println!(
        "\nGAME: # of cards: {} # of sets: {}",
        num_of_cards, minimum_number_of_sets
    );

    // generate the deck with 81 unique cards
    let deck = (0..NUM_ATTRIBUTES)
        .map(|_| (0..=2_usize))
        .multi_cartesian_product()
        .collect::<Vec<_>>();

    // closure to return true if the three attributes are the same, or each of them is different
    let valid_attribute =
        |a: usize, b: usize, c: usize| -> bool { a == b && b == c || (a != b && b != c && a != c) };

    // closure to test all attributes, each of them should be true to have a valid set
    let valid_set = |t: &Vec<&Vec<usize>>| -> bool {
        for attr in 0..NUM_ATTRIBUTES {
            if !valid_attribute(t[0][attr], t[1][attr], t[2][attr]) {
                return false;
            }
        }
        true
    };

    loop {
        // select the required # of cards from the deck randomly
        let selected_cards = get_random_card_indexes(num_of_cards)
            .iter()
            .map(|idx| deck[*idx].clone())
            .collect::<Vec<_>>();

        // generate all combinations, and filter/keep only which are valid sets
        let valid_sets = selected_cards
            .iter()
            .combinations(3)
            .filter(|triplet| valid_set(triplet))
            .collect::<Vec<_>>();

        // if the # of the sets is matching the requirement, print it and finish
        if valid_sets.len() == minimum_number_of_sets {
            print!("SELECTED CARDS:");
            for card in &selected_cards {
                print!("\ncard: ");
                for attr in 0..NUM_ATTRIBUTES {
                    print!("{}, ", ATTRIBUTES[attr][card[attr]]);
                }
            }

            print!("\nSets:");
            for triplet in &valid_sets {
                print!("\nSet: ");
                for card in triplet {
                    for attr in 0..NUM_ATTRIBUTES {
                        print!("{}, ", ATTRIBUTES[attr][card[attr]]);
                    }
                    print!(" | ");
                }
            }

            break;
        }

        //otherwise generate again
    }
}
fn main() {
    run_game(9, 4);
    run_game(12, 6);
}
Output:
GAME: # of cards: 9 # of sets: 4
SELECTED CARDS:
card: green, two, diamond, striped,
card: green, two, oval, solid,
card: red, one, oval, striped,
card: red, three, oval, striped,
card: purple, three, squiggle, striped,
card: green, three, diamond, solid,
card: red, three, oval, open,
card: purple, two, squiggle, open,
card: red, two, oval, striped,
Sets:
Set: green, two, diamond, striped,  | red, one, oval, striped,  | purple, three, squiggle, striped,  |
Set: red, one, oval, striped,  | red, three, oval, striped,  | red, two, oval, striped,  |
Set: red, one, oval, striped,  | green, three, diamond, solid,  | purple, two, squiggle, open,  |
Set: purple, three, squiggle, striped,  | green, three, diamond, solid,  | red, three, oval, open,  |
GAME: # of cards: 12 # of sets: 6
SELECTED CARDS:
card: purple, three, squiggle, solid, 
card: purple, three, squiggle, striped,
card: green, three, diamond, striped,
card: purple, three, oval, solid,
card: green, two, oval, open,
card: green, one, diamond, solid,
card: red, three, oval, open,
card: green, one, squiggle, solid,
card: red, three, oval, solid,
card: purple, three, diamond, open,
card: red, two, oval, open,
card: red, three, oval, striped,
Sets:
Set: purple, three, squiggle, solid,  | green, three, diamond, striped,  | red, three, oval, open,  |
Set: purple, three, squiggle, striped,  | green, three, diamond, striped,  | red, three, oval, striped,  |
Set: purple, three, squiggle, striped,  | purple, three, oval, solid,  | purple, three, diamond, open,  |
Set: purple, three, squiggle, striped,  | green, one, diamond, solid,  | red, two, oval, open,  |
Set: green, three, diamond, striped,  | green, two, oval, open,  | green, one, squiggle, solid,  |
Set: red, three, oval, open,  | red, three, oval, solid,  | red, three, oval, striped,  |

Tailspin

Dealing cards at random to the size of the desired hand, then trying again if the desired set count is not achieved.

def deck: [ { by 1..3 -> (colour: $),
  by 1..3 -> (symbol: $),
    by 1..3 -> (number: $),
      by 1..3 -> (shading: $)}
];

templates deal
  @: $deck;
  [ 1..$ -> \($@deal::length -> SYS::randomInt -> ^@deal($ + 1) !\)] !
end deal

templates isSet
  def set : $;
  [ $(1).colour::raw + $(2).colour::raw + $(3).colour::raw, $(1).symbol::raw + $(2).symbol::raw + $(3).symbol::raw,
    $(1).number::raw + $(2).number::raw + $(3).number::raw, $(1).shading::raw + $(2).shading::raw + $(3).shading::raw ] -> #
  // if it is an array where all elements of 3, 6 or 9, it is a set
  when <[<=3|=6|=9>+ VOID]> do $set !
end isSet

templates findSets
  def hand: $;
  [ 1..$hand::length - 2 -> \(def a: $;
          $a+1..$hand::length - 1 -> \(def b: $;
              $b+1..$hand::length -> $hand([$a, $b, $]) !
          \) !
      \) -> isSet ] !
end findSets

templates setPuzzle
  def nCards: $(1);
  def nSets: $(2);
  {sets: []} -> #
  when <{sets: <[]($nSets..)>}> do $ !
  otherwise
    def hand: $nCards -> deal;
    {hand: $hand, sets: $hand -> findSets} -> #
end setPuzzle

templates formatCard
  def colours: colour´1:['red', 'green', 'purple'];
  def symbols: symbol´1:['oval', 'squiggle', 'diamond'];
  def numbers: number´1:['one', 'two', 'three'];
  def shadings: shading´1:['solid', 'open', 'striped'];
  $ -> '$colours($.colour);-$symbols($.symbol);-$numbers($.number);-$shadings($.shading);' !
end formatCard

templates formatSets
  $ -> 'hand:
$.hand... -> '$ -> formatCard;
';
sets:
$.sets... -> '[$... -> ' $ -> formatCard; ';]
';' !
end formatSets

[9,4] -> setPuzzle -> formatSets -> !OUT::write
Output:
hand:
green-squiggle-three-open
green-oval-three-striped
red-diamond-three-striped
red-oval-one-open
purple-squiggle-three-striped
red-oval-two-striped
purple-diamond-one-solid
red-squiggle-three-solid
purple-diamond-two-open

sets:
[ green-squiggle-three-open  red-oval-one-open  purple-diamond-two-open ]
[ green-squiggle-three-open  purple-squiggle-three-striped  red-squiggle-three-solid ]
[ green-squiggle-three-open  red-oval-two-striped  purple-diamond-one-solid ]
[ green-oval-three-striped  red-diamond-three-striped  purple-squiggle-three-striped ]

Twelve cards with six sets

[12,6] -> setPuzzle -> formatSets -> !OUT::write
Output:
hand:
red-oval-one-striped
red-squiggle-one-open
purple-diamond-two-striped
purple-oval-two-open
red-diamond-one-solid
green-oval-three-solid
green-diamond-one-open
green-diamond-three-open
red-diamond-three-solid
green-diamond-three-solid
green-squiggle-one-open
red-oval-one-open

sets:
[ red-oval-one-striped  red-squiggle-one-open  red-diamond-one-solid ]
[ red-oval-one-striped  purple-oval-two-open  green-oval-three-solid ]
[ red-squiggle-one-open  purple-diamond-two-striped  green-oval-three-solid ]
[ red-squiggle-one-open  purple-oval-two-open  green-diamond-three-open ]
[ purple-diamond-two-striped  red-diamond-one-solid  green-diamond-three-open ]
[ purple-diamond-two-striped  green-diamond-one-open  red-diamond-three-solid ]

Tcl

The principle behind this code is that the space of possible solutions is a substantial proportion of the space of possible hands, so picking a random hand and verifying that it is a solution, repeating until that verification succeeds, is a much quicker way to find a solution than a systematic search. It also makes the code substantially simpler.

# Generate random integer uniformly on range [0..$n-1]
proc random n {expr {int(rand() * $n)}}

# Generate a shuffled deck of all cards; the card encoding was stolen from the
# Perl6 solution. This is done once and then used as a constant. Note that the
# rest of the code assumes that all cards in the deck are unique.
set ::AllCards [apply {{} {
    set cards {}
    foreach color {1 2 4} {
	foreach symbol {1 2 4} {
	    foreach number {1 2 4} {
		foreach shading {1 2 4} {
		    lappend cards [list $color $symbol $number $shading]
		}
	    }
	}
    }
    # Knuth-Morris-Pratt shuffle (not that it matters)
    for {set i [llength $cards]} {$i > 0} {} {
	set j [random $i]
	set tmp [lindex $cards [incr i -1]]
	lset cards $i [lindex $cards $j]
	lset cards $j $tmp
    }
    return $cards
}}]

# Randomly pick a hand of cards from the deck (itself in a global for
# convenience).
proc drawCards n {
    set cards $::AllCards;    # Copies...
    for {set i 0} {$i < $n} {incr i} {
	set idx [random [llength $cards]]
	lappend hand [lindex $cards $idx]
	set cards [lreplace $cards $idx $idx]
    }
    return $hand
}

# Test if a particular group of three cards is a valid set
proc isValidSet {a b c} {
    expr {
	  ([lindex $a 0]|[lindex $b 0]|[lindex $c 0]) in {1 2 4 7} &&
	  ([lindex $a 1]|[lindex $b 1]|[lindex $c 1]) in {1 2 4 7} &&
	  ([lindex $a 2]|[lindex $b 2]|[lindex $c 2]) in {1 2 4 7} &&
	  ([lindex $a 3]|[lindex $b 3]|[lindex $c 3]) in {1 2 4 7}
    }
}

# Get all unique valid sets of three cards in a hand.
proc allValidSets {hand} {
    set sets {}
    for {set i 0} {$i < [llength $hand]} {incr i} {
	set a [lindex $hand $i]
	set hand [set cards2 [lreplace $hand $i $i]]
	for {set j 0} {$j < [llength $cards2]} {incr j} {
	    set b [lindex $cards2 $j]
	    set cards2 [set cards3 [lreplace $cards2 $j $j]]
	    foreach c $cards3 {
		if {[isValidSet $a $b $c]} {
		    lappend sets [list $a $b $c]
		}
	    }
	}
    }
    return $sets
}

# Solve a particular version of the set puzzle, by picking random hands until
# one is found that satisfies the constraints. This is usually much faster
# than a systematic search. On success, returns the hand found and the card
# sets within that hand.
proc SetPuzzle {numCards numSets} {
    while 1 {
	set hand [drawCards $numCards]
	set sets [allValidSets $hand]
	if {[llength $sets] == $numSets} {
	    break
	}
    }
    return [list $hand $sets]
}

Demonstrating:

# Render a hand (or any list) of cards (the "."s are just placeholders).
proc PrettyHand {hand {separator \n}} {
    set Co {. red green . purple}
    set Sy {. oval squiggle . diamond}
    set Nu {. one two . three}
    set Sh {. solid open . striped}
    foreach card $hand {
	lassign $card co s n sh
	lappend result [format "(%s,%s,%s,%s)" \
		[lindex $Co $co] [lindex $Sy $s] [lindex $Nu $n] [lindex $Sh $sh]]
    }
    return $separator[join $result $separator]
}

# Render the output of the Set Puzzle solver.
proc PrettyOutput {setResult} {
    lassign $setResult hand sets
    set sep "\n   "
    puts "Hand (with [llength $hand] cards) was:[PrettyHand $hand $sep]"
    foreach s $sets {
	puts "Found set [incr n]:[PrettyHand $s $sep]"
    }
}

# Demonstrate on the two cases
puts "=== BASIC PUZZLE ========="
PrettyOutput [SetPuzzle 9 4]
puts "=== ADVANCED PUZZLE ======"
PrettyOutput [SetPuzzle 12 6]
Sample output:
=== BASIC PUZZLE =========
Hand (with 9 cards) was:
   (purple,squiggle,one,solid)
   (green,diamond,two,striped)
   (green,oval,two,striped)
   (purple,diamond,three,striped)
   (red,oval,three,open)
   (green,squiggle,three,solid)
   (red,squiggle,one,solid)
   (red,oval,one,solid)
   (purple,oval,three,open)
Found set 1:
   (purple,squiggle,one,solid)
   (green,diamond,two,striped)
   (red,oval,three,open)
Found set 2:
   (green,oval,two,striped)
   (purple,oval,three,open)
   (red,oval,one,solid)
Found set 3:
   (red,oval,three,open)
   (green,squiggle,three,solid)
   (purple,diamond,three,striped)
Found set 4:
   (red,squiggle,one,solid)
   (green,diamond,two,striped)
   (purple,oval,three,open)
=== ADVANCED PUZZLE ======
Hand (with 12 cards) was:
   (green,diamond,two,open)
   (red,diamond,one,solid)
   (purple,diamond,one,solid)
   (red,squiggle,two,open)
   (green,diamond,three,open)
   (red,oval,two,striped)
   (red,diamond,two,solid)
   (purple,diamond,two,striped)
   (purple,diamond,three,open)
   (purple,diamond,three,striped)
   (purple,oval,three,open)
   (purple,squiggle,two,striped)
Found set 1:
   (green,diamond,two,open)
   (red,diamond,one,solid)
   (purple,diamond,three,striped)
Found set 2:
   (green,diamond,two,open)
   (purple,diamond,two,striped)
   (red,diamond,two,solid)
Found set 3:
   (purple,diamond,one,solid)
   (purple,diamond,three,open)
   (purple,diamond,two,striped)
Found set 4:
   (purple,diamond,one,solid)
   (purple,oval,three,open)
   (purple,squiggle,two,striped)
Found set 5:
   (green,diamond,three,open)
   (red,diamond,one,solid)
   (purple,diamond,two,striped)
Found set 6:
   (red,diamond,two,solid)
   (red,oval,two,striped)
   (red,squiggle,two,open)

Wren

Translation of: Kotlin
Library: Wren-dynamic
Library: Wren-trait
Library: Wren-fmt
Library: Wren-str
Library: Wren-math
Library: Wren-sort
import "./dynamic" for Enum
import "./trait" for Comparable
import "./fmt" for Fmt
import "./str" for Str
import "./math" for Nums
import "./sort" for Sort
import "random" for Random

var Color   = Enum.create("Color",   ["RED", "GREEN", "PURPLE"])
var Symbol  = Enum.create("Symbol",  ["OVAL", "SQUIGGLE", "DIAMOND"])
var Number  = Enum.create("Number",  ["ONE", "TWO", "THREE"])
var Shading = Enum.create("Shading", ["SOLID", "OPEN", "STRIPED"])
var Degree  = Enum.create("Degree",  ["BASIC", "ADVANCED"])

class Card is Comparable {
    static zero { Card.new(Color.RED, Symbol.OVAL, Number.ONE, Shading.SOLID) }

    construct new(color, symbol, number, shading) {
        _color   = color
        _symbol  = symbol
        _number  = number
        _shading = shading
        _value   = color * 27 + symbol * 9 + number * 3 + shading
    }

    color   { _color }
    symbol  { _symbol }
    number  { _number }
    shading { _shading }
    value   { _value }

    compare(other) { (_value - other.value).sign }

    toString {
        return Str.lower(Fmt.swrite("$-8s$-10s$-7s$-7s",
            Color.members  [_color],  
            Symbol.members [_symbol],
            Number.members [_number],
            Shading.members[_shading]
        ))
    }
}

var createDeck = Fn.new {
    var deck = List.filled(81, null)
    for (i in 0...81) {
        var col = (i/27).floor
        var sym = (i/ 9).floor % 3
        var num = (i/ 3).floor % 3
        var shd = i % 3
        deck[i] = Card.new(col, sym, num, shd)
    }
    return deck
}

var rand = Random.new()

var isSet = Fn.new { |trio|
    var r1 = Nums.sum(trio.map { |c| c.color   }) % 3
    var r2 = Nums.sum(trio.map { |c| c.symbol  }) % 3
    var r3 = Nums.sum(trio.map { |c| c.number  }) % 3
    var r4 = Nums.sum(trio.map { |c| c.shading }) % 3
    return r1 + r2 + r3 + r4 == 0
}

var playGame = Fn.new { |degree|
    var deck = createDeck.call()
    var nCards = (degree == Degree.BASIC) ? 9 : 12
    var nSets = (nCards/2).floor
    var sets = List.filled(nSets, null)
    for (i in 0...nSets) sets[i] = [Card.zero, Card.zero, Card.zero]
    var hand = []
    while (true) {
        rand.shuffle(deck)
        hand = deck.take(nCards).toList
        var count = 0
        var hSize = hand.count
        var outer = false
        for (i in 0...hSize-2) {
            for (j in i+1...hSize-1) {
                for (k in j+1...hSize) {
                    var trio = [hand[i], hand[j], hand[k]]
                    if (isSet.call(trio)) {
                        sets[count] = trio
                        count = count + 1
                        if (count == nSets) {
                            outer = true
                            break
                        }
                    }
                }
                if (outer) break
            }
            if (outer) break
        }
        if (outer) break
    }
    Sort.quick(hand)
    System.print("DEALT %(nCards) CARDS:\n")
    System.print(hand.join("\n"))
    System.print("\nCONTAINING %(nSets) SETS:\n")
    for (s in sets) {
        Sort.quick(s)
        System.print(s.join("\n"))
        System.print()
    }
}

playGame.call(Degree.BASIC)
System.print()
playGame.call(Degree.ADVANCED)
Output:

Sample output:

DEALT 9 CARDS:

red     oval      one    open   
red     oval      two    open   
green   oval      three  striped
green   squiggle  one    open   
green   squiggle  two    solid  
green   diamond   one    open   
purple  oval      one    solid  
purple  diamond   three  open   
purple  diamond   three  striped

CONTAINING 4 SETS:

red     oval      one    open   
green   squiggle  two    solid  
purple  diamond   three  striped

red     oval      two    open   
green   squiggle  one    open   
purple  diamond   three  open   

red     oval      two    open   
green   oval      three  striped
purple  oval      one    solid  

green   oval      three  striped
green   squiggle  two    solid  
green   diamond   one    open   


DEALT 12 CARDS:

red     oval      one    solid  
red     squiggle  two    solid  
red     squiggle  three  open   
red     diamond   two    solid  
red     diamond   two    striped
green   oval      two    solid  
green   squiggle  two    striped
green   diamond   two    open   
green   diamond   two    striped
purple  oval      two    striped
purple  diamond   one    solid  
purple  diamond   two    striped

CONTAINING 6 SETS:

red     diamond   two    solid  
green   diamond   two    open   
purple  diamond   two    striped

red     diamond   two    striped
green   diamond   two    striped
purple  diamond   two    striped

green   oval      two    solid  
green   squiggle  two    striped
green   diamond   two    open   

red     diamond   two    striped
green   squiggle  two    striped
purple  oval      two    striped

red     oval      one    solid  
red     squiggle  three  open   
red     diamond   two    striped

red     squiggle  two    solid  
green   diamond   two    open   
purple  oval      two    striped

zkl

Translation of: D
const nDraw=9, nGoal=(nDraw/2);  // Basic
var [const] UH=Utils.Helpers; // baked in stash of goodies
deck:=Walker.cproduct("red green purple".split(), // Cartesian product of 4 lists of lists
		"one two three".split(),    // T(1,2,3) (ie numbers) also works
		"oval squiggle diamond".split(),
		"solid open striped".split()).walk();
reg draw,sets,N=0;
do{ N+=1;
   draw=deck.shuffle()[0,nDraw]; // one draw per shuffle
   sets=UH.pickNFrom(3,draw)  // 84 sets of 3 cards (each with 4 features)
        .filter(fcn(set){    // list of 12 items (== 3 cards)
                    set[0,4].zip(set[4,4],set[8,4]) // -->4 tuples of 3 features
		    .pump(List,UH.listUnique,"len", // 1,3 (good) or 2 (bad)
		               '==(2))		    // (F,F,F,F)==good
		    .sum(0) == 0 		    // all 4 feature sets good
		 });
}while(sets.len()!=nGoal);
 
println("Dealt %d cards %d times:".fmt(draw.len(),N));
draw.pump(Void,fcn(card){ println(("%8s "*4).fmt(card.xplode())) });
println("\nContaining:");
sets.pump(Void,fcn(card){ println((("%8s "*4 + "\n")*3).fmt(card.xplode())) });
Output:
Dealt 9 cards 271 times:
     red      one     oval    solid 
   green      one  diamond  striped 
     red      two     oval     open 
  purple      two squiggle  striped 
   green    three  diamond     open 
  purple    three squiggle    solid 
  purple      one  diamond  striped 
   green    three squiggle    solid 
   green      one squiggle     open 

Containing:
     red      one     oval    solid 
  purple      two squiggle  striped 
   green    three  diamond     open 

     red      one     oval    solid 
  purple      one  diamond  striped 
   green      one squiggle     open 

   green      one  diamond  striped 
     red      two     oval     open 
  purple    three squiggle    solid 

     red      two     oval     open 
  purple      one  diamond  striped 
   green    three squiggle    solid