PowerShell FAQ

What is PowerShell?

PowerShell is a task automation and configuration management framework from Microsoft, consisting of a command-line shell and associated scripting language.

Why use PowerShell?

it's powerful: fully control your computer
it's cross-platform: available for Linux, Mac OS and Windows
it's open-source and free: see the Github repository at https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell
it's easy to learn: see the tutorial at https://www.guru99.com/powershell-tutorial.html
it's fully documented: see the official docs at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/

How to get PowerShell?

Windows 7 and newer do provide PowerShell by default. However, script execution is not allowed by default (execution policy is "restricted"). To enable this, enter as administrator:
```
$ Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
```

Want to use Snaps? Install the PowerShell snap by executing:

$ snap install PowerShell
$ ln -s /snap/bin/powershell /bin/powershell

On CentOS, Debian, Docker, Fedora, macOS, openSUSE, Red Hat, Ubuntu visit https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell for installation.

How to get the PowerShell Scripts?

Git users do execute:

$ git clone https://github.com/fleschutz/PowerShell

otherwise simply download it from:

https://github.com/fleschutz/PowerShell/archive/master.zip

How to Configure PowerShell as Default Shell?

The default shell on Windows is PowerShell, on Linux it's mostly Bash.

On Linux: make sure PowerShell is installed, then execute: chsh -s /bin/powershell <username>
On Windows: no need to, PowerShell is the default shell

How to add the Scripts to the Search Path?

Want to use the PowerShell scripts everywhere on the command-line? Then you need to add the Scripts/ subfolder to the search path:

On Linux using Bash: edit .profile in your home directory and add the line: PATH="$PATH:/path/to/PowerShell/Scripts"
On Windows: open the environment variables dialogue and add the full path to Scripts/ to the system environment variable "Path"

How to use PowerShell in Context Menus?

to enable "right-click > New > Windows PowerShell Script" execute Add_ps1_to_New_context_menu.reg in subfolder Misc/
to disable this execute Remove_ps1_from_New_context_menu.reg in subfolder Misc/

How to edit PowerShell Scripts?

use PowerShell ISE (Integrated Scripting Environment) on Windows to write, test and debug scripts
use Visual Studio Code (available for free on Linux, Mac OS and Windows) - supporting syntax highlighting, on-the-fly problem checking and an integrated PowerShell Console.
or simply use your favorite text editor

How to write good PowerShell Scripts?

Each PowerShell script should follow the 10 golden rules:

the filename should be named <verb>-<object>.ps1
the first line reads #!/bin/powershell (to support Linux)
the script has execute file permissions: chmod a+rx (to support Linux)
provide a comment-based help with syntax, description, link, author, and license
check the requirements (e.g. #Requires -RunAsAdministrator, or #Requires -Version 3)
prefer command-line options, else ask the user
recommended is Set-StrictMode -Version Latest to enable additional error checking
for readibility use UpperCamelCase for variables and functions, lowerCamelCase for everything else
on error call write-error with keyword "ERROR:" (to support log parsers) and exit the error code (mostly 1)
on success exit with error code 0 (exit 0)

Your Question is not answered here?

Send your question to: markus [at] fleschutz [dot] de

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