Taking Care of the Environment
We all know that PowerShell is based on the .NET Framework. PowerShell exposes a lot of the framework through abstractions like cmdlets and providers....
Extending RESTful Objects
Welcome to 2024! I want to thank all of my subscribers once again for making it possible for me to do this newsletter. I have a full slate of articles...
A Final REST API Course
Over the last few articles, I’ve demonstrated various techniques for consuming REST API data in your PowerShell code. Let’s wrap up this discussion with a...
A Second Helping of REST APIs
We’ve been dining on REST APIs served up by PowerShell. I hope you got a chance to try out the code examples from the previous article. I want to continue...
Who's Hungry for a REST API?
One of my favorite uses of PowerShell is how it can consume data from a REST API. You don’t have to be a web developer, although there are a few concepts you...
More Tips for Better PowerShell
Let’s continue our look at ways to take PowerShell code from good to better. I’m basing my talking points on a code review I did on a friend’s GitHub...
Writing Better PowerShell Code
Recently, a friend of mine announced a new PowerShell module he had published to the PowerShell Gallery. Naturally, I had to take a look at his code. Like...
Tooling for Custom PowerShell Logging
Over the last several articles, we’ve been exploring how to create custom event logs for our PowerShell work. Instead of logging into a text file, write to...
Scripting with Integrated Logging
Let’s continue working with custom event logs and PowerShell. This could be a useful logging mechanism that is persistent and searchable. If you’ve ever...
Integrated PowerShell Logging
PowerShell on its own doesn’t have logging capabilities other than Start-Transcript. There’s no common parameter you can add to a function to log script or...
The Zen of PowerShell Code
As you might imagine, I have written a lot of PowerShell code in my career. I’ve also seen plenty of code created by others. These experiences have shaped...
More Tasks with VSCode
We’ve been looking at how to set up tasks in VS Code. This is a handy way to execute common activities. You can streamline your workflow with a few...
Put VSCode to Task
Today’s content isn’t exactly PowerShell-related. But I assume many of you use VS Code to create PowerShell content. If you’ve been using VS Code for any...
More Module Documentation
Welcome back. We’ve been exploring how to use the Platyps module to create professional-looking documentation for your PowerShell module. We ended last time...
More Platyps Power
Last time, I demonstrated how to use the Platyps module from Microsoft to create external help for your PowerShell commands. The concept is to create a...
Professional PowerShell Documentation
We all know the importance of documentation regarding our PowerShell commands. We also all know this is one of the last things to get done, if ever. That’s...
Can I Get Some Help
Recently, I posted an article about using localized data in your function’s messages. My reasoning is that I want to have a consistent user experience across...
Code Writing Code
In the last article, I showed you how I created a module based on the APICodePack library. The module makes loading the assemblies and the supporting type...
Creating a CodePack Module
As I’ve been demonstrating ways to build commands around the APICodePack assemblies, I’ve been forced to hard-code references to load the assemblies. Plus,...
Creating APICodePack Functions
I want to return to the project using the APICodePack library. You might want to review the previous articles to refresh your memory. I know I had to so I...
Getting Cultured with String Data
Hello again. In the last article, I began demonstrating techniques and concepts that you could use to centralize string data through localization. You can...
Centralization Through Localization
I’ve recently decided to make a change in the way I write my PowerShell modules. If you’ve been a subscriber, you’ve seen how I write my PowerShell...
WindowsAPICodePack Tooling
I hope you had an opportunity to try out the Microsoft.WindowAPICodePack library. I am very intrigued with the scripting possibilities. I love that...
More Property Management Options
In the last article, I demonstrated how to use a third-party .NET assembly to update a file’s extended properties. The TagLibSharp assembly works great for...
Setting Extended Properties with PowerShell
We’ve been looking at working with extended file properties with PowerShell using the Shell.Application COM object. $shellApp = New-Object -ComObject...
Where Am I
Last time we continued our exploration of using extended file attributes with Windows PowerShell. I hope you realize you can build your tooling using the...
Extending Extended Attributes
I hope you’ve enjoyed this series of articles on working with extended attributes in PowerShell. I want to stress, though, that don’t skip this material or...
More Extended Attributes with PowerShell
I hope you had an opportunity to try out the code samples from the last article. Today, I want to continue exploring extended attributes and how to display...
Extending PowerShell's Reach
Recently, I started working on some PowerShell code to help me organize files. Specifically, I want to organize a large collection of image files. I knew I...
Markdown in Action
I hope you’ve been able to apply the content from the last few articles and create a few markdown documents. Hopefully, you’ve seen that the syntax is not...
Do More with Markdown
Welcome back. A few days ago, I introduced you to creating simple markdown documents. While markdown isn’t a PowerShell “thing,” it certainly plays a role in...
Get Down with Markdown
Today’s topic may not necessarily be a PowerShell topic, but it is something you should understand. Knowing how to create markdown documents is a useful...
More PowerShell ISE Automation Tricks
Last time I demonstrated how you can automate the Windows PowerShell ISE. If this is still your primary editor, you might as well get the most from it....
Windows PowerShell ISE Automation
I switched years ago to VSCode as my primary PowerShell development tool. I’m sure many of my readers have also made the switch. But I recognize many people...
PowerShell Scripting with Credentials
In my last article, I demonstrated how to work with a credential object in PowerShell. This is a task that you should be doing often. You should run your...
Using Credentials
Recently, a reader reached out to ask about using credentials in PowerShell. He wasn’t sure if he was using credentials properly and securely. I’m sure he...
Stylish PowerShell Errors
Before we leave the topic of error handling and PowerShell errors, at least for now, I want to highlight some PowerShell 7 features on the subject. For the...
Structured Error Handling
Over the last few articles, I've been teaching you about PowerShell's error system and how to handle errors properly. The worst thing you can do is pretend...
Catch Them All PowerShell
Welcome back. Last time we started looking at how to use Try/Catch in your PowerShell scripts to handle errors better. And you want to handle them. As a best...
Try This PowerShell
In the previous article, we began looking into PowerShell's error system. As you learned, there is the exception object and the error message. You can...
To Err is Human, To Understand is the PowerShell Pro
I don’t think I’ve discussed how PowerShell handles errors in any detail, and you can’t be an effective toolmaker or PowerShell user unless you understand...
Building with Parameter Sets
Let’s continue building a PowerShell function and explore a topic that might be new to you, parameter sets. We use parameter sets all the time in PowerShell....
Can You Help a Function Out?
I spend a lot of time writing about code, language, and syntax. But there is more to a professional-grade PowerShell script or function than pipelined...
Writing Multi-Value Functions
I’ve devoted the last few articles to writing advanced functions. By now, you should know to ask yourself, “Who will be using my function and how?” Let’s...
PowerShell Functions 301
We’ve been looking at PowerShell functions, beginning with a simple basic function. function Get-Uptime { $os = Get-CimInstance -ClassName...
PowerShell Functions 201
Last time we started looking at creating a basic PowerShell function. The function is a command written in PowerShell’s scripting language that accomplishes...
PowerShell Functions 101
One of the content suggestions I received recently asked for content on writing PowerShell functions. Specifically, the reader wanted to see how to write a...
Understanding .NET Enumerations
I want to continue my introduction to the .NET Framework by discussing enumerations. This is a programming structure that is often used in PowerShell. Most...
.NET for IT Pros
Not that long ago, I asked for feedback on this newsletter. One of the things I was looking for was content suggestions. I can’t promise I’ll cover...
Creating a PowerShell Weather Command Part 8
I truly hope you’ve been learning something about developing a PowerShell tool and writing Pester tests. You can easily knock out a quick and dirty script or...