Starting off with Powershell

[arwen]

So I'm after some advice. I'm looking to learn how to use powershell properly. Just now I only every use it to create new users, from an automatically generated script that was set up by a colleague. I know powershell an do lots of wonderful things and I would like to learn more about it. I've done some searches online, but mostly it is just scripts that people have requested for a specific thing.

Tried Microsoft Virtual academy, but the few videos they have there are very dry...

 

Ideally what I would like is something like Udacity Android dev for beginners course. It's lots of little talking videos, then an activity.

 

Does anyone know if something like this exists for powershell?

[TechMonkey]

This book is the one I always see recommended. I've bought it but not worked through it yet. Not videos I'm afraid but easy to work through. If you get it through Manning Publishers you get free e-versions.

[steve]

I've used the 2 below in the past. They are a bit old and maybe a few dead links but they are a good start:

 

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/musings_of_a_technical_tam/2012/06/04/windows-powershell-self-study-guide/

 

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/ashleymcglone/2014/02/08/powershell-saturday-007-charlotte-from-cmdlets-to-scripts-to-powershell-hero/

[Arthur]

Not videos I'm afraid but easy to work through.

Don Jones uploaded some YouTube videos to go with the first edition of that book. Although they are four years old, they're still quite useful.

 

Here's the playlist...

 

 

By the way, Microsoft are currently giving away codes for free 3 month Pluralsight subscriptions. More details here.

 

 

Pluralsight has lots of PowerShell videos.

[halbaradkenafin]

I'll second (third?) Powershell in a month of lunches, I'd suggest the second edition as it covers v3 and a lot of new stuff was in that compared to v2 (lots of new stuff in v4 and v5 as well). Ed Wilson's book is also recommended but I can't remember the title as I haven't read it.

 

Pluralsight videos are very good, there are also various videos on YouTube from the powershell summits (and PSConfEU this year) which are more focused on single topics but can be pretty interesting.

 

My biggest advice to anyone wanting to learn more powershell is to just dive in and try things, if you find yourself doing something more than once (or its a bit complicated) then spend 5 to 10 mins on Google seeing if someone else has done it with powershell or something similar and write script. Then set up a github account and make sure you store your scripts there, they should hopefully be generalised enough using parameters that you don't need to remove anything school specific, anytime you make a change you just push it up to github and you've got a back up of them and a history and it's much easier to share them.

 

Also consider joining the Powershell Slack team (like IRC but cooler with lots of nice features) at slack.poshcode.org. We've got a good community there with a lot of people around willing to help with any problems at pretty much any time of day.

 

Edit: also people feel free to PM me if you need help with scripts or powershell problems, I spend more hours than I care to think about in one or powershell windows and talking about it with a variety of people. I'm always willing to help and if I can't then I can probably find someone who can.

Edited May 23, 2016 by halbaradkenafin

[Arthur]

Ed Wilson's book is also recommended but I can't remember the title as I haven't read it.

Windows PowerShell Step by Step, 3rd Edition and/or Windows PowerShell Best Practices?

[halbaradkenafin]

Windows PowerShell Step by Step, 3rd Edition and/or Windows PowerShell Best Practices?

Powershell step by step, I haven't heard of the second one but will check out the same MS have on their site, might be useful (and I definitely need to check out Lee Holmes' book now that I think about it).

[Arthur]

and I definitely need to check out Lee Holmes' book now that I think about it.

Lee's PowerShell Cookbook books are brilliant. The searchable online version of the book is very handy too.

 

Is it possible to have too many PowerShell books? I just checked my Manning account and found all of these...

 

[arwen]

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll have a look at the youtube videos and some of the books. Signed up to puralsight and will hopefully watch a bit of it today. Seems like a good website with lots of content :-)

[Arthur]

I'll second (third?) PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, I'd suggest the second edition as it covers v3 and a lot of new stuff was in that compared to v2 (lots of new stuff in v4 and v5 as well).

The third edition of the book was released yesterday...

 

Learn Windows PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, Third Edition

 

There's also 50% off the price if you use the code mljones8tw (expires later today). This drops the price of the eBook down to £12.70.

Edited May 25, 2016 by Arthur

[jonnykewell1]

Try the free Microsoft Virtual Academy videos. One of the guys is the designer of powershell if I remember right, teaches you some really nifty tricks. Really helpful and both guys entertaining which helps.

 

https://mva.microsoft.com/en-US/training-courses/getting-started-with-powershell-3-0-jump-start-8276?l=r54IrOWy_2304984382

[RobD]

Try the free Microsoft Virtual Academy videos. One of the guys is the designer of powershell if I remember right, teaches you some really nifty tricks. Really helpful and both guys entertaining which helps.

 

https://mva.microsoft.com/en-US/training-courses/getting-started-with-powershell-3-0-jump-start-8276?l=r54IrOWy_2304984382

 

These are great videos, I learn't loads.

[dblight]

The third edition of the book was released yesterday...

 

Learn Windows PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, Third Edition

 

There's also 50% off the price if you use the code mljones8tw (expires later today). This drops the price of the eBook down to £12.70.

 

Bought! Ta for the heads up

[arwen]

Try the free Microsoft Virtual Academy videos. One of the guys is the designer of powershell if I remember right, teaches you some really nifty tricks. Really helpful and both guys entertaining which helps.

 

https://mva.microsoft.com/en-US/training-courses/getting-started-with-powershell-3-0-jump-start-8276?l=r54IrOWy_2304984382

 

I find the virtal academy videos very dry to be honest. Seems like they drone on about minor things for far too long, then skip over more interesting things.

 

I'm enjoying the pluralsight courses to be honest. The guys habit of pausing at random bits in sentences is a tad annoying, but they seem to flow and evolve more realistic.