PowerShell is a task automation and configuration management framework from Microsoft, consisting of a command-line shell and scripting language. It is built on the .NET framework and designed specifically for system administrators. PowerShell allows users to automate tasks and manage configurations across Windows, Linux, and macOS operating systems.
PowerShell uses a verb-noun syntax for its cmdlets, which are the basic commands used in scripts. For example, Get-Process is a cmdlet that retrieves information about running processes. Variables in PowerShell start with a $ symbol, and comments are denoted by a # symbol. PowerShell scripts are saved with a .ps1 file extension.
Developers can write and execute PowerShell scripts using the built-in Windows PowerShell console or the cross-platform PowerShell Core. Visual Studio Code is a popular code editor for PowerShell development, with extensions available for syntax highlighting and IntelliSense. The PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) is another tool provided by Microsoft for script development and debugging. Additionally, developers can leverage the PowerShell Gallery to discover and share scripts, modules, and DSC resources.