Want to learn Powershell? Here is how you can get started and learn PowerShell for free directly on Microsoft Learn! Check it out!

I remember running my first commands and building my first automation using Windows PowerShell back in 2006. Since then, PowerShell became one of my daily tools to build, deploy, manage IT environments. With the release of PowerShell version 6 and now PowerShell 7, PowerShell became cross-platform. This means you can now use it on even more systems like Linux and macOS. With PowerShell becoming more and more powerful (you see what I did there ;)), more people are asking me how they can get started and learn PowerShell. Luckily we just released 5 new modules on Microsoft Learn for PowerShell.

\n
• Introduction to PowerShell
\n
• Connect commands into a pipeline
\n
• Introduction to scripting in PowerShell
\n
• Write your first PowerShell code
\n
• Automate Azure tasks using scripts with PowerShell
\n

Learn PowerShell on Microsoft Learn

Microsoft Learn Introduction to PowerShell

Learn about the basics of PowerShell. This cross-platform command-line shell and scripting language is built for task automation and configuration management. You'll learn basics like what PowerShell is, what it's used for, and how to use it.

Learning objectives

\n
• Understand what PowerShell is and what you can use it for.
\n
• Use commands to automate tasks.
\n
• Leverage the core cmdlets to discover commands and learn how they work.
\n

PowerShell learn module: Introduction to PowerShell

Connect commands into a pipeline

In this module, you'll learn how to connect commands into a pipeline. You'll also learn about filtering left, formatting right, and other important principles.

Learning objectives

\n
• Explore cmdlets further and construct a sequence of them in a pipeline.
\n
• Apply sound principles to your commands by using filtering and formatting.
\n

PowerShell learn module: Connect commands into a pipeline

Introduction to scripting in PowerShell

This module introduces you to scripting with PowerShell. It introduces various concepts to help you create script files and make them as robust as possible.

Learning objectives

\n
• Understand how to write and run scripts.
\n
• Use variables and parameters to make your scripts flexible.
\n
• Apply flow-control logic to make intelligent decisions.
\n
• Add robustness to your scripts by adding error management.
\n

PowerShell learn module: Introduction to scripting in PowerShell

Write your first PowerShell code

Getting started by writing code examples to learn the basics of programming in PowerShell!

Learning objectives

\n
• Manage PowerShell inputs and outputs
\n
• Diagnose errors when you type code incorrectly
\n
• Identify different PowerShell elements like cmdlets, parameters, inputs, and outputs.
\n

PowerShell learn module: Write your first PowerShell code

Automate Azure tasks using scripts with PowerShell

Install Azure PowerShell locally and use it to manage Azure resources.

Learning objectives

\n
• Decide if Azure PowerShell is the right tool for your Azure administration tasks
\n
• Install Azure PowerShell on Linux, macOS, and/or Windows
\n
• Connect to an Azure subscription using Azure PowerShell
\n
• Create Azure resources using Azure PowerShell
\n

PowerShell learn module: Automate Azure tasks using scripts with PowerShell

Want to learn how to install PowerShell 7? Check out my video on Microsoft Channel 9.

Conclusion

I hope this helps you get started and learn PowerShell! If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment!

I remember running my first commands and building my first automation using Windows PowerShell back in 2006. Since then, PowerShell became one of my daily tools to build, deploy, manage IT environments. With the release of PowerShell version 6 and now PowerShell 7, PowerShell became cross-platform. This means you can now use it on even more systems like Linux and macOS. With PowerShell becoming more and more powerful (you see what I did there ;)), more people are asking me how they can get started and learn PowerShell. Luckily we just released 5 new modules on Microsoft Learn for PowerShell.

\n
• Introduction to PowerShell
\n
• Connect commands into a pipeline
\n
• Introduction to scripting in PowerShell
\n
• Write your first PowerShell code
\n
• Automate Azure tasks using scripts with PowerShell
\n

Learn PowerShell on Microsoft Learn

Microsoft Learn Introduction to PowerShell

Learn about the basics of PowerShell. This cross-platform command-line shell and scripting language is built for task automation and configuration management. You'll learn basics like what PowerShell is, what it's used for, and how to use it.

Learning objectives

\n
• Understand what PowerShell is and what you can use it for.
\n
• Use commands to automate tasks.
\n
• Leverage the core cmdlets to discover commands and learn how they work.
\n

PowerShell learn module: Introduction to PowerShell

Connect commands into a pipeline

In this module, you'll learn how to connect commands into a pipeline. You'll also learn about filtering left, formatting right, and other important principles.

Learning objectives

\n
• Explore cmdlets further and construct a sequence of them in a pipeline.
\n
• Apply sound principles to your commands by using filtering and formatting.
\n

PowerShell learn module: Connect commands into a pipeline

Introduction to scripting in PowerShell

This module introduces you to scripting with PowerShell. It introduces various concepts to help you create script files and make them as robust as possible.

Learning objectives

\n
• Understand how to write and run scripts.
\n
• Use variables and parameters to make your scripts flexible.
\n
• Apply flow-control logic to make intelligent decisions.
\n
• Add robustness to your scripts by adding error management.
\n

PowerShell learn module: Introduction to scripting in PowerShell

Write your first PowerShell code

Getting started by writing code examples to learn the basics of programming in PowerShell!

Learning objectives

\n
• Manage PowerShell inputs and outputs
\n
• Diagnose errors when you type code incorrectly
\n
• Identify different PowerShell elements like cmdlets, parameters, inputs, and outputs.
\n

PowerShell learn module: Write your first PowerShell code

Automate Azure tasks using scripts with PowerShell

Install Azure PowerShell locally and use it to manage Azure resources.

Learning objectives

\n
• Decide if Azure PowerShell is the right tool for your Azure administration tasks
\n
• Install Azure PowerShell on Linux, macOS, and/or Windows
\n
• Connect to an Azure subscription using Azure PowerShell
\n
• Create Azure resources using Azure PowerShell
\n

PowerShell learn module: Automate Azure tasks using scripts with PowerShell

Want to learn how to install PowerShell 7? Check out my video on Microsoft Channel 9.

Conclusion

I hope this helps you get started and learn PowerShell! If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment!

Want to learn Powershell? Here is how you can get started and learn PowerShell for free directly on Microsoft Learn! Check it out!

Andrew Palmer thank you for taking the time to write this. I'll make sure to address this /Chris

Three issues I noticed:

On the \"Exercise - Construct a pipeline\" unit 3 exercise, the 'Where-Object CPU -gt 1000' returns no results.  To get a result I have to use greater than 1.

On the \"Exercise - Scripting\" unit 3 exercise, it mentions the use of Add-Content but the example uses Set-Item.  The Set-Item cmdlet fails unless you use the -Force parameter as the file currently doesn't exist.

On the \"Exercise - Flow control\" unit 7 the code after the text \"Add this code to the file:\" is indented twice after the first line.  This doesn't break anything but just looks wrong 🙂